What happens if you tilt a fridge on its side?

Tilting May Shift Fluids Modern-day refrigerators contain a number of different chemicals, including oil, refrigerant, lubricants, and more. When tilted, these fluids may shift and move around to areas where they shouldn’t be. For instance, the oil inside the compressor may drain and travel into the refrigerant lines.

What happens if a freezer is transported on its side?

When laid sideways, the oil can run off from the compressor to the cooling coils. Since the oil is thick and viscous, it can easily clog up the coils. This prevents the refrigerant gas from flowing through them and thus your refrigerator won’t cool.

Is it OK to transport a refrigerator laying down?

If you do lay your fridge down to move it, you can lay it on its front or side, but it’s not recommended that you lay it on its back – the weight of the fridge’s body on its working parts could damage them, even if they’re not exposed.

How do you fix a refrigerator that was laying down?

If your refrigerator was on its side for more than 24 hours, let it stand upright for 24 hours before plugging it in. Allowing the fridge to stand in its normal position before plugging it in will give the oil time to flow back into the compressor where it belongs.

Can you lie a freezer down to transport it?

Can you lay a fridge or freezer down to move it? Fridges and freezers are best transported upright to keep the cooling refrigerant in its right place. With a lot of padding underneath, lie your fridge or upright freezer down and secure it with straps so it can’t move during transit.

How long can a refrigerator lay on its back?

If it’s necessary to put the refrigerator on its side after transporting. It should stand upright for an equal amount of time as it was on its side. Leave standing for 24 hours if it was on its side for more than one day.

Can I lay down a new refrigerator for transport?

What happens if you lay a refrigerator on its back?

When a refrigerator is horizontal, the oil from the compressor will start to move out and into the coolant lines, clogging them. Besides this, placing a refrigerator flat on its back is a major no-no: the weight of the fridge can damage its internal parts, even if they’re not exposed.

What happens if you plug a freezer in too soon?

The level of caution you choose to exercise will be entirely up to you, but be warned that blockages in your system could occur – impacting the cooling capacity of your appliance – if you switch it on too early, so it’s always best to leave it for as long as you possibly can up the 24 hour mark – especially if the …

Is it OK to transport a refrigerator on its back?

What happens if you don’t leave a fridge to settle?

When a refrigerator is placed in a non-standard position (for example on its side), compressor oil can run out of the compressor and up refrigerant lines. So if you don’t stand it upright and wait, the compressor will pump without sufficient oil — not good.

Is it safe to lay a refrigerator on its side?

If you lay your refrigerator on it’s side when you move it, oil inside the compressor may get into the cooling lines . The oil in the compressor is meant to stay in the compressor and every possible precaution to avoid this should be taken.

Will I damage my refrigerator if I transport it on its side?

When a refrigerator is placed on its side, oil from the interior compressor can drain into the refrigerant tubes and cause damage to the unit. If it is unavoidable to transport a refrigerator upright, lay the unit down on its side — on the freezer side for side-by-side models or else opposite the hinges — instead of the back.

Does moving a fridge on its side damage it?

It’s best to keep your refrigerator in an upright position for the entire move, no matter what its size. This is because putting a fridge down on its side can cause damage to the refrigerator compressor and keep it from doing its job. Why can’t you lay a refrigerator down?

Is it okay to store a refrigerator on its side?

Do not plug in the refrigerator while it is being stored. The refrigerator must be stored upright. If the refrigerator is stored on its side, the oil compressor will leak into the cooling lines. When the refrigerator is returned to the upright position, it may no longer cool properly.