Can i transport a freezer on its side

After all, it is likely you already have enough moving costs to contend with as it is! With that in mind, read on to discover some top tips on transporting your fridge freezer with care. The first thing you need to do is get rid of all of the contents that are placed in the fridge, as well as anything placed on the outside, such as magnets.

If you are in the middle of a big move, it is probably better to simply get rid of food and drink items. Take out all of the removable components that are inside the fridge, including trays, shelves, and other movable or loose items. You should wrap these shelves in towels or a lot of bubble wrap for protection and label them before stacking carefully in boxes. You may have been advised to simply secure the shelves in the fridge with tape. This option is often more convenient, but it is much safer to take them out and wrap them up.

Remove the plug, securely coil the power cord, and tape it into a tight bundle so that it stays in place while in transit. You will need to defrost the freezer before the move, especially if there is a buildup of frost.

This typically takes between six and eight hours, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to do this. It is best to defrost your freezer overnight, and then give it a wipe down in the morning. Now is a good time to clean your fridge freezer. Use disinfectant to wipe down interior surfaces and the drawers.

Secure the fridge freezer doors so that they do not become damaged while they are being transported. You can use a bungee cord or a strong rope to do this. Tie the door handles together if you have a double-door refrigerator. For the best practice in transporting, follow the steps below:. To ensure your chest freezer is not damaged during transportation, continue reading and learn more on how to plan ahead and safely relocate your handy appliance.

The best course of action to take when transporting your chest freezer is to follow these steps below:. Of course, you need to switch off and unplug your freezer from the electrical outlet.

It is a safety measure for you and your appliance to prevent damage to the freezer's coolant. Remove all the food until your freezer is empty.

Eat what you can before moving, and if you have more than you can finish, consider giving the extra food to your friends, family, or even a local food bank. If you have an ice maker in your freezer, you can remove it yourself by following the instructions in the freezer manual, or you can seek help from a professional.

Defrost your freezer at least one day before moving. Freezer models are different, so check out the recommended procedure in the manual. Overall, after your freezer is unplugged and empty, leave the door open to ensure all the ice has melted. Some models allow you to pour warm or boiling water inside to melt the ice faster, and others may require you to move them outside to thaw.

To drain the water away, some have a hosepipe attached to it. Alternatively, you can use your garden hose by threading its end to the drain plug in your freezer and drain the water outside or into a sink.

Use a mild detergent like the one you use to wash dishes, or go green and use vinegar or baking soda to clean your freezer. Add either of these into a bowl of warm water, and use a cloth or towel to wash the inside of the freezer. Rinse with plain water to remove all residues. Use a cloth to pat dry, and then leave it to air-dry for at least 24 hours, making sure it does not have any moisture. If there are any freezer smells still lingering, take 2 tablespoons of baking soda into 1 liter of water, pour it into a bowl, and place it inside the freezer for 2 to 4 hours.

If the smells are too strong, place some activated carbon inside a small bowl and leave it inside the freezer for 2 to 4 hours. After making sure your freezer is clean and dry, close the door and use moving straps or ropes to firmly secure it to avoid the door opening accidentally.

Also, tape the power cable to your freezer to prevent you or your helper from tripping onto it. Fridges and freezers can be heavy and cumbersome, so never tackle this task lightly. Hopefully, you'll have an A-team of experienced removalists to do it, but if not, ask a strong mate or two to help you load it, clear obstacles and assist with steering, which can be difficult on stairs or sloping ground. To move your fridge or freezer, you'll need a moving trolley or dolly essentially, a platform with wheels, which you can buy or rent with a suitable weight-load rating to avoid damaging your floors.

The best trolleys come with a ratchet strap to secure the unit and multiple jockey wheels to take on stairs. If you're using a trolley, our fridge expert Ashley Iredale recommends checking the base of the fridge first to find the strongest lifting point. Sides are often sturdier, but make sure you use padding so you don't scratch the surface. When carrying a fridge or freezer on a trolley, try not to tip it back more than 45 degrees. If you're using a ute or trailer and the weather's looking iffy, use a tarp cover to keep it dry.

Fridges and freezers are best transported upright to keep the cooling refrigerant in its right place. But this isn't always possible, so you may need to lie it down, which requires some extra considerations at your destination.

With a lot of padding underneath, lie your fridge or upright freezer down and secure it with straps so it can't move during transit. But provided the back is flat and clear, then lying it on its back is probably safest. For a big fridge with French doors, it may not be practical to lay it on its side, as these fridges tend to be wider than they are deep, meaning they could fall or their doors could swing open.

If your fridge or upright freezer was transported standing up, Ashley says you can turn it on straight away.