A Frigidaire leveling problem.

April 6, 2017 9:28 AM

New fridge. I didn't make sure the front was higher during delivery before the guys left. The front leg screws are UNDER the fridge (page 6, Figure 3), with not enough clearance for a wrench, and only the thread is accessible to me. I need to make them taller. How can I safely level my landlord's fridge without damaging it (e.g. I think a pry bar would immediately damage it)?
posted by flibbertigibbet to Home & Garden (12 answers total)

How can I safely level my landlord's fridge without damaging it

By asking your landlord to do it.

I'm not being flip. If you do anything that causes damage, you'll be liable. It's better for the owner to take care of it.
posted by mochapickle at 9:34 AM on April 6, 2017 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Landlord is out-of-the-country, permanently.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 9:44 AM on April 6, 2017

Tip it back a little by pushing on the top. Slide a book underneath with your foot. Adjust legs by hand. Tip it back again and kick the book out. Repeat as necessary.
posted by sexyrobot at 9:47 AM on April 6, 2017 [10 favorites]

I was going to say a block of wood, but the advice above applies. Tipping it slightly backward and sliding something solid under the front is the way to go. It will be fine for a few minutes.
posted by anastasiav at 9:49 AM on April 6, 2017 [1 favorite]

Were the delivery guys supposed to install it properly? Call them back if tip-and-shim doesn't work.
posted by teremala at 9:51 AM on April 6, 2017 [1 favorite]

You can raise the front by putting a suitably-sized and -shaped board under it, some suitably-sized and -shaped object (like a steel bar) under the board, and then stepping on the outer end of the board so that it rocks over the object, raising the front of the fridge. This should spread the force generated by leverage across the whole front end of the fridge, thus avoiding damage which would be caused by applying the force to a single point with a pry-bar. Once you have it up in the air, somebody who trusts you unconditionally can then access the front leg screws and adjust them. I did it with a washing-machine and it worked. Just don't step off the board until your partner has his/her hands out from under.
posted by aqsakal at 9:51 AM on April 6, 2017

Did it come with a leveling wrench? I know our washing machine did- it is made to slide right under the appliance so that you can use the leveling feet without tipping/tilting. Something like this.
posted by sulaine at 10:08 AM on April 6, 2017

One other thing to watch while you turn the levelling wrench: don't scratch the floor with it- I did that on some new kitchen flooring once.
posted by dowcrag at 10:18 AM on April 6, 2017

Response by poster: Nope, it recommends using an adjustable wrench and doing it by feel.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 10:18 AM on April 6, 2017

Well, if when trying, the feet seem hard to adjust - Tilt, insert wedges from hardware store.
posted by Freedomboy at 10:20 AM on April 6, 2017

You can stick furniture sliders or felt pads under the front feet. Height adjustment and floor protection in one, no wrenching required, but you're still gonna have to do the slight tilt thing.
posted by sageleaf at 1:02 PM on April 6, 2017 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Tipping didn't work very well because back legs have rollers on them, so it just rolled backwards. Eventually, a wrench, with another wrench acting as pivot, and a book (as the prop) got the fridge up high enough, and safely enough, to manipulate the legs.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 7:18 AM on April 7, 2017