Can I lay a fridge freezer on its back to transport it?

You should never lay your fridge freezer down. When on its back or side, oil will flow into the cooling tubes, and it may not drain from them when the fridge moves back to an upright position. As a consequence, your fridge may stop cooling properly or break down completely.

Can you transport a refrigerator laying down on its back?

If you do lay your fridge down to move it, you can lay it on its front or side, but it's not recommended that you lay it on its back – the weight of the fridge's body on its working parts could damage them, even if they're not exposed.

Can a refrigerator be transported on its back or side?

It's best to keep your refrigerator in an upright position for the entire move, no matter what its size. This is because putting a fridge down on its side can cause damage to the refrigerator compressor and keep it from doing its job. The compressor is filled with oil that is held in place by gravity.

Can I lay a freezer on its side for transport?

Yes, you can transport a chest freezer on its side that has the compressor. But the proper and safe method is to transport your chest freezer in its normal upright position. For the best practice in transporting, follow the steps below: Unplug the electrical cable from the power-point.

How long can a refrigerator lay on its back?

If it's necessary to put the refrigerator on its side after transporting. It should stand upright for an equal amount of time as it was on its side. Leave standing for 24 hours if it was on its side for more than one day.

Can You Lay a Refrigerator on Its Side? How to Transport a Refrigerator on Its Side

Which side do you lay a fridge down?

"If you're lying a fridge on its side, put it with the hinge side at the top, as gravity will make it spring open the other way. "If your unit's got an external heat exchanger on the back, then on its side might be best. But provided the back is flat and clear, then lying it on its back is probably safest."

How long can you transport a refrigerator on its side?

If it was on its side for more than a day, leave it standing upright for 24 hours before running the refrigerator. If laying on its side just briefly to service, clean or adjust, just a few minutes of stand time will be enough.

What is the compressor side of a freezer?

Depending on the design of the freezer, the compressor generally is located in the back of the unit near or on the floor. When the compressor is activated, an audible humming noise usually can be heard coming from the refrigerator, while there usually is silence when the compressor is not active.

What happens if you transport a fridge on its side?

No, you should not move or store a refrigerator on its side. When a refrigerator is laid on its side, the oil in the compressor will flow from the compressor tube into the coolant lines. This doesn't automatically mean that it will break, but it can be risky depending on the type of refrigerator you have.

How do you transport a fridge in a car?

Secure the door shut using either tape or rope. You might want to wrap the appliance in bubble wrap, a blanket, or anything to absorb shocks it may suffer during the move. Secure the appliance to the trolley or truck it's going travel in with heavy-duty ropes. Refrigerators travel best standing up.

How do you fix a refrigerator that was laying down?

If your refrigerator was on its side for more than 24 hours, let it stand upright for 24 hours before plugging it in. Allowing the fridge to stand in its normal position before plugging it in will give the oil time to flow back into the compressor where it belongs.

How long should you wait before turning on a fridge after moving?

Once your fridge has been safely moved into the kitchen of your new home, it needs some time to settle before you can start using it. You should let it stand unplugged, in an upright position, for at least 4 hours to allow its compressor oil to settle. You can plug your appliance in once 4 hours have passed.

How do you transport an upright freezer?

When moving the freezer, wrap it in blankets or another form of padding. The padding will protect the exterior of the appliance from damage. Ideally, you should keep your freezer entirely upright the entire time during the move. If you do not have space to transport the freezer upright, place it on the compressor side.

Why should you not lay a freezer on its side?

When laid sideways, the oil can run off from the compressor to the cooling coils. Since the oil is thick and viscous, it can easily clog up the coils. This prevents the refrigerant gas from flowing through them and thus your refrigerator won't cool.

How long can a freezer lay on its side?

Be careful to secure the door to prevent it from opening. Set it upright in its final location and allow the freezer to sit for the same amount of time that it was on its side (24 hours maximum). Do not plug the unit into the electrical receptacle without allowing this settling time.

What is the best way to transport a refrigerator?

Keep all screws and pieces together in a zip lock bag. Wrap the exterior of the fridge in moving blankets or some other cushioning to prevent dings and scratches. For extra protection: Remove refrigerator drawers and glass shelves for safe transport. If you're not going far, you can tape drawers in place instead.

What happens when you lay a refrigerator down?

What Happens When You Lay a Fridge on its Side. When a refrigerator is horizontal, the oil from the compressor will start to move out and into the coolant lines, clogging them.

Why do you have to wait 24 hours to plug in a fridge?

Let the refrigerator sit upright for the recommended 24 hours before plugging the refrigerator into power so the oils can settle into place and not cause any issues or error codes.

How long should a fridge freezer stand after moving?

Once your fridge has been safely moved into the kitchen of your new home and is in the desired position, you should let it stand unplugged, in an upright position, for at least 4 hours to allow its compressor oil to settle.

How long should you leave a fridge freezer before turning it on?

Once the unit is in the house you should: Leave the appliance to sit for 3 hours. Then plug it in and switch it on. It should then be left overnight to stabilize before putting any fresh food into it.

Do you have to wait 24 hours after moving a fridge?

If it's been on its side for 30 minutes during transit, wait 30 minutes once it's back upright. If it's been on its side for more than a day, you should wait 24 hours.

What happens if you don't wait 24 hours to plug a fridge in?

Its because the compressor lubrication oil could get into the cylinder of the compressor and if not given plenty of time to drain back into the oil sump at the bottom of the compressor, could cause major compressor valve damage on start up. 2 or more hours is a good rule to observe.

How do you move a fridge freezer?

How far can you tilt a refrigerator?

Be sure to keep the appliance tilted no more than 45 degrees for the entire journey and take caution as needed while navigating around corners, through doorways and up or down ramps of any kind. Don't Forget! When moving a refrigerator, it's critical to never lay or carry your appliance on its back or side.