Refrigerator Moving Mistakes To Avoid

Moving from one house to another can be quite hectic, and there are certainly many things that you need to do to prepare for the big day. Boxing items, cleaning your new house, and planning where items need to go in the purchased residence are all things that need to be done. You also must prepare your appliances for moving day. Getting your refrigerator prepared is one of the more challenging tasks, and you may make mistakes that lead to the poor function of your refrigerator. To learn about some mistakes to avoid, keep reading.

Failing To Clean The Inside

Many people clean their refrigerators once a week, and this is a good practice to help reduce the bacteria that live inside. If you have skipped this weekly chore, then you may end up with a serious bacteria explosion in the appliance while it is turned off during your move. You may think that the cold temperatures of your refrigerator kill the bacteria that end up inside of it. This is not true though. It is suggested that you keep your refrigerator at a temperature at or below 40 degrees to help reduce bacterial growth, not kill the microorganisms. 

Unfortunately, there may be more e. coli bacteria in your refrigerator than on your toilet seat. These bacteria, and others that cause food-borne illnesses, can double in numbers every 20 minutes once the inside of your appliance reaches room temperature. This will happen soon after you clear it out and defrost it, so take the time afterwards to completely disinfect it to keep your family safe from illnesses after the move is complete and your refrigerator is plugged back in.

You can and should use white vinegar to clean your refrigerator while food is inside of it. However, once it is emptied, you should work with stronger disinfectants to make sure you kill as much bacteria as possible. Bleach will do this, so place about one cup of bleach and one cup of water in a spray bottle. Spritz the entire inside of your appliance. Bleach will kill bacteria on contact, so use a clean cotton cloth to wipe the bleach mixture away afterwards. Keep the doors open to allow the inside to dry. Close the doors once the interior is no longer moist and use your same mixture to clean the exterior of the appliance.

Placing The Refrigerator On Its Back

If you move your refrigerator around to defrost it, get it ready for the moving truck, and place it inside the truck, then you may find that it is easier to place the appliance on its side or back. However, you should keep the appliance in an upright position at all times. If you place the appliance on its side or back, then the oil that sits in the compressor can move into the coolant lines of the device. While most of the oil will flow back to the compressor when the refrigerator is placed upright again, some can stick in the lines. This can prevent coolant from properly moving through the lines, and you will experience cooling problems. Also, if you place your refrigerator on its back, you can actually crush the coolant lines and cause coolant leaks. This can lead to the need for costly repairs or a new refrigerator. 

It is fairly easy to make sure that your refrigerator stays upright during the moving process, but it can tip while in transit. To prevent this, make sure to purchase ratchet straps that can be placed around the appliance to keep it stable while the moving truck is being driven. If possible, rent a truck with clips or openings on the floor or vehicle sides that will allow you to secure the straps in place. These are often called e-track,s so make sure that you purchase straps that are compatible with this track system if possible. It may even be best to hire an experienced moving company like Christos & Christos Moving and Storage that will know how to handle large appliances like fridges. 

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