Move It Upright, Always
A refrigerator is the single appliance most often damaged in a move — and the cause is almost always laying it down. Here's how to move a fridge the right way.
The One Rule: Keep It Upright
A refrigerator contains oil in the compressor and coolant in the coils. Tipping it lays the oil into the cooling lines, and when you plug it in, the compressor burns out. Keep the fridge upright the whole move. If it must tilt, keep it under 45 degrees — and let it sit unplugged for 24 hours before turning it on so the oil settles back.
Measure First
A standard fridge is 30–36 inches wide and 65–70 tall. Measure the doorways at both addresses and the stairwells. A fridge that fits through the kitchen door might not fit the stairwell turn.
Empty and Defrost
Empty the fridge and freezer the day before. Unplug it, leave the doors open, and let it defrost — a wet fridge in a truck leaks water on everything below it. Towel it dry.
Use an Appliance Dolly
A refrigerator is a dolly move, not a carry. Strap the fridge to an appliance dolly (with a strap ratchet), tip the dolly back, and roll. The dolly's stair climbers let you walk a fridge up a curb or a single step.
Protect the Doors
Tape the doors shut with painter's tape (not duct — it leaves residue). A door that swings open mid-move snaps the hinges.
Two People, One Dolly
One person steers the dolly; the other stabilizes the top. Never let a fridge rest on its side or back, even "just for a second" to fit a doorway.
Wait to Plug In
After the move, let the fridge sit upright for 24 hours before plugging it in. This is the step most people skip — and it's the one that kills the compressor.
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