Transporting a fridge

[Deluded]

Me and the missus are getting a new house next week. We need to buy all of our appliances and are scouring ebay etc. for bargains.

We are hiring a van next saturdayu to pick up a sofa and to get everything to the house but ideally we would like all of the new appliances at our current house on saturday rather than having to go round all of the sellers houses in one day and collect them all etc.

Any under counter stuff will fit in the back of the beemer so we are collecting a cooker tomorrow and hopefully a washing machine in the week. The only problem is the fridge.

We are looking for an undercounter fridge so it will physically fit in the back of the beemer. Only problem is that it will obviously have to lay on its side. Not a problem for the cooker/washing machine but I've always thought that fridges had to be upright at all times.

Will we knacker the fridge if we lay it on its side for transport or will it be fine?

Cheers

[Famous Graham]

It'll be fine, but you need to leave it standing for 24 hours before turning it on.

[WhoseGeneration]

Lay it on it's side gently, the outer walls of fridges are very light gauge metal and dent easily.
Then, as said above, leave standing upright for 24 hours, with the door kept ajar, so mould doesn't start, before plugging in.
Wipe out bsfore use with a solution of bicarb and water.

[Deluded]

Plan is to take a thick bed cover to pad the sides when sliding it into the back of the car. Should be able to do it without too much banging about etc.

Cheers!

[thinfourth2]

As everyone sayes stand it upright for 24hours

Why?

The black cylinder thing is a compressor which has a small amount of oil in it to keep things spinning and if you lie it down the oil travels up the condenser and if you start it without the oil down in the cylinder is a nice screech followed by a deathly warm silence.

So standing it up lets the oil return to where it should be

[CobolMan]

Reminds me of the time I transported a washing machine in the back of my 3 door 1.2 Nova with the weight just beyond the rear axles - was a very interesting journey

[sebhaque]

Don't you have to leave it unplugged for 24 hours before you move it too? Or is that just something I'm confusing with old CFC fridges?

[GlenMH]

sebhaque said:

Don't you have to leave it unplugged for 24 hours before you move it too? Or is that just something I'm confusing with old CFC fridges?

Not heard of that before.

Agree with the standing upright to get the oil back in the compressor, not only to prevent the "screech of death" but to prevent a drop of oil getting stuck in the thermostatic regulating valve - also a death sentence for a domestic fridge.

[Simpo Two]

If anyone's ever tried lifting a washing machine, imagine the two scary tattooed dykes who came to collect my old one - they just lifted it straight into the back of their 4x4 One of them bred guard dogs... be very afraid...

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 31st May 09:52