There are many different areas to address when preparing for a move. Transporting large appliances can be especially tricky because of their bulky size and extra parts. Get your large appliances safely moved into your new home with these expert tips.
1. Read Appliance Manuals
A good place to start when preparing to move a washer and dryer or other large appliances is to read each of their manuals. In them, you should find detailed instructions on how to safely prepare your appliance for a move. If you have misplaced the appliance manual, or the instructions for moving it are not listed, don’t fret. Most manuals can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website or other online appliance manual communities.
2. Prepare the Appliances
Once you have gathered all of the necessary information regarding the appliances you are looking to move, it is time to prepare them for transporting. Preparations often include:
- unplugging the appliance in advance
- cleaning the appliance
- removing drawers and storage shelves
- unfastening hoses and bolts
The refrigerator often requires the most care during a move because the freezer needs to be defrosted in advance and food should be removed and transferred to a cooler for safe keeping. Additionally, if any of your appliances are connected to a gas line Imperial Movers suggests having a professional come to your home to safely disconnect the line.
3. Storing Parts
Large appliances often have several cords, hoses, bolts, and shelves attached to them. To ensure the appliance works properly and to avoid unwanted additional costs, storing these parts securely during a move is crucial. The best way to keep them in order is to store the parts inside of the appliance or taping the parts to the back of the appliance. If this isn’t possible, label each part with which appliance it goes to and packs it in a box that is reserved specifically for appliance parts.
Place the box towards the front of the moving truck so that it is easily accessible. Appliances should be set up promptly upon entering a new home, so having it readily available will make that a much easier goal to achieve.
4. Protect Appliances During Transport
To avoid damaging appliances during a move:
- secure doors with packaging tape
- wrap them in moving blankets
- utilize appliance rollers or furniture sliders
- secure appliances to the dolly with furniture straps
Take care when moving heavy appliances so as not to injure yourself. Always lift them with at least two people, and use a furniture dolly whenever possible.
Once you have safely transported the appliances to your new home, make setting them up a top priority. The refrigerator should be the first appliance installed since it takes 24 hours for the internal temperature to regulate and safely store food. Large appliances are a vital part of the home, so handling them with care during a move is important to keep them running efficiently.