Keep It Upright or Kill the Compressor
A refrigerator is the appliance most often killed in a move — and the cause is almost always laying it down. Here's how to move it.
The One Rule
Keep the fridge upright the entire move. Tipping it lays compressor oil into the cooling lines; plugging it in burns out the compressor. If it must tilt, keep it under 45°, and let it sit 24 hours before plugging in.
Empty and Defrost
Empty the fridge and freezer the day before. Unplug it, leave the doors open, let it defrost. A wet fridge in a truck leaks on everything below it.
Measure First
A standard fridge is 30-36 inches wide, 65-70 tall. Measure the doorways at both addresses and the stairwells. A fridge that fits the kitchen door might not fit the stairwell turn.
Appliance Dolly
Strap the fridge to an appliance dolly, tip it back, roll. The dolly's stair climbers handle curbs and single steps. Never let a fridge rest on its side.
Tape the Doors
Painter's tape (not duct — it leaves residue) holds the doors shut. A door that swings open mid-move snaps the hinges.
Two People, One Dolly
One steers the dolly, one stabilizes the top. A fridge is a dolly move, not a carry.
Wait to Plug In
After the move, let the fridge sit upright 24 hours before plugging in. This is the step most skip — and it's the one that kills the compressor.
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