Huge furniture pieces such as beds, wardrobes, desks, closets, couches, sofas, cupboards, dining tables, etc. will probably be the first objects to pop up in your head when you picture big and heavy household items waiting to be moved, and you’ll be right to do so. However, the abovementioned items are not the only heavyweight contenders you will have to prepare and move come moving day.
Heavy and large household appliances are never a joke when it comes to moving them to a new residence. Wouldn’t you be also interested in knowing how to move appliances easily and safely, without injuring yourself or inflicting costly property damage? Sure you would.
Read our practical tips for moving household appliances to a new home easily and safely.
Should you move your major appliances?
Before you worry about how to pack and move your large and heavy household items, you must decide whether it’s a good idea to take them with you in the first place. There are several points to consider before you make up your mind to move your big appliances with you or leave them behind.
Vote YES! to moving your household appliances if:
they are brand new or have been recently purchased;
you’re used to their practicality and functionality, and want to keep using their extended features;
your new home does not come already fitted with household appliances that fit it better;
the purchase agreement of your current home does not require you to leave some or even all major appliances behind.
Vote NO! to moving your household appliances if:
your major home appliances are old, outdated or have technical issues, and therefore are not worth the relocations costs they will inevitably incur;
your new home is outfitted with newer and better looking appliances;
your new home, and especially your new kitchen, have different layouts and designs which won’t allow your current appliances to fit there seamlessly.
Once you have reached the informed decision about which major home appliances to take with you and which ones to leave behind, it’s time to get down to the actual moving job.
What to do before moving large appliances to a new home ?
The strenuous job of moving domestic appliances consists of 2 separate preparation tasks which you should complete in advance so that no personal injuries, damage to your appliances or harm to your home dampen your relocation mood.
Proper equipment for moving appliances safely
Some pieces of moving equipment you definitely can’t do without, while others can be successfully substituted. Either way, don’t start moving household appliances without procuring these moving assistants first.
Appliance dolly: this wheeled helper is a must. Purchase a high quality dolly from specialized home improvement stores or rent one from your local moving company.
Furniture blankets: also universally known as moving blankets, these protective cloths will provide exactly the type of protection you need for your valuable home appliances. Contact your local movers to get hold of such blankets.
Furniture straps: you will need them to secure your appliances to the dolly and inside the moving vehicle. However, they can be easily replaced by considerable lengths of rope or a roll of two of stretch tape.
Sliders: also known as gliders, these sliding pads offer the best way to move appliances on wood floors, without any damage and usually only a short distance until the home appliance in question can be loaded onto the moving dolly. Rent or purchase such gliders from your local moving company in order to move appliances safely.
Proper property protection
Of course, the last thing you would want is to damage your home while moving heavy kitchen appliances out and then into your new residence. The main dangers appear to be for your hardwood, tile, vinyl, or carpeted floors, so take adequate safety measures to protect them. Use large pieces of thick cardboard to cover the exit paths of your major home appliances and lay protective sheets of durable polyethylene on high traffic areas to avoid paying for costly home repairs right after the move is over.
Besides eventual damage to your floors, walls can also be in real danger of property damage. If you fail to observe the safety guidelines when moving large and heavy appliances out of your home, chipped corners, scratches or dents on the walls could really halt the successful flow of your relocation.
How to move major appliances
Finally, it’s time to point out some specific tips for moving home appliances to a new house or apartment:
Refrigerator / Freezer
Once you have your stove delivered to your new home, consider hiring a professional to reconnect it to the gas supply.
All in all, the easiest way to move appliances is to hire professionals who have experience in relocating household machines of all types. If you think you can handle the relocation challenge on your own, be sure to read the user manuals of your household appliances before you get down to work.