How To Move Appliances
Published by Chris Townsend
Appliances are one of the trickier items to move since they are large, heavy, and often difficult to move up stairs and around corners. Not only can they be challenging to move, but if not done properly, they can also cause damage to the home if you’re not careful as you move them out of one house and into another. In spite of the difficulty of moving appliances, there are some steps you can take to make sure your move goes off without a hitch and without causing any damage along the way.
Disconnect & Secure Cords
The first step in moving appliances is to disconnect them and secure the cords so that they’re not loose while you’re moving. This goes for refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, and anything else. For refrigerators and freezers, it’s a good idea to defrost them before attempting to move them or you’ll face potential issues of moving something heavy with water sloshing around. Cleaning is also recommended since dust and debris can gather over time, not to mention that you probably want to move into your new home with clean appliances.
Take Measurements
Before you move any appliance, be sure to take measurements to ensure that they’ll fit through doorways and stairwells. The last thing you want is to lose part of your security deposit or damage your new home due to damage cause by moving a heavy appliance. Not only is there a risk of damage to walls and doorjambs, but you can also injure yourself and others if there’s not enough space to navigate your appliances from where they are to where they need to go. By taking measurements of appliances and the spaces they need to fit through, you’ll make sure that you have plenty of room to maneuver.
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Use the Right Equipment
The right equipment is essential to moving any appliance. Obviously, you don’t want to try to hoist a refrigerator or washer by hand—it’s not only dangerous for you, but it can also damage the appliance itself and anything around it if dropped. Make use of hand trucks, dollies, and furniture straps to make the job both easier and safer. It’s also a good idea to wear gloves when you handle appliances to protect your hands.
Protect the Floors
The floors in your home can easily be damaged when moving appliances, which makes it all the more important that you use some form of protection against scratches and cuts. This goes double if you have wood floors or linoleum. Appliances are heavy and unwieldy, which makes for a dangerous combination if dropped or tipped on a floor. You can use rugs or other temporary floor protection over the areas you’re moving appliances to help cushion the blow in the event that one of your appliances hits the floor. It doesn’t take much to damage a floor; even a small amount of sliding can cause significant damage if not properly guarded against.