Moving a refrigerator

[Ken Sington]

I have to move a refrigerator by van tomorrow, and for the first part of the journey, there won't be enough stuff in the van to wedge it upright. I haven't got any webbing straps to stop it falling over, so can I lie it on it's side, or is that going to knacker it?

[Shaw Tarse]

I think you're supposed to transport a fridge upright, then let it "settle"
In the past I've ignored these guidelines & had no problems.

[btwhacker]

Unplug it

[Toilet Duck]

Mal79 said:

just let it stand for a while in it's 'normal' position before you switch it back on!!

Out of curiosity, what happens if you don't let it "settle" before switching on, or switch it on when its upside down?

[Tanguero]

If you don't let it settle you can (if you are unlucky) get liquid refrigerant running into the compressor when you turn it on. This tends to kill the compressor.

[eldar]

Tanguero said:

If you don't let it settle you can (if you are unlucky) get liquid refrigerant running into the compressor when you turn it on. This tends to kill the compressor.

The oil separates from the refrigerant, so it runs unlubricated through the compressor, and wears it out. Like petrol in a diesel. Its either that or a Gipsy curse.

[JM]

eldar said:

The oil separates from the refrigerant, so it runs unlubricated through the compressor, and wears it out. Like petrol in a diesel. Its either that or a Gipsy curse.

If the fridge is upside down, or on its side then oil can drain from the sump of the compressor, meaning when it starts up it runs on low oil, and can seize. Simialr to running a car engine with no oil in it.

Of course that presumes it is a fridge with a compressor in it. Some small fridges, mini-bars in hotels etc don't have compressors and often work better after being upside down for a while.

[Deva Link]

A potential problem with transporting it lying down is that the compressor motor could break or come off its spring mountings (inside the can). If that happens then you might as well throw the fridge away.