Whether you need to get under your refrigerator to retrieve that fallen spoon or you want to pack it up to move across the country moving your refrigerator is one of the least pleasant tasks you will run into.
The problem is that not only are they heavy but they are bulky so getting a good grip on them during the process can be difficult.
The first thing that you should do when trying to get behind your refrigerator is remove any items inside it that may fall during the process. Any open containers, juice, milk and even dishes that have plastic over them are likely to cause a mess so take them out and put them on your counter before you start. If you have glass shelves you need to be extra careful because you don’t want something heavy to fall and shatter one. They are expensive and could be difficult to find from your parts dealer.
The next thing you want to do is look under the front of the refrigerator and see if there are any items that may get in the way of the wheels. If your refrigerator has a front vent cover you should be able to pry it off without tools. A coat hanger or other long thin item can be used to persuade things out of the path of the four wheels on the bottom.
When you begin to pull the refrigerator away from the wall you will most likely have two attachments that will strict its movement. If you are simply retrieving a spoon or vacuum cleaning the cooling coils then you most likely will not need to make any disconnections.
The first is the power cord and it should be long enough to allow you to pull the refrigerator out and then get behind it to unplug it.
The other attachment is a water supply line that is used for your ice maker and cold drinking water supply. This line can be either copper or plastic and should be in a coil that is long enough to allow you to remove the refrigerator from its location without disconnecting it. If you find that you need to disconnect the water supply line then you will need to turn off the valve in your homes plumbing that feeds the refrigerator. If you are lucky the plumber placed a shutoff valve within a few inches of where the plastic or copper line connects but if not you may need to go into your basement to find it. If you can not find it then you will need to turn off the water at your main supply line. Remember there is a lot of pressure in your water lines so simply turning off the supply will still mean you need a bucket and couple towels to catch the water that will come out when you disconnect the line from the refrigerator.
When you are finished cleaning or getting whatever fell behind the refrigerator you can push it back against the wall while making sure that the water supply and electrical cord are free and do not get caught in the wheels.
Moving Your Refrigerator
If you need to move your refrigerator because you are moving then you should really consider getting some help. If you are not using a moving company you should at least get a friend to help you move this one item and you will need a movers appliance dolly that has a strap to secure the refrigerator while you are taking it down stairs or out your door.
Appliance dollies can be rented at most rental centers or you can probably ask for one if you are renting a truck to haul your items to their new home.
They are much stronger then a standard dolly and will likely have the ability to extend the height of the handles which will really help when you are going down stairs.
Obviously you will want to remove all the items in your refrigerator before you start the move but you will also want to set your Ice Maker in its move setting so it will not get damaged and you will want to remove your glass shelves and pack them into a box with packing material so they will not be damaged.
Moving straps should be used to secure the doors so they won’t swing open but you can also use a movers blanket that will protect your whole refrigerator from scratches and dings.
NOTE! Read the directions for your specific refrigerator about where it is ok to attach your appliance dolly. You never want to place the foot of the dolly under your compressor or evaporator coil.
When using the appliance dolly you want to hold onto the handles and push not pull the appliance in front of you. This means you will need a second person to guide you especially through doors.If you are going up stairs you will do the opposite and pull the appliance up the stairs with the hand Rails on the appliance dolly extended to the top of the refrigerator.
YOU MUST NEVER STORE A REFRIGERATOR ON ITS SIDE EVEN FOR A SHORT TIME.
If you are placing the refrigerator in your pickup never place it on its side and if you have an SUV then you will need to rent a trailer or truck to move the refrigerator. If you transport the refrigerator on its side you are very likely to damage it and you are also likely to void any warranty if it is a new one you are picking up at a store.
Final Note
Moving large appliances is a difficult task but the good thing is you normally don’t have to do it very often.
Take your time, ask friends or family for help or call a professional.
If you are purchasing new appliances the service that is delivering the new one should also remove the old one. Hopefully at no cost. It should also include installing the appliance or at the very least moving it into location so you or your electrician can make the final hookup.
Be Careful… and if you are moving across the country consider buying new ones.