Transporting the refrigerator horizontally: what you should consider

If you want to transport a refrigerator horizontally, there are a few things to consider. Because your refrigerator has a compressor that contains oil. If the refrigerator is transported lying down, the oil mixes with the coolant.

How to transport a refrigerator horizontally

Before you transport your refrigerator horizontally, you should thoroughly clean the device and prepare it for transport. For this, the refrigerator should be empty and defrosted.

• Remove all food from the refrigerator. Then pull the plug out of the socket and let the freezer thaw.
• If the refrigerator is defrosted, you should clean the device thoroughly.
• To do this, remove all shelves and drawers. Wipe the inside walls with a damp cloth. If necessary, use all-purpose cleaners for the cleaning water to remove odors.
• Pack the complete accessories of the refrigerator well in paper, terry towels or blankets so that nothing breaks. Store everything in a box and transport it separately from the fridge.
• Then close all doors and tape them with masking tape, so that the doors do not open during transport.
• Make sure that the refrigerator should always be carried on its side and not on its back. Because on the back there are important cooling elements and hoses that could be damaged on the back during transport.

Let the refrigerator stand before switching on

Under no circumstances should you switch your refrigerator back on immediately after transport.

• If you transport your refrigerator upright, you can switch it on again immediately. However, if the refrigerator has been transported lying down, the refrigerator must be left to stand for some time.
• Because it can happen that the oil contained in the compressor gets into the coolant during transport. If you switched on your refrigerator immediately, an optimal cooling function would no longer be guaranteed.
• The refrigerator must therefore be left to stand for a while so that the oil can run back into the compressor.
• The duration differs depending on the refrigerator model. As a rule, the device should remain standing overnight. Only then can you put it back into operation.