How to Prepare Your Freezer For Moving in 7 Easy Steps

You have finally arranged all the details about your house move. All that is left is to pack your belongings and head out to your new home. It sounds easy until you look at your kitchen and remember the freezer -the big ice-producing machine you need to defrost, clean, wrap and move properly if you want it to survive the journey. That may sound like a lot, but our London experts have prepared a short guide that can help you. Follow these 7 steps, and all will be good.

Step 1: Empty It

For several reasons, you shouldn’t attempt to move a full freezer.

• It will become heavier due to frozen food. Thus it will be harder to carry and can affect your moving costs.
• The loose things within the freezer may slam against the doors and sides, harming the interior.
• While you relocate, the freezer will be unplugged for a few hours and will begin to defrost. The water can damage everything loaded in the moving truck.
• The food may begin to go bad, increasing the risk of food poisoning.

Once you decide to relocate, go through your freezer and start removing everything that is no longer needed. Make a strategy to utilize as many of its contents as possible before the moving day. Donate some of the food to friends and family a few days before you need to thaw it.

Step 2: Defrost

The weight of the ice in your freezer might make it heavier to move. Additionally, it will begin to spontaneously defrost when it is unplugged, which might cause a mess of drips. You should thaw it before travelling to avoid these situations.

Depending on the temperature of the area in which your freezer is located and the quantity of ice building inside it, the defrosting process will often take at least 24 hours. Simply turn off the power and use the defrost feature according to the instruction manual). Prepare some buckets for drips and old towels for cleaning because water may gather while it defrosts.

Step 3: Disassemble

Remember, your freezer will “feel” the road quite well while in the back of the moving truck, so it is best to remove all loose elements. Carefully remove the shelves and drawers. Inspect the inside of your freezer and decide whether or not you will skip Step 4.

Step 4: Clean

Start by making a mixture of lukewarm water and dishwashing liquid. Use a soft sponge and scrape the inside surface. Get a towel to remove the excess liquid. Next, wash the shelves and drawers in the same way. Put these away to dry off completely. Leave the freezer door open for better airflow.

Check the machine in a few hours, and make sure it is completely water-free before you start packing. Even the slightest moisture can accommodate hundreds of fungi and bacteria. Cleaning your freezer is essential for safeguarding the food you later place inside. Mould spreads via the air through spores. However, they can also be transferred by direct touch or landing on an insect. Fungi growth in your freezer during the move could contaminate your food.

Step 5: Pack

It is time for the most important step – packing. Don’t slack off because the success of the whole move lies in your wrapping skills.

Secure the electrical cord to the freezer’s rear. No matter if your freezer is an upright type or a chest model, tape the door shut. This way, the door can’t open during transportation and endanger other objects in the truck.

If you are afraid you may scratch the shiny outside coating of the machine, you can wrap it in plastic foil. However, don’t stack it too much, as it will be difficult to load and unload.

Wrap the shelves and drawers with bubble wrap and secure them with tape. If you are running low on moving boxes, you can use the freezer drawers as storage containers for books, clothes or cutlery. Just remember to put enough padding inside.

Remember, if you don’t feel confident in your packing and moving skills you can always rely on professional help.

Step 6: Move It

You might need to remove its door if your upright freezer is too large to get out of the house. Replace the door as soon as you can. Make sure you have a supply of the necessary equipment on hand. The likelihood of the freezer’s interior or the door being damaged during the relocation rises if you move it separately from the freezer.

Move the appliance away from the wall with the aid of your friends. This can be accomplished by slowly moving the freezer forward while rocking it from side to side. Alternatively, you could use furniture sliders to protect your flooring. To tilt the machine back and secure the slider to each of the front feet, you will need at least two helpers. After installing the sliders, you should be able to move the freezer forward without causing any harm.

Have your friends tilt the freezer back so you can slide the moving dolly beneath it. Do the same on the other side. Once the freezer is balanced, fasten it firmly to the dolly with straps. If you don’t have ratchet straps, use a strong rope instead. Before bringing the dolly to the truck, make sure it can move easily.

Ideally, you should move your freezer while keeping it completely upright. If you don’t have enough room to transfer it upright, set it on its side closest to the compressor.

Wheel the freezer slowly and carefully toward the moving truck, navigating doors and bumps as you go. Two people should be on either side of the appliance while one person should be moving the dolly. If you have to go up or downstairs, hoist the freezer with your two friends on either side and carry it.

Step 7: Load (Unload)

Use the ramp to load the freezer onto the moving truck. It is preferable to pull it up while your friends support it by keeping it stable. Ask them to assist as you move it into place on the vehicle. If you intend to transfer other goods with the dolly – remove the straps. Then, ask your helpers to tilt the freezer just enough for you to release the dolly.

Secure your freezer upright inside the truck using ratchet straps or rope before moving on to the next item.

The unloading process is pretty similar. Once at your new house, ask your friends to assist you in securing the freezer to the dolly inside the moving truck and roll it down the ramp. Navigate your way slowly and place your freezer at its spot in your new home.

FAQ

As professional movers, we often get different queries from concerned customers that are unsure how to handle their freezers. So here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions.

How long do you have to wait to plug in a freezer after moving it?

It depends on the way the machine was transported. If it was left standing up, you can plug it in right away. However, if the freezer was placed on its side in the moving truck, you have to leave it standing for 24 hours before switching it on.

Can moving a freezer damage it?

Moving a freezer can be dangerous for the people who load/unload it and the machine itself. Remember, if you have to lay it down, do it on one of its sides. Avoid placing it on its front, as the machine is heavy and the pressure can damage its doors. DO NOT lay it on its back – the weight of the freezer will damage its inner parts. Always use straps when you carry it, and never attempt to do it alone if you are not a professional mover.

Can you move a freezer without defrosting it?

If you are moving two streets down, you can get away with transporting your freezer without defrosting it. You can even leave it fully stacked with food. However, if you are travelling longer than, let’s say 10-15 minutes, you must defrost and unload it. There is a risk for the machine and the other items packed alongside the freezer in the moving truck.

Can you move a freezer right after unplugging it?

You can, but you shouldn’t, as the machine needs time to adjust. That is why manufacturers say to wait 24 hours before you start packing and moving your freezer.

If relocating your freezer seems like a lot greater task than you believe you are capable of, delegate the effort to someone else. Our professional movers will gladly help you with everything.

Stephanie Cooper

Stephanie is a content marketing specialist for Top Removals for the past several years. She has extensive experience working with moving companies and knows her audience. Stephanie creates engaging and useful content helping the customers of Top Removals with their struggles and providing them with the most accurate insight.