Many people don’t want to leave their residential appliances behind when they move to a new home. As such, they need to find a way to transport them without causing damage or injuries. However, moving appliances safely and efficiently isn’t always easy, especially if you don’t know the proper techniques. That’s why Auburn Moving & Storage put together a few things to keep in mind when moving your appliances to a new location.
The team at Auburn Moving & Storage are Orangevale’s professional movers. From moving heavy water dispenser machines to transporting bulky appliances, Auburn Moving & Storage is here to help.
Five Considerations When Moving Appliances
Anyone who’s moved major appliances between homes will tell you it’s no small task. Transporting washing machines, an automatic ice maker, a gas stove, and other appliances without a professional moving company is exceedingly difficult and can cause significant damage to the units and property. However, once you take the necessary protective measures and understand the proper techniques, you can move your heavy appliances swiftly and easily.
Below are a few tips for moving appliances in Orangevale, California.
1. Takes Measurements Beforehand
Some large appliances won’t fit through traditional doors and may require you to remove them before transport. Always measure your appliances and your doors to ensure they fit through them before starting the moving process. Use measuring tape to measure the width and height of the unit and door to determine your next move.
If the appliance is too big to move through the door safely, remove the door or find an alternate route with a larger door frame, like a sliding glass door.
2. Clean the Floor
Small rocks, grime, grit, and other objects can scuff and damage floors when you move oversized appliances. They can get lodged between the flooring and appliance or moving equipment, creating scratches and abrasions that often require repairs.
Cleaning the floor before moving your appliances will prevent damage and can even make the process more efficient. It will allow dollies and other moving supplies to glide over the surfaces more effectively, leading to a faster and smoother process.
3. Use Floor Coverings for Further Protection
Although cleaning the floor will make moving residential equipment faster and more efficient, it doesn’t completely eliminate the potential for damage. Bulky appliances can scrape the floor or create dents or cracks if they fall on fragile flooring like tile. Laying down floor coverings like runners or placing small carpet pieces under the appliance will protect the floor and the unit.
If you don’t have floor runners or old carpet, you can place cardboard over flooring to minimize damage. However, cardboard doesn’t work as well as the alternatives and can create friction that causes minor scratches, especially on hardwood. That said, cardboard will still protect the floor if you don’t have other coverings.
4. Prepare the Appliances and Remove Them From the Water and Gas Line
Most appliances require preparation before you can place them in the moving truck. You must disconnect them from the gas line or water line and remove their drawers, grates, and other elements to make them easier to transport. For example, if you need to remove a gas dryer from your home, you must contact your gas company and a qualified technician to disconnect it from the gas line before moving it to the truck.
Below are some common appliances and how to prepare them for moving.
For refrigerators, you should:
- Remove and place food in a cooler or secure container
- Disconnect the power cord
- Empty the unit’s water reservoir
- Contact someone to disconnect the evaporator pan
- Clean the unit’s interior and exterior and water dispenser
- Leave the door open for 24 hours to eliminate moisture
- Remove the handle and place it inside the refrigerator (if necessary)
- Use packing tape to secure the door during transport
For stoves, you should:
- Shut off the power
- Contact a qualified technician to disconnect the stove from the gas line (if gas-powered)
- Remove the grates and racks
- Clean the stove’s interior and exterior
- Tape the door shut and secure the knobs
For dryers, you should:
- Turn the dryer off
- Clean the lint screen and exterior
- Contact a professional to disconnect the unit for the line (for a gas dryer)
- Secure the door with tape
For washing machines, you should:
- Disconnect the power supply and output/input hoses
- Contact a professional to disconnect the unit from the water line
- Open the door to remove excess moisture for a few hours (can take up to 24 hours)
- Tape the hoses to the unit
- Wrap or tape the door shut
For dishwashers, you should:
- Turn off the unit and disconnect the hoses
- Leave the dishwasher door open for 24 hours to dry the interior
- Secure the hoses
- Secure the interior racks and tape the door shut
5. Pack and Protect Small Appliances
Now that you’ve prepped and moved most of your major appliances, you can prepare, pack, and protect your small appliances.
Deep clean all the smaller appliances and remove anything that could hinder the moving process. After thoroughly cleaning the appliances, wrap them in packing paper before placing them in boxes. Line the boxes with any leftover paper for additional support and security before taping them up and placing them in the moving truck.
Although some homeowners can move their appliances with help from friends and family, it’s best to hire a professional moving company to handle the process. Professional movers understand how to move appliances safely and will make the process swift and stress-free.
Contact Auburn Moving & Storage To Help You Move Large Appliances in Orangevale
If you need an experienced, professional moving company in Orangevale, California, to help you move your appliances, contact Auburn Moving & Storage. Our team makes moving appliances easier than ever by handling everything for you, allowing you to settle into your new property without delay. Whether you need help moving oversized furniture or want to learn how to transport plants when moving, Auburn Moving & Storage has you covered.
Give Auburn Moving & Storage a call at (916) 786-8683!
