The safest answer to whether you can lay a Frigidaire refrigerator down is: keep it upright whenever you can, and if it has to travel on its side, follow your owner’s manual for how long to stand it upright before you plug it in. Moving a refrigerator upright on a hand truck with straps avoids the problem entirely. A refrigerator that was laid down is not automatically ruined, but the sealed system holds compressor oil, and that oil needs time to settle back before the compressor runs.
Can you lay a Frigidaire refrigerator on its side?
Sometimes you have no choice: a narrow stairwell, a tight doorway or a delivery truck with a low roof can force a refrigerator onto its side. This site has no model-specific rule to quote, so the owner’s manual for your exact model is the authority on which way, if any, the cabinet may be tipped. Lying on the front puts the weight on the doors and the dispenser, and lying on the back puts it on the condenser and the lines, so check the manual before choosing a side. Keep any time on its side as short as possible and put padding under it.
Whichever way you move it, find out the model number first. Our Frigidaire model number location guide shows where the rating label sits, and the manual for that model is the place to look for transport instructions.
How long should a Frigidaire refrigerator stand before you plug it in?
This is the question behind most searches. After a refrigerator has been laid down or tilted hard, stand it upright for the length of time the manual specifies before connecting power. The reason is the compressor oil: lying on its side lets oil run into places it does not belong, and starting the compressor too soon can force it through lines that were meant to carry only refrigerant. We do not quote a number of hours, because we have no figure for your model that we can verify, and a number from a forum is no substitute for the manual.
A good habit is to treat the standing time as part of the delivery. Place the refrigerator where it will live, level it, and leave it unplugged while you clean the shelves and the drawers. If the manual gives no figure, a technician can tell you what to do for your model; you can book a visit and ask before you power it up.
How do you prepare a refrigerator for a move?
Preparation matters as much as the method. Work in this order:
- Empty the food and the shelves, and plan where the food will go. A full cooler with ice is better than a car trunk.
- Unplug the refrigerator, and give the freezer time to defrost. Put towels under the doors, because meltwater runs out when the unit is tilted.
- Shut off the water supply at the valve if the refrigerator has an ice maker or dispenser, and disconnect the line only when the valve is closed. If you are unsure about the fitting, call a plumber or a technician.
- Remove or tape down loose shelves and drawers so they cannot slide and crack.
- Tape or strap the doors shut. Do not use a tape that leaves residue on the finish.
- Coil the power cord and secure it to the back so no one rolls over it.
An ice maker line that is still full will leak when it is unscrewed. Our Frigidaire refrigerator water filter replacement guide explains the water side of the unit, and you can use the same shutoff in a move.
How do you carry a refrigerator through a doorway?
Use two people at least, a hand truck rated for the weight and a strap that goes around the cabinet, not around the doors. Tilt the refrigerator back only as far as you need to roll it, and never pull on a door handle to steer. If the refrigerator will not fit through the opening, remove the doors according to the manual rather than forcing it, because a bent frame will leave a gap in the seal later. Lay cardboard on the floor and protect the corners of the doorway.
A large side-by-side or French-door unit is heavy and top-heavy, and moving it up stairs is a job for professional movers with the right equipment. If you are buying a new unit, our Frigidaire refrigerator buying guide helps you measure the doorway before you choose the layout.
What should you check after the refrigerator is in place?
When the standing time is over, check that the refrigerator is level and rocks neither front to back nor side to side. A level cabinet closes the doors properly and drains correctly. Check the door seal for kinks from the move, then plug it in and listen. A hum is normal; a rattle against the wall or a repeated click is not. Leave the refrigerator empty until it has been running for a while, and load food only when the compartment is cold, using a thermometer to be sure, as it is the temperature of the compartment that matters, not the time on the clock.
If the compartment is still warm after a long period, read our Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling guide, and keep in mind that an upright freezer follows the same moving rules, covered in the Frigidaire freezer installation guide.
