Moving homes can be exciting as well as stressful as you have to take care of several things before you plan your shifting process. While packing most of your stuff will require less effort, some white goods require proper planning and precision to transport safely.
And what could be a better example than your refrigerator! Besides planning about the food and groceries in your fridge, charting a plan to move the appliance is crucial.
But, can you move a fridge right after unplugging it? Technically, you can move a fridge right after unplugging it from the power source. However, you will have to defrost it before moving your fridge to the new location.
Defrosting ensures that your refrigerator will not leak during the transportation process, which might damage other items.
Should You Move Your Fridge After Unplugging It?
While you can move your fridge after unplugging it, the best way of ensuring your appliance’s safety is by following some specific steps. In short, you will have to prepare a plan to move your refrigerator without compromising its cooling and freezing functionalities.
Here are the steps you need to follow to before unplugging your refrigerator.
- Empty your food and grocery items and store them in a cooler
- Remove the detachable parts from your fridge and pack them separately
- Use a cloth and clean the refrigerator using warm water
- Defrost the fridge
- After defrosting, unplug your refrigerator from the power source
- Use a dry cloth to wipe out the remaining water
- Open the fridge door and let it dry for some time
Once your refrigerator is dry, you can start packing. However, ensure that you transport the fridge upright throughout the journey. You can also place a bowl of baking soda inside the refrigerator to eliminate odors.
Is It Dangerous To Move A Fridge Right After Unplugging It?
Although moving a fridge right after unplugging it is not dangerous, you can face issues like defrosting and leakage during transit. In short, water leakage is the prime culprit in this context, and your refrigerator will be perfectly fine after you unplug it from the power source.
However, your fridge is different from other home appliances and requires additional effort before you can pack it for transit.
For instance, removing detachable shelves is crucial to avoid damage and injuries. Likewise, you will want your refrigerator completely dried before moving it to your new destination.
Transporting your fridge upright is also crucial to keep the oil in the pump. Furthermore, ensure that you do not lean the fridge or lay it down to prevent the oil from settling inside the tubes.
How Long Before You Move Your Fridge Right After Unplugging It?
Although there is no specific time set for moving a fridge after unplugging it, it would be best to let the refrigerator dry entirely before packing your refrigerator.
A fridge may take around 1 to 2 hours to defrost. Likewise, cleaning and wiping the fridge dry using a cloth can take up to 30 minutes. In short, you may have to wait for up to 3 hours before you can move your fridge after unplugging it.
Furthermore, removing the detachable parts to avoid internal damage can take up some time, escalating your transport time. In short, it would be best to chart a plan for cleaning, defrosting, and drying your refrigerator before moving it to your new home.
What Happens If You Move A Fridge Right After Unplugging It?
Refrigerators are different from other home appliances as they require electricity to increase their performance and efficiency. In fact, most manufacturers advise their customers to keep their fridges plugged in even if they are away for a vacation.
Although there are no dire consequences for moving a fridge after unplugging it, you will have to understand that your refrigerator starts to react as soon as you unplug it from the power source.
For instance, a refrigerator accumulates pressure as it loses power, forcing the compressor into a regeneration cycle. This process may hinder your progress if you have not defrosted the fridge, as re-plugging a refrigerator immediately after unplugging can damage your compressor.
In short, you will have to empty, clean, and defrost the fridge while it is plugged into the power source to avoid damage to the compressor.
Do You Have To Wait 24 Hours To Plug In Your Refrigerator?
The wait time before you can plug in your fridge depends on various conditions. Firstly, you will have to wait for a few hours if you’ve unplugged your appliance to let your compressor complete its run cycle. Secondly, you may have to wait for around 24 hours if you tipped your fridge during transit.
Since unplugging a refrigerator from the power sources triggers the compressor into a regeneration cycle, it is always wise to wait for some time before re-plugging your appliance. This process will prevent damage to your refrigerator’s compressor and allow it to work efficiently.
However, if you tipped your refrigerator during transit, you will have to wait for the compressor oil to settle in its recommended position before re-plugging your appliance. This process may require more than 24 hours, depending on your product.
In short, it would be best to leave the fridge upright for 24 hours after you move into your new location.
Conclusion
Shifting home appliances like a fridge requires extra effort as it is different from other products. Thankfully, there are ways you can transport a refrigerator without compromising its cooling and freezing functionalities.
We hope that our article has helped you to understand how to clean and defrost a refrigerator before unplugging it and how you can transport a fridge safely.