Heavy and Bulky? Here’s A Guide to Moving A Freezer?
March 5, 2023
March 5, 2023
Moving A Freezer: Freezers are bulky and heavy, making them one of the most difficult appliances to move in your home. It will take many days to complete the operation because you will have to deal with their contents and defrost them before moving day. In most circumstances, using a professional moving company to relocate your freezer makes the most sense if you can afford it. However, by following these simple procedures and enlisting the support of a few strong buddies, you can do it yourself.
Moving A Freezer?
Allowing someone else to move your freezer sounds like a lot greater chore than you think you can do. Wowmover.com has a large network of trustworthy movers ready to assist you in packing and moving your entire home. Our network’s relocation firms are all certified and insured, so you can rest easy knowing your freezer is in good hands.
Gather your materials
To move a freezer, you don’t need many tools, but you do need a few important items, starting with a hand truck or appliance dolly with straps. You won’t be able to move your freezer without a hand dolly and straps (or a thick rope) to keep it in place. Here’s a comprehensive list of everything you’ll need.
Need moving services?
Here are the best moving companies you can trust;
Xfinity Moving
College Hunk
Two Men and a Truck
All My Sons Moving and Storage
U-Haul
College Hunk
Portable On Demands
Budget Truck Rental
1-800-PACK-RAT
Penske
Best Interstate Moving + Storage
Friendship is necessary when moving a freezer. Do not attempt to move one by yourself. You run the danger of injuring yourself as well as causing damage to your property and the freezer itself.
For a variety of reasons, you should avoid moving a full freezer. First, the frozen food will add weight to the freezer. Second, loose items in the freezer can cause damage to the interior by banging against the sides and doors. Finally, while you relocate, the freezer will be unplugged for several hours. As a result, it will begin to defrost, and the food may begin to thaw, potentially resulting in food poisoning.
Take inventory of what’s in your freezer as soon as you decide to relocate, and discard anything that’s freezer burnt or no longer desired. Then, before moving day, establish a plan to use as many of the items as possible. Donate whatever remains in your freezer to friends and family a few days before it’s time to defrost it.
Ice can add weight to your freezer and make it more difficult to handle due to the cold. Furthermore, when the freezer is unplugged, it will begin to defrost on its own, perhaps resulting in a dripping mess. You should thaw it before traveling to avoid these eventualities.
Depending on the temperature where your freezer is placed and the quantity of ice building inside it, defrosting it can take up to 24 hours. Simply turn off the electricity or use the defrost function (see your owner’s manual) to defrost it. Because water may collect as it defrosts, be prepared with drip trays and old towels for cleanup.
It’s a good idea to clear out your freezer right now. (If you skip this step, it can start to smell while being transported.) Remove any shelves and drawers first. Scrub the interior with a paste made from baking soda and enough vinegar to produce a paste. Using a moist towel, wipe the surface clean. After that, do the same with the shelves and drawers. Place these in a safe place. Allow air to flow by leaving the freezer door open.
Take a few minutes to measure the height, breadth, and depth of the freezer before moving day. Make a mental note of the numbers. Then, on moving day, walk the route you want to take to get everything out of the house, measuring any doorways, hallways, or barriers along the way. This will let you know if there are any tight locations. Prepare to make changes to your path, including removing doors, if required.
Secure the freezer’s cord with tape on moving day so it doesn’t become a tripping hazard. Turn your attention to the freezer door now that it’s neatly out of the way. It’s simpler to gain a stronghold on the door if it’s removed. You also won’t have to worry about the door unsealing during the relocation. Remove the screws from the top hinge first, then the bottom hinge if you have an upright freezer. Wrap moving blankets around the freezer door and tape them in place.
You’ll also wrap the freezer with moving blankets to protect the exterior. Secure with blankets and tape, making sure to cover any edges and corners that may be vulnerable to damage. Remember those shelves, drawers, and other items you took out of the freezer to clean it? If they’ll fit, wrap them in old towels or bubble wrap and place them in a box. Make sure the box is clearly marked so you can find it when you move.
Move the freezer away from the wall with the assistance of your buddies. This can be accomplished by gently shaking the freezer from side to side while moving it forward a little at a time. Alternatively, furniture sliders can be used to protect your floor from harm. To tilt the freezer back and adhere the slider to each of the front feet, you’ll need at least two individuals. You should be able to slide the freezer forward without damaging it once the sliders are in position.
Allow friends to tilt the freezer back so you can slide the dolly beneath. Return the freezer to its original position. Tilt the freezer again, this time onto the dolly, with your buddies on the opposite side. Secure the freezer to the dolly using straps once it is balanced. If you don’t have ratchet straps, the sturdy rope will suffice. Before wheeling the dolly to the truck, be sure it can travel freely.
Begin cautiously rolling the freezer toward the moving truck, passing through doorways and over bumps. As you proceed, one person should be maneuvering the dolly and two people should be on either side of the freezer. If you need to go up or downstairs, have two people on each side hoist and carry the freezer.
If at all possible, avoid putting an upright freezer on its side or a chest freezer on its back while moving. According to GE Appliances, if you must lay it down, do so on the compressor side and for as little time as possible. Being on its side or back can displace the refrigerant in the coils and damage them.
Use the ramp to load the moving truck inside when you arrive. It’s better if you pull it up while your pals help you maintain it steady. As you move it into place on the truck, ask for their help. If you’ll be moving other objects with the dolly, remove the ratchet straps and have your pals tilt the freezer just enough for you to liberate it.
Secure your freezer upright inside the truck with ratchet straps or rope before moving on to the next item.
Enlist the help of your friends to secure the freezer to the dolly inside the moving truck and wheel it down the ramp at your new home. Make your way to its new home one step at a time.
You can plug it in straight away if it remained upright throughout the move. Allow it to sit for the same amount of time it was in that position if you had to lay it on its side or back. I’m not sure how long it was lying on its side or back. Wait 24 hours before plugging it back in to be safe.