Moving house can be thrilling and overwhelming. Many duties must be completed, from packaging to logistics. What do you do with appliances when moving a house? These home necessities need special handling when moving. To facilitate a seamless appliance move, this blog will cover some helpful recommendations and guidelines. If you plan to move your appliances or make other arrangements, this article will help you decide. Let’s explore appliance moving and find the finest solutions for your needs.
What Do You Do With Appliances When Moving A House? – A Complete Guide
Table of Contents
Decide What Appliances to Take With You
What do you do with appliances when moving a house? Choose your appliances before relocating to a new residence. Check the age, condition, and performance of your fridge, stove, dishwasher, washer, and dryer. Newer, working appliances are worth moving, whereas old or broken ones may be better replaced.
Consider whether selling larger appliances like stoves and refrigerators and buying new ones could be cheaper than transferring them. Make sure your appliances fit in your new home by measuring carefully. Keeping a list of your appliances with their condition and whether you plan to move or replace them is helpful. This helps you decide what to buy.
Consider upgrading appliances for your new house. You may require more features or capacity. Consider the expense of buying and installing new appliances versus transferring old ones. Replace inefficient appliances with ENERGY STAR models to lower energy expenditures.
Sell or Donate Unwanted Appliances
After choosing which appliances to take, decide what to do with the rest. Selling or donating them is a good idea. This saves old appliances from landfills and gives them new owners.
Find nearby appliance sales choices. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are prominent listing sites. Try calling used appliance stores to see if they’ll buy them. When listing appliances, take clear images and describe their age, condition, and particular features. Based on comparable model market research, set a fair price.
Another eco-friendly option is donating. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity may pick up. Churches, shelters, reuse stores, and schools may accept appliances. Check appliance kinds and pickup restrictions. Do not donate appliances with personal information.
Sell or donate to declutter responsibly and benefit others. Planning can help you find new homes for working appliances. Leave plenty of time before moving day for this process.
Disconnect and Prepare Appliances
To guarantee a safe shipment, disconnect and prepare your appliances before moving day. Here are some tips:
- Unplug all appliances – refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, etc. Prevents moving accidents and damage.
- Disconnect gas lines – Turn off and disconnect gas lines for gas appliances like stoves and dryers. Seek expert help.
- Disconnect water lines – Turn off the water supply and disconnect water lines for dishwashers, washing machines, ice makers, etc.
- Secure loose parts – Check for removable items or racks that could shift during moves. Take these parts apart and transport them separately or tape or strap them.
- Clean thoroughly – Open appliances like the oven, refrigerator shelves, washing drum, etc. and clean inside and out. This helps identify damage later.
- Prepare for transport – Secure items like refrigerators to prevent doors from swinging open during shipment. You may need to remove fridge doors. Tape cables, hoses, and cords.
Taking the time to unhook and prepare your appliances will help them survive the transfer without dents, dings, or damage.
Protect Appliances During the Move
Avoiding damage during a move requires careful appliance transport. Here are some tips:
- Pad appliances with furniture pads and blankets to avoid scratches and dents. Stretch wrap padded appliances to secure padding.
- Tape or strap refrigerator and freezer doors to prevent swinging open and harming seals.
- To avoid moving, tape down loose internal parts and electrical components like racks or shelves.
- Avoid placing appliances sideways or upside-down. To avoid compressor and fluid damage, move refrigerators, washers, and dryers upright and stabilized.
- Moving heavy, fragile, or bulky appliances requires experienced movers. They use safe equipment and methods to transfer appliances.
- After unloading, check appliances for exterior or interior damage. Transport damage should be documented.
Hire Professionals If Necessary
Pianos, pool tables, and safes are difficult and unsafe to move. Hire experienced movers or specialist moving companies to carry and install complex, customized, or expensive appliances. This is crucial for fragile, unique, or irreplaceable things.
Gas equipment like stoves and dryers that need gas line installation and hookups may need professional help. Before moving, central air conditioning units need professional disconnecting and reinstallation.
Find licensed, bonded, and insured appliance movers with training, equipment, and specialty item experience. Get estimates early to budget. Professional moving services may cost extra, but they can prevent damage and provide you peace of mind.
Update Account Information
Call utility companies to cancel or transfer service to old and new addresses. Electricity, gas, water, internet, cable/satellite TV, security, etc. Provide the move-out and move-in dates for your previous and new homes. Send billing to the proper address and start service when needed.
Update retailer and subscription accounts for appliances. This assures them of the new address and appliance relocation. Notify rental appliances like water heaters of your move.
Transferring utility and appliance accounts appropriately prevents service interruptions. It also saves on utilities in the previous house after moving out. Record account changes and service start/stop times.
Repair Any Damages
Despite careful packing and shipment, appliances might get damaged during a relocation. Check and repair your appliances before putting them in your new home.
Check the outside for moving-related dents, cracks, and scratches. Cosmetic damage may not impede performance, but touching up appliances prevents further degeneration. Cover scratches and chips using touch-up paint. Special touch-up kits are available for stainless steel appliances.
Before connecting appliances in the new home, make sure they work. Run electric equipment like refrigerators, washers, dryers, etc. to make sure they work. Operate gas ranges and ovens to test burners and heating components.
Do not install the appliance until a professional repair specialist has fixed any mechanical or electrical issues. This may indicate jostled components or connections that need repair to prevent safety issues or further damage. These concerns are easier to fix before the appliance is installed in your new kitchen or laundry area.
Repairing dents, cracks, and malfunctions before installing appliances in your new home ensures safety and reliability. This crucial step prevents harm and gets your new home appliance-ready.
Install and Reconnect Appliances
You must correctly install and reconnect your appliances in your new home. Follow each appliance’s manufacturer’s installation instructions carefully.
Gas appliances like stoves, ovens, and dryers require gas line installation. Turn off the gas before connecting the line, then use a leak detector solution to check for leaks. Tighten and inspect connections for leaks before turning on the gas.
Appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, and dishwashers need separate outlets, preferably 20-amp grounded outlets. Secure the electrical connections.
Before connecting dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerator water dispensers to water lines, switch off the water supply valves. Check for leaks and tighten fittings.
After installation and connection, turn on the gas, electric, and water to test each appliance before usage. If you can’t turn on or operate appliances, check the manuals. Carefully installing your appliances will ensure they work in your new house.
Update Warranties and Records
Change the address on your appliance warranties and service contracts after moving. This assures companies that they can provide service if needed.
Contact manufacturers directly to update appliance warranty addresses. Check the appliance’s warranty documents. Some feature an online address update portal.
Keep appliance manuals, warranty cards, and receipts in a folder or on your computer. These provide purchase documentation and warranty information for repairs or replacements. Copy the originals in case they’re lost during the relocation.
Consider making a home inventory of your major appliances and electronics. This list helps with insurance claims for damaged or stolen products. Photograph the pre-moving condition.
With enough planning, you may keep your appliance warranties in your new home. Manuals and warranties make repair and replacement policies easy to use.
Discard Old Appliances Responsibly
There are several ways to responsibly dispose of outdated appliances. Donating working appliances helps avoid landfills. Some functional appliances are accepted by Goodwill and the Salvation Army.
Selling appliances for scrap metal is another alternative. Scrap metal recyclers pay per pound or haul appliances for free. Remove food and harmful materials first.
If your appliances are broken, have little metal, or contain refrigerants, a special collection service is best. Several garbage districts and private carriers charge for bulky item pickup. Check the local requirements. These services will recycle and disassemble appliances according to environmental standards.
Careless appliance disposal releases dangerous substances. Donating, selling for scrap, or employing a specific pickup service will help you clean out your old home while reusing your appliances.
Conclusion
In conclusion, relocating to a new residence requires planning for appliances. What do you do with appliances when moving a house? There are numerous possibilities based on appliance condition and usefulness. You can sell or donate working appliances. Decluttering helps you and others in need. Recycling obsolete or broken appliances is an ethical and eco-friendly alternative. Many towns offer recycling or appliance disposal. Finally, you can take your treasured appliances to your new home. However, shipping costs and feasibility must be assessed. Consider these alternatives to make informed judgments about your appliances when relocating, ensuring a smooth transfer to your new home.