Move the food separately and fast. Above 90°F, perishables shouldn't sit out of refrigeration for more than 1 hour, according to USDA FSIS, and a moving truck in a DFW summer gets far hotter than that. Then protect the appliances themselves: lock the washer drum, keep the refrigerator upright, and give everything time before it runs again.
Do this first
The day before and the morning of the move:
- Eat down the fridge and freezer in the week before. Whatever's left goes into coolers packed with ice on moving day, and the coolers ride in the air-conditioned car, not the truck.
- Turn the refrigerator off a few hours before loading. GE suggests switching the controls to Off a few hours ahead so the freezer can defrost (GE Appliances). Empty it, remove or tape loose shelves and bins, and wipe up meltwater so it doesn't sit in a closed fridge.
- Shut off the ice maker's water and disconnect the line at the fridge, with a towel ready for the water left in it.
- Drain and lock the front-load washer. Close its valves, disconnect the hoses and catch the leftover water in a bucket, and drain the pump through the pump filter if your manual calls for it. Whirlpool says new shipping bolts must be reinstalled to avoid suspension and structural damage during transport, and that the washer should move upright (Whirlpool).
In the next few hours
During the move:
- Keep the refrigerator upright. GE says it's best to keep a refrigerator standing upright to minimize possible damage to the sealed system. If it had to lie on its side, GE's rule is to stand it upright for as long as it was on its side before plugging it in, and for 24 hours if it was down more than a day. Other brands give different wait times, so check your manual.
- Strap appliances to the truck wall so they can't tip or slide. Protect doors and stainless panels with moving blankets.
- Load the hot-sensitive things last and unload them first: coolers, then the fridge.
- Don't leave the loaded truck parked in the sun longer than you have to.
- At the new house, check the floor and the connections before sliding anything into place: the outlet type for the dryer and range, the gas connection, the washer valves and drain, and the ice maker line.
- Start the fridge, then wait before loading it. It will take hours to reach temperature after sitting warm. Keep the food in coolers until an appliance thermometer shows 40°F or below in the fridge.
Before the technician arrives
If an appliance misbehaves at the new house, note:
- Model and serial numbers. Fridges: inside on a side wall or ceiling. Washers: around the door opening, under the lid or on the back. Dryers: inside the door opening.
- How it was transported: upright or on its side, and for how long.
- Whether the washer bolts went in for the move and came out after.
- What it's doing now, for example a fridge that runs but isn't cold, a washer that bangs on spin, or an error code.
- Any dents or damage from the move, with photos.
What not to do:
- Don't plug in a refrigerator immediately after it's been on its side.
- Don't run the washer with the shipping bolts still in. Remove them after the move and keep them.
- Don't lay a French-door or bottom-freezer refrigerator down. GE says those must always remain upright.
- Don't hook up a gas range or dryer yourself if you're not qualified. If you smell gas, leave and call 911 and Atmos Energy from outside.
How to keep it from happening again
For the next move:
- Keep the washer's shipping bolts in a labeled bag taped to the machine.
- Keep the manuals, or save the model numbers so you can find them online.
- Schedule the move for early morning in summer to keep the truck and the food cooler.
- Replace old water lines and dryer ducts at the new house rather than reusing them.
- Stage coolers and ice the night before.
If you're getting new appliances delivered instead, see appliance delivery day: what to check before the crew leaves. Moving to Collin County? Our McKinney service area page covers the area.
Sources
- USDA FSIS: How Temperatures Affect Food
- GE Appliances: Refrigerator moving instructions
- Whirlpool: Moving a front load washer
Keep in mind: In summer heat, the food clock starts the moment the fridge is unplugged, so the coolers matter as much as the truck.
Call ProFix Dallas at (469) 886-1122 if an appliance doesn't run right after the move.