A refrigerator is one of the heaviest, most awkward items in any home, and it is the one most likely to damage a floor, a doorframe or your back. The safe way to move one is simple to state: empty and dry it ahead of time, secure the doors, keep it upright, use an appliance dolly with straps, and never do it alone. This guide walks through each step, explains the question everyone asks about laying a fridge on its side, and covers what to check if you decide to hire movers in Florida.
TL;DR
- Start 24 to 48 hours ahead: empty the fridge, turn off the ice maker, disconnect and drain the water line, and let everything dry.
- Keep the refrigerator upright whenever you can. If you must tilt or lay it down, check your owner's manual and the compressor location first.
- Use an appliance dolly with straps and at least two people. Pull the fridge straight out and never drag or "walk" it.
- After a move, stand the fridge upright and wait before plugging it in. Manufacturer guidance on how long varies.
- If you hire movers in Florida, confirm the company is registered with the state and ask about coverage that goes beyond the legal minimum.
Table of Contents
- Measure first, then plan the route
- How to prepare a refrigerator for moving
- Tools you need
- Moving a refrigerator step by step
- Can you lay a refrigerator down?
- Stairs, elevators and high-rises in South Florida
- Do it yourself or hire movers?
- What to do with an old refrigerator
- Our perspective: what we see on refrigerator moves
- Let us move it for you
- FAQ
- Sources
Measure first, then plan the route
Most refrigerator problems start before anyone lifts anything. Measure the fridge at its widest, tallest and deepest points, including handles. Then measure every opening it must pass through: the kitchen doorway, hallways, the front door, any elevator, and the doorway or kitchen opening at the new place. The Home Depot's moving guide makes the same point: confirm the appliance can get out of your kitchen, out of the home and into the new one before moving day.
A few details are easy to miss:
- Doors and handles. Many refrigerator doors can be removed, which can gain you an inch or more of clearance. Check the manual before you take hinges apart.
- Turns and landings. A tall fridge on a dolly needs more room to pivot than its width suggests. Measure the corners, not just the straight runs.
- The destination. Know where the fridge is going, whether the space has a water line or outlet in the right place, and whether the path is clear of boxes.
- Weight. Whirlpool notes that a fridge should never be moved alone and needs a second person, a dolly and straps. Modern models commonly weigh a few hundred pounds, and large side-by-side or built-in styles can weigh considerably more. Look up your model's weight on the label inside the cabinet or on the manufacturer's site.
How to prepare a refrigerator for moving
Preparation takes more time than the move itself, and it prevents most of the damage people blame on the move. Here is the order we recommend.
- Plan your food 48 hours out. Use up what you can, donate what you cannot, and pack the rest in coolers on move day. In South Florida heat, perishable food should not ride in a warm truck.
- Turn off the ice maker. Shut off the ice maker a day or two early so it stops filling with water, and empty the ice bin.
- Disconnect and drain the water line. If your fridge has an ice maker or water dispenser, close the supply valve, disconnect the line and let the remaining water drain. A line that still holds water can leak in transit and stain a floor or a truck. If the connection is hard-wired or tucked behind cabinetry, see the note on disconnects below.
- Unplug the refrigerator. Do this at least several hours before the move, ideally the night before, so the interior can defrost and dry.
- Clean and dry the inside. Take out shelves, drawers and bins. Wipe every surface and leave the doors open for airflow until it is fully dry. A fridge closed up damp in a warm space can develop mold and odors quickly.
- Secure removable parts. Wrap glass shelves and drawers in padding and pack them separately, or tape them in place with painter's tape if the manual allows it.
- Secure the doors. Use straps or moving wrap around the body of the fridge so the doors cannot swing open. Avoid strong tape directly on the finish, since it can pull off paint or leave residue on stainless steel.
- Secure the cord. Tie it up or tape it to the back so it does not drag or get pinched under a wheel.
- Protect the finish. Cover the fridge with a moving blanket and wrap. Stainless steel scratches easily, and handles are often the first thing to catch a doorframe.
If you have run out of padding, wrap or straps, our moving supplies and boxes are available separately from a full move.
A note on gas lines and hard-wired connections
Appliance moves are rarely just transportation. Some water lines are plumbed into the wall, and some kitchens have gas ranges next to the fridge. Gas connections and hard-wired work may need a licensed tradesperson rather than a general moving crew. Before you book anyone, ask exactly which disconnect and reconnect tasks are included. We cover the basics on our appliance disconnect and reconnect page.
Tools you need
You can rent or buy most of this, and it is worth getting right.
- An appliance dolly with straps. A flat furniture dolly or hand truck without a strap is not enough for a tall, top-heavy appliance. Rubber wheels are gentler on floors and grip better on ramps.
- Two or more people. One steadies the fridge while the other controls the dolly. Add a third for stairs.
- Moving blankets and stretch wrap for the body and the doors.
- Floor protection. Rosin paper, cardboard or floor runners protect tile, hardwood and laminate from wheels and grit.
- A screwdriver or socket set for removing doors or base grilles if needed.
- Work gloves and closed-toe shoes.
- A ramp or plywood sheet if there is a step or threshold at a door or truck.
If you are hoping to push a fridge on its built-in wheels, be careful. Many refrigerators have small front rollers and adjustable feet. They are meant for pulling the unit straight out for cleaning, not for rolling across a house or down a path.
Moving a refrigerator step by step
Pull it out of its space
Pull the refrigerator straight out. Do not wiggle or twist it, and do not "walk" it side to side, because that can gouge flooring and strain the unit. Retract the leveling feet first so it sits on its rollers, then pull it forward slowly while a helper watches for the water line and cord. Lay a protective runner on the floor in the direction you are going.
Load it onto the dolly
Tilt the fridge slightly back, slide the dolly's lip under the base, and strap the appliance firmly to the frame. Put the dolly on the side of the fridge that lets it roll with the doors facing backward or sideways, depending on the model, so the weight stays balanced. Keep it as upright as you can. Tip it only as far as needed to get the dolly in place.
Roll it out
Move slowly and keep one person at the top controlling the tilt. Take corners wide. Stop at thresholds and lift over them rather than bumping across. If you hit a step, lift with your legs and use a helper on each side rather than twisting your torso. Stairs are the point where most injuries and dropped fridges happen, so see the section on stairs and elevators below.
Load it into the truck
Put the refrigerator against a wall of the truck, upright, and strap it in with the doors facing in. Do not stack boxes or furniture on top. Place padding between the fridge and any other large item so they cannot rub during turns and stops.
Set it up at the new home
Roll it into place, check that it is level, and reconnect the water line if you have one. Then give it time before you turn it on, as explained next.
Can you lay a refrigerator down?
This is the question behind a lot of searches, and the honest answer is: keep it upright if you possibly can.
A refrigerator's compressor holds oil. When the unit is on its side, that oil can flow out of the compressor into the cooling lines. LG's support guidance warns that a refrigerator moved lying down can suffer vibration damage, including to the compressor or gas pipe, and can malfunction as a result. The manufacturer's advice is to keep the unit upright when moving it.
If you have no choice
Sometimes a low elevator ceiling or a tight doorway leaves no option. If that is your situation:
- Check the owner's manual first. Some brands have specific rules, and some say not to lay the fridge down at all.
- Find the compressor. It is usually at the back near the bottom. Do not lay the fridge on the side that puts the compressor lowest. Bosch explains that a fridge can be transported on its side, but should be left upright before it is plugged in and switched on.
- Keep the time on its side short. Lay it down only for the part of the trip that needs it, then stand it back up.
- Pad the side it rests on so the cabinet and any exposed lines are not crushed.
How long to wait before plugging in
The waiting time depends on the manufacturer. LG advises waiting at least 2 hours after a fridge has been on its side so the compressor oil can settle. Other makers ask for longer, and some say to wait until the next day. A safe habit is to check your manual and, if you cannot find a figure, wait longer rather than shorter. The same wait is sensible even after an upright move that involved a lot of tilting on a dolly.
Once you plug it in, the fridge can take many hours to reach a safe food temperature. Check it with an appliance thermometer before restocking perishables.
Stairs, elevators and high-rises in South Florida
Many of our customers live in condos and apartment buildings along the coast from Fort Lauderdale through Pompano Beach and Boca Raton, and in buildings in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. These moves raise issues a house move does not.
- Reserve the elevator. Most buildings require advance booking of a service or freight elevator for moving, and some limit move hours. Ask building management what they require before you pick a date.
- Certificate of insurance. Many buildings ask the moving company for a certificate of insurance before they allow a move. Request it early so it does not hold up your day.
- Elevator size. Measure the interior. A tall refrigerator on a dolly often fits only when tilted, which brings you back to the question of laying it down. Know your answer before you arrive.
- Protection. Floors, walls and elevator interiors need padding or runners. Hallway corners and door frames are common damage points.
- Stairs. A fridge on stairs needs a strapped dolly, at least two experienced people and a clear landing at the top and bottom. Do not attempt a flight of stairs with two untrained helpers and a loose strap.
- Heat and rain. South Florida afternoon storms are common. Plan the outdoor portion of the move around the weather, and keep the fridge covered and dry on the way to the truck.
Do it yourself or hire movers?
Doing it yourself makes sense when the fridge is a small or mid-sized model, the route is flat and short, and you have two capable helpers, an appliance dolly and time to prepare. Hire help when any of these apply:
- The fridge is a large side-by-side, French-door or built-in model.
- You have stairs, a tight elevator or a long carry.
- The fridge is hard-wired, has a plumbed water line, or sits in cabinetry.
- You are moving the fridge as part of a larger move and do not want to risk injury or floor damage on the last day.
- You are a senior or have a back or joint condition. If lifting is a concern, talk to your doctor before you try any heavy move.
What a mover charges for a single appliance depends on weight, distance, stairs or elevator access and which disconnect tasks are included. We do not publish a flat price, because the same fridge costs different amounts to move from a ground-floor home than from a high-rise unit. Ask for a written quote that lists what is covered.
If you only need strong hands and want to handle the rest yourself, hourly labor-only assistance is an option.
What Florida law says about hiring movers
In Florida, intrastate movers must register with the state. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services explains that you can check a company's registration through its business lookup or by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA. The same page describes minimum liability and written disclosure requirements. The statute is in Chapter 507 of the Florida Statutes, which also covers accessorial services such as valuation coverage and the information a mover must give you.
There is one point worth understanding before you sign. Per FDACS, the baseline liability a mover can offer is calculated per pound per article, and that figure is low compared with the replacement cost of a modern refrigerator. If your fridge is expensive, ask your mover about additional valuation coverage and make your choice in writing. Do not assume the basic coverage will replace the appliance.
Before booking any mover, ask these questions:
- Are you registered with the state, and can I look up your registration?
- Is the quote in writing, and what does it include?
- Who disconnects and reconnects the water line, and what is not covered?
- How will you protect my floors, walls and elevator?
- What coverage applies to the refrigerator, and can I raise it?
- Will one coordinator be my contact from quote to delivery?
What to do with an old refrigerator
Moving a fridge you no longer want is a different job. Refrigerators contain refrigerants that need proper handling, so they should not be left at the curb. Options include selling or donating a working unit, asking the retailer to haul away the old one when a new one is delivered, or using a disposal service. If you are cleaning out a home as part of a move, tell your mover early. We offer furniture disposal alongside our moving services.
Our perspective: what we see on refrigerator moves
We move appliances in homes, condos and offices around Fort Lauderdale and South Florida, and the pattern is consistent. Fridges rarely get damaged because of the carry. They get damaged because of what was skipped before it: a water line left connected, a door not secured, a measurement not taken or an elevator not booked.
Our approach is organized planning first. A single coordinator works with you on what is being moved, what the access looks like at both addresses and which disconnect tasks are needed. On the day, uniformed, background-checked crews lay down floor protection, pad the doorframes and elevator and secure the appliance before it moves. We think a customer should know the price and the scope before the truck arrives, with no upsells or hidden fees.
We also tell customers when something is outside what a moving crew should do. Gas connections and hard-wired work may need a licensed professional, and we would rather say so up front than leave you surprised on move day.
— Orange Movers Team
Let us move it for you
If you would rather not carry a few hundred pounds of appliance down a hallway, our crews handle refrigerators as part of a local move or as a heavy single item. We are licensed and insured, and we protect floors, walls and doorframes throughout. For a move beyond a single appliance, our full-service packing and unpacking takes the rest of the kitchen off your hands too.
FAQ
Can you lay a fridge down when transporting it?
It is best not to. Manufacturers recommend keeping a refrigerator upright because compressor oil can move into the cooling lines when the unit lies on its side. If you have no choice, check your owner's manual, find the compressor and keep the time on its side short. Then stand it upright and wait before plugging it in.
How long should a refrigerator sit before I plug it in?
It depends on the brand. LG says at least 2 hours after a fridge was on its side, and other manufacturers ask for longer. Look in your owner's manual for the exact figure. If you cannot find one, waiting longer is the safer choice.
Do fridges have wheels on the bottom?
Most have small rollers at the front and adjustable leveling feet. They help you pull the unit out for cleaning, but they are not designed for long trips across floors or over thresholds. Retract the feet, pull straight out, and use an appliance dolly for anything beyond a short distance.
How do I move a heavy refrigerator by myself?
You should not. Whirlpool advises against moving a fridge alone because of its weight, and recommends a second person, a dolly and straps. If you have no helpers, hiring a crew or booking hourly labor is safer for you and for the appliance.
Do I need to defrost and drain the fridge before a move?
Yes. Empty it, unplug it ahead of time, disconnect and drain any water line, and let the interior dry completely. Leaving the doors open for airflow helps prevent mold and odors. Start a day or two before the move.
Sources
- How to Move a Refrigerator, The Home Depot
- How To Move A Refrigerator, Whirlpool
- How to transport an LG refrigerator, LG USA Support
- Can I move my LG refrigerator on its side, LG USA Support
- Can you transport a fridge on its side, Bosch UK
- Moving Within Florida, FDACS
- Chapter 507, 2026 Florida Statutes