Do I need to turn off a fridge/freezer a long time before transport?

February 5, 2016 3:29 AM

Does a fridge needs to be turned off for a long time before transport? Googling it, some sources say yes, other sources say no (and suggest you can even store all your food in the freezer while you move it). What to believe, and why?

I'm going to go look at a relatively new side-by-side fridge/freezer that I saw advertised on the Internet. I'd like to be able to inspect the fridge while it's turned on, to make sure that it works. Then, if it does, I'd want to just take it away then and there, so I don't have to come back. Just want to make sure this wouldn't damage it.

posted by strekker to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

I've never heard of having to have it turned off before transport, but I have been told that you shouldn't plug it in immediately after transport, especially if it has not remained in its normal, vertical orientation while being moved around. I have this vague notion that it has to do with lubricants in the system being disturbed and needing to settle back to where they're supposed to be so that the compressor isn't damaged, but I really don't know much about refrigeration.
posted by jon1270 at 3:57 AM on February 5, 2016 [3 favorites]

Jon1270 is correct, keep it upright if possible.
posted by postel's law at 4:37 AM on February 5, 2016

I've always heard the same thing as jon1270, and have never had an issue when moving a fridge or freezer.
posted by Dip Flash at 4:46 AM on February 5, 2016

If you don't defrost it before moving it's liable to thaw and leak everywhere, although that depends how long it's unplugged for and if there's any ice build-up (maybe not an issue if there's no freezer compartment).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:50 AM on February 5, 2016 [2 favorites]

Most refrigerators have locking bolts on the compressor. These keep the compressor from bouncing around during transport. You should tighten them for transport and loosen after the refrigerator is in place. Then let the refrigerator sit for 30 minutes to let the fluids settle before plugging it in.
posted by H21 at 6:35 AM on February 5, 2016

consider this like #5 to say "let it settle before plugging back in". (Some say 24 hrs if it's not been kept upright during transport).
posted by k5.user at 7:35 AM on February 5, 2016

I get to be a bad example you can learn from. Years ago, I moved a standard fridge w top freezer about 3 miles. Seriously, only 3 miles. I left the food in the freezer (cuz i am lazy) and transported the appliance in a flatbed of a pickup truck-- so, on it's side. Maybe it was on its side total of 40 minutes between moving and taking time to get the other stuff out of the truck before getting it in the new house and upright again in the kitchen. Plugged it in, and continued to unpack and move the rest of our stuff. Left the new house and came back 3 days later to find a horror show in the kitchen. All the meat in the freezer had warmed to room temp and there was blood running down the sides of the fridge and pooled on the floor. Turns out transporting a fridge on its side then putting it back upright and plugging it in messes with the coils or cooling agent or whatever and makes the appliance FAIL. I don't know how long you have to wait after its been on its side before you can plug it in again but there is definitely some wait time required.
posted by TestamentToGrace at 8:54 AM on February 6, 2016

Yeah, absolutely transport it upright. I don't think anything else matters. The fridge doesn't know where it is!
posted by kamikazegopher at 1:01 PM on February 6, 2016