5 Practical Tips for Safely Moving Your Appliances
Moving is never an easy task. After hours of organizing your items in boxes, lifting them onto the truck, and cleaning your old home, the last thing you want to think about is your appliances. Sometimes, we get lucky and don’t have to move big appliances. But, if you have items like your refrigerator and stove, which you want or need to bring to your new home, they can be cumbersome and fragile to move with. Furthermore, these items can be expensive and require careful handling to ensure their safe arrival at your new home. If you worry about this, use our practical tips for safely moving your appliances.
Measure and Plan Ahead
Before you begin the moving process, take the time to measure your appliances and their respective spaces in your current and new home. This will help you determine if everything will fit through doorways, hallways, and stairwells, allowing you to plan accordingly. If the measurements don’t match up, you may need to disassemble or find alternative solutions for moving these items.
Turn Off and Disconnect Appliances
Following the proper steps in disconnecting your appliances from their power sources is essential. Most appliances will come with user manuals that outline the correct way to do this. For items like ovens, washing machines, and refrigerators, you may need to turn off the gas, water, and electrical connections to ensure safety.
Clean and Secure Your Appliances
Before the move, take some time to thoroughly clean each appliance and remove any lingering food or debris. Additionally, ensure that all moving parts are secure. For example, you can tape down refrigerator shelves, lock washer drums, and keep oven doors in place with sturdy straps. Doing so will ensure your appliances are ready for transport and don’t sustain unnecessary damage during the move.
If you feel a bit overwhelmed with the cleaning process, hire a professional to come in and make your appliances look like new.
Use the Right Tools, Equipment, and Help
The right tools and equipment for moving appliances are essential to ensure their safety during transport. Appliance dollies, hand trucks, and lifting straps can all make the moving process much more manageable. Furthermore, utilizing these tools will help prevent injury to yourself and any potential damage to your appliances.
Make sure that you and whoever is helping you move are physically capable of moving larger appliances. You do not want to risk an injury or damage to your appliances.
Enlist Help or Hire Professionals
While saving money by moving appliances yourself may feel tempting, it can be risky and strenuous. Enlist help from experienced friends and family, or hire a professional moving company. Professionals have the experience and equipment to move your appliances, preventing damage and stress safely.
A couple of hundred dollars to move a few appliances can save you money in the long run. If you damage your appliances while trying to move independently, you risk having to buy costly appliances that may take time to ship to your new home.
Bonus Tip: Assess and Arrange for Repairs
After the move, take a moment to inspect your appliances for any damages incurred during the transport process. Sometimes, unforeseen issues can arise that require the assistance of an appliance repair service. Choosing a reliable and experienced repair service will help you get your appliances up and running quickly, ensuring a seamless transition to your new home.
These practical tips for safely moving your appliances are vital for ensuring their safe arrival at your new home. Moving can be a hassle, but you can ensure the process goes smoothly with proper planning and the right tools. Follow our tips, and you’ll enjoy your new home with functioning appliances in no time!
