Transporting Refrigerator.. question
 

I am picking up a 20 cubic foot refrigerator from a friends and driving it about 200 miles. When I have noticed other people toting them around, the fridge is always standing up against the back of the cab. I have my cap on, and was wondering if it would be alright to put it in on its side- I have moving blankets to protect the finish, but didn't know if there was any internals that would get screwed up from being horizontal for too long... anyone know anything about this?

Thanks in advance..

Ive always heard never put one on its side because oil in the commpresser goes somewhere its not supposed to.

Yup. I've heard the same thing. But if you have to lay it down, let it stand upright for a few days before plugging it in...even then you're taking a chance that you'll screw it up. If it were me, I'd take the cap off and do it right.

MR

My wife's uncle owns/runs an HVAC business (doing the work himself VERY successfully). The others are correct about it's better to NEVER lay it down, but if you must, let it stand upright for several days before running it. If the only thing keeping you from transporting it upright is a truck cap, yank that cap off.

Just make sure you do something to keep the doors closed---DAMHIKT.

Jason

The oil flows around when the refrigerator is tipped on it's side and leaves the sump in the compressor; this is ok, provided you stand it upright for 24-48 hours before plugging it in. But.............there is a certain small amount of sediment/debris that settles in the bottom of the compressor over time. Tipping the refrigerator causes this to move around and be circulated through the system until, over time, it eventually settles back to the bottom of the compressor. This sediment/debris, allbeit in a very small quantity, can promote wear. Therefore, it's best to avoid transporting a refrigerator that you care about on it's side.

For as far as you are planning to transport, you would be better served to keep it standin. Be sure you strap it down, not forward, as that is the main secret,pressure down keeps it from tipping, rather than pressure forward. Ratchet ties are the best to use for the haul. I have had older units never run again due to being laid down for only minutes to get out of a location. Also, I had a freezer I unplugged as it was not needed, and it didn't work ever again after being unplugged for a long time.

Many of the newer Refrigerators have Rotorory compressors so it won't hurt if the compressor brings a slug oil back, after being laid down. These compressors generally have more than two tubes coming out of them, don't count the pinched off ones or contact the manufacture. If you are going to lay the unit down look at the compessor and try to lay it down with the tubes coming off the compressor pointing up, usually on its back. This will keep the oil from migrating out of the compressor. If the unit won't cool, post on here, and I will try to help you out. Before you plug the unit back in, carefully check the compressor, some of them slide into a mounting plate and may fall out of the plate during tranport.

My vote...
200 miles is a long way to go get a refrig...
it's no longer a free refrig then.... u can buy used ones very cheaply now !
but if you must...
do not lay it down...
and also, you might tie down the compressor so it doesn't bounce around too much either...
- there's a reason they're on springs....
good luck...

I have laid fridges down many times and just let them sit for a few days before plugging in and have never had any problems.

Fridge Noise
 

I just purchased a floor model fridge from Home Depot - 23 cf Maytag bottom mount.
Every 25 minutes or so it sounds like the compressor turns on and then about 5 seconds later I hear a noise that sounds like a "ball dropping".
This noise is not loud but seems very strange ???

2nd the door securment. Some hillbilly I work with drove a fridge down the road and the frezzer door blew off. He brought it to work to throw in the dumpster but never did. Needless to say it ended up on top of his desk.

Hey Coyboybilly9mile, it's been a long time since we've heard from you, I hope all is well out west!!!!!!

Buckeyebronco:

I'm not sure what you mean by "2nd the door securment" ?
Thanks.

You probably won't be hearing from him. 4 1/2 year old thread, and he don't come around anymore.

Probably nothing to do with your question. He's just saying somebody lost a door, his buddy picked it up.

As for you, Ryin, if you just purchased it, you should either a) take it back or b) have somebody look at it. It's just the way it goes with floor model stuff.