Six steps to move a freezer
- Plan the food. Use up what you can, then pack the rest in coolers with ice or ask a friend with space to hold it.
- Unplug and defrost. Unplug it, leave the door open and put towels and a pan under it to catch water until it is fully thawed.
- Clean and dry. Wipe out the inside, dry it well and leave the door open for a while to air it.
- Secure the parts. Remove or tape shelves and baskets, wind the cord and tape the door shut with painter's tape.
- Move it upright. Use a dolly with straps, keep the freezer upright and lift on stairs with enough people.
- Let it settle. At the new home, stand it level and wait before plugging in, following the maker's manual.
A freezer is a sealed cold box with a compressor underneath. Moving it empty, dry and upright protects the compressor and prevents a puddle on the truck floor. Plan where the food goes first, because an empty freezer means the contents need another cold place.
Why upright matters
The compressor and refrigerant lines are designed for the freezer to stand upright. Tipping can move oil where it should not be. Many makers give a waiting time after the freezer has been moved before it is switched on, and the manual for your model says how long.
Chest versus upright
A chest freezer is long and heavy, with a lid that must be taped shut. An upright freezer is tall and can topple. Both need a dolly and straps. Chest freezers should stay level, and a tall upright needs a helper at the top on stairs.
Doors and floors
A freezer is bulky, so check that it will clear every doorway, the turn into the hall and any stair landing on the route. Plan the path before you lift, and keep a helper at each tricky spot.
Remove the door of an upright only if the maker's manual says so. Measure the route, and protect floors with runners. On the truck, secure the freezer against a wall.
Related appliances
Freezers sit with the other large appliances in a move. O'Brien's moves household appliances; see household appliance moving and how to move a refrigerator.