Effective Tips for Packing Your Dishes

Of all the appliances in your home, the refrigerator is one of the most challenging to move. It’s tall, heavy, top-heavy, and filled with components that can be damaged if handled incorrectly. Whether you’re relocating to a new home, rearranging your kitchen, or upgrading to a new model, knowing how to move a refrigerator the right way can save you from costly repairs, personal injury, and a whole lot of frustration.

The average refrigerator weighs between 200 and 400 pounds depending on its size and style. French door and side-by-side models tend to be on the heavier end, while older top-freezer units are typically lighter. Regardless of size, moving a fridge without proper preparation is one of the quickest ways to damage your floors, your doorframes, or your back. Our moving company‘s step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know – from prep work to transport to getting it running again in your new space.

Before You Start: Gather the Right Equipment

Before you move a single inch, make sure you have the right tools on hand. Attempting to move a refrigerator without proper equipment is where most DIY moves go wrong. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Appliance dolly (also called a hand truck). A standard furniture dolly won’t cut it here. You need an appliance dolly with straps that can secure the fridge upright during transport. These can be rented from most home improvement stores.
  • Moving straps or ratchet straps. These secure the refrigerator to the dolly and prevent shifting during movement.
  • Moving blankets or furniture pads. These protect the exterior of the fridge and your walls and doorframes from scratches and dings.
  • Measuring tape. Measure your refrigerator’s dimensions and compare them against every doorway, hallway, and staircase it needs to pass through. This step alone can prevent a disaster on moving day.
  • At least one helper. This is not a one-person job. Even with a dolly, you’ll need someone to guide, steady, and assist – especially on stairs or tight turns.

Step 1: Empty and Defrost the Refrigerator

Start the preparation process at least 24 hours before your move. The first thing you need to do is empty the refrigerator completely. Remove all food, shelves, drawers, and bins. Wrap loose shelves and glass components in moving blankets or bubble wrap and pack them separately to prevent breakage.

Once empty, unplug the refrigerator and allow it to defrost fully. If your model has an ice maker or a water dispenser, turn off the water supply line and disconnect it. Leave the doors open overnight to allow any residual moisture to evaporate. Moving a refrigerator that hasn’t been fully defrosted can result in water leaking into your moving vehicle or your new home’s flooring.

While you’re at it, clean the interior thoroughly. A move is a great opportunity to wipe down the walls, shelves, and door seals before putting everything back in a fresh space.

Step 2: Secure the Doors and Coils

Before moving the refrigerator, tape or strap the doors shut. Refrigerator doors can swing open unexpectedly during transport, throwing off your balance or hitting walls and doorframes. Use painter’s tape, moving straps, or bungee cords to hold both doors firmly closed.

On older refrigerator models, you may notice condenser coils on the back of the unit. These coils are fragile and can be bent or damaged if the fridge is pressed against a wall or squeezed through a tight space carelessly. Wrap the back of the refrigerator with a moving blanket for extra protection.

Also, coil the power cord and tape it to the back or side of the unit so it doesn’t drag on the floor or get caught during movement.

Step 3: Measure Every Pathway

This step is non-negotiable – and it’s one that many people skip until they’re standing in a hallway with a 300-pound fridge that won’t fit through the door. Measure the width and height of the refrigerator, then measure every doorway, hallway turn, and staircase it needs to travel through.

Standard interior doorways are typically 32 to 36 inches wide. Most refrigerators are between 28 and 36 inches wide, which means clearance can be extremely tight. Don’t forget to account for the depth of the door frame itself, which reduces effective clearance by an inch or two on each side.

If you’re moving into a new home and you’re not sure whether the fridge will fit through the entry, our team at Brazos Movers can help you think through the logistics. Our residential moving services include pre-move planning to make sure every item in your home gets where it needs to go without damage to the property or the piece.

Step 4: Prepare the Path

Clear the route from the refrigerator’s current location to the moving vehicle. Remove rugs, furniture, cords, and any other obstacles. If you have hardwood or tile floors, lay down moving blankets or cardboard along the path to protect the surface from scratches caused by the dolly wheels.

Remove any doors along the route that might create tight pinch points. Most interior doors can be easily removed by tapping out the hinge pins with a screwdriver and a hammer. It only takes a few minutes and can make the difference between a smooth move and a damaged doorframe.

Step 5: Load the Refrigerator onto the Dolly

This is the step that requires the most care and communication between you and your helper. Tilt the refrigerator slightly to one side while your helper slides the dolly underneath. The edge of the dolly platform should be positioned under the base of the fridge as far back as possible to create a stable base.

Once the dolly is in position, secure the refrigerator to it using the appliance straps. The straps should cross the body of the fridge at multiple points – typically once across the middle and once near the top – to prevent any shifting.

With the fridge secured, tilt the dolly back toward you so the weight rests against the dolly’s backplate. Keep the refrigerator as upright as possible throughout the move. Never lay a refrigerator on its side if you can avoid it – more on that in a moment.

Step 6: Navigate Stairs Carefully

If your move involves stairs, take it slow. This is where having a second (or even third) person is especially important. The person at the bottom controls the dolly while the person at the top helps steady and guide the refrigerator one step at a time.

Go one step at a time, pausing to re-check balance and strap security after every few steps. Never rush a staircase with a heavy appliance. If at any point the load feels unstable, stop, reposition, and reassess before continuing.

If your home has a particularly steep or narrow staircase, it may be worth calling in the professionals. Our guide on how to move heavy furniture covers staircase navigation in more detail and is a helpful companion read to this one.

Step 7: Transport the Refrigerator Upright

Whenever possible, transport your refrigerator in an upright position in the moving truck. This is the most important rule of refrigerator transport, and it comes down to the compressor oil inside the unit.

Refrigerators use a compressor to circulate refrigerant and keep food cold. Inside the compressor is oil that, when the fridge is upright, stays exactly where it belongs. When you lay a refrigerator on its side, that oil can migrate into the refrigerant lines. If you then plug in the fridge immediately after transport, the compressor can be permanently damaged – an expensive repair that often costs more than the appliance itself.

Secure the refrigerator against the wall of the moving truck using ratchet straps anchored to the truck’s tie-down rails. Make sure it cannot shift, tip, or move during transit.

What If You Have to Lay It on Its Side?

In some situations – a very low cargo vehicle, a tight loading dock, or a small moving van – laying the refrigerator on its side may be unavoidable. If this happens, follow these guidelines:

Lay it on the correct side. If your refrigerator has a compressor on the back, lay it down so the compressor side faces up. Check your owner’s manual for manufacturer-specific recommendations, as this varies by model.

Wait before plugging it in. After transport, allow the refrigerator to stand upright for at least the same amount of time it was on its side – and ideally 24 hours – before plugging it in. This gives the compressor oil time to settle back into place.

For manufacturer-specific guidance on transporting your model safely, Energy Star’s refrigerator resource page is a helpful reference point for understanding appliance specifications and best practices.

Step 8: Position and Reconnect in Your New Space

Once the refrigerator is in its new home, position it carefully before removing the dolly straps. Make sure it’s level – an unlevel fridge can cause the doors to swing open or shut on their own and can affect the efficiency of the cooling system. Most refrigerators have adjustable feet at the base that can be turned to level the unit.

Leave a few inches of space on all sides and behind the unit for proper airflow. Refrigerators need ventilation to operate efficiently, and pushing them flush against walls or cabinets can cause the compressor to work overtime and wear out faster.

If your refrigerator has a water line for ice or filtered water, reconnect it carefully and check for leaks before pushing the unit fully into place. Once everything is reconnected and the fridge is level, plug it in and allow it to cool for two to four hours before loading it with food.

For more information on appliance installation standards and energy efficiency, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers guidance on safe appliance use and installation that’s worth reviewing after any move.

How to Move a Refrigerator By Yourself: Is It Possible?

Technically, yes – but it’s not recommended. Moving a refrigerator alone without help significantly increases the risk of tipping, dropping, or losing control of the appliance, which can result in serious injury or damage to your home. If you absolutely must move it solo, make sure you have a high-quality appliance dolly with proper straps, a completely clear path, and no stairs involved.

A much safer option is to enlist a friend or hire a labor-only moving service. You don’t need a full moving crew – sometimes you just need two experienced hands to help with the heavy lifting. Our labor-only moving service is designed exactly for situations like this, giving you professional help without the cost of a full-service move.

When to Call the Professionals

Some refrigerator moves are simply better left to the experts. If your fridge is a large built-in or counter-depth model, if it’s located upstairs, or if you’re navigating a complex floor plan with tight turns and doorways, professional movers will save you time, stress, and potential injury.

At Brazos Movers, we’ve helped countless homeowners throughout Weatherford, Fort Worth, and the DFW area move large appliances safely and efficiently. We know how to protect your floors, your walls, and your appliance every step of the way. If you’re planning a move in the area and you’re not sure how to handle the big stuff, reach out to our team – we’re happy to talk through your options.

You might also find it helpful to read our guide on the hidden costs of moving, which covers the expenses many people overlook when planning a relocation – including appliance handling, specialty item fees, and more.

Quick Recap: How to Transport a Refrigerator Safely

  • Prep 24 hours ahead. Empty, unplug, defrost, and disconnect water lines the night before your move.
  • Secure the doors. Tape or strap them shut before moving the unit an inch.
  • Measure everything. Doorways, hallways, and the truck cargo area – measure twice, move once.
  • Use an appliance dolly. Never try to walk or slide a refrigerator across the floor without one.
  • Keep it upright. Transport vertically whenever possible to protect the compressor.
  • Wait before plugging in. If it was laid on its side, give it 24 hours to stand upright before powering it on.

Moving a refrigerator doesn’t have to be a nightmare – with the right preparation and the right team, it’s just another box to check on your moving day list. And if you’d rather leave it to the pros, Brazos Movers is just a call away. As one of the most trusted moving professionals in Weatherford, TX and the broader DFW area, we’re here to make your move smooth, safe, and stress-free from start to finish.