A refrigerator, washer, and dryer are some of the heaviest, most awkward things in any house, and they hide a few hazards that other furniture does not: water lines, gas connections, sharp edges, and a center of gravity that loves to tip. If you are getting ready for a move anywhere in the Philadelphia suburbs, a little planning ahead of time keeps your appliances working, your floors unscratched, and your back intact.
Planning a local move? Call LiteMovers at 610-755-5535 or request a written estimate and we will handle the heavy lifting for you.
Start the Prep Days Before, Not the Morning Of
The single biggest mistake people make with appliances is treating them as a moving-day task. Refrigerators and washers in particular need lead time. The connections that feed them, water, gas, and power, all have to come apart before the crew can safely load them, and most of that work should happen a day or two ahead.
Refrigerators and freezers
Empty the fridge and freezer completely, then unplug the unit at least 24 hours before the move so it can defrost and dry out. A refrigerator that still has ice or standing water will leak all over the truck and your floors. Wipe the interior, secure the doors with a moving strap or painter’s tape (never duct tape, which leaves residue), and coil the power cord up out of the way.
If your refrigerator has a water dispenser or ice maker, the water line must be disconnected before moving day. Turn off the shutoff valve behind the unit or under the sink, then detach the supply line and drain it. A connected water line that gets bumped during the move can flood the kitchen.
Keep the refrigerator upright during transport whenever possible. Laying it on its side can let compressor oil migrate where it should not go. If it absolutely must travel on its back or side, let it stand upright for the same number of hours it was tilted before you plug it back in at the new place.
Washing machines
The drum inside a washer is suspended on springs, and bouncing around in a truck can damage it. If you still have the original shipping bolts (also called transit bolts), reinstall them to lock the drum in place. Before moving day, shut off the hot and cold water valves, disconnect the supply hoses, and drain both the hoses and the machine into a bucket or utility sink. A surprising amount of water hides in those lines, and it needs to be out before the appliance goes on the truck.
Dryers and gas connections
For an electric dryer, unplug it and disconnect the vent hose. For a gas dryer, the safest move is to have the gas line shut off, disconnected, and capped by a licensed plumber or your utility before moving day, then properly reconnected afterward. The same goes for a gas range or oven. A gas connection is not a DIY shortcut worth taking, and our crew cannot disconnect a live gas line for you. Either way, vacuum out the lint trap and the vent area while you have access.
Why Some Appliances Have to Be Taken Apart
Not every appliance fits through a doorway the way it sits in your kitchen. Disassembly is normal, and knowing what comes off ahead of time saves time on moving day.
Refrigerator doors are the most common example. A wide side-by-side or French-door model often cannot clear a 30 to 32 inch doorway with the doors attached, so the doors and handles come off, the body goes through, and everything is reinstalled on the other side. Older homes around Montgomery and Delaware Counties tend to have narrower passages than newer construction, which makes door removal more likely, not less.
Stackable washer and dryer sets usually need to be unstacked and carried separately. Pedestal drawers under front-load machines detach. Range hoods, over-the-range microwaves, and built-in wall ovens are mounted and wired in, so those should be uninstalled by an electrician or appliance tech before the crew arrives. The rule of thumb is simple: anything hard-wired, plumbed, or bolted to the house needs to be disconnected by the right professional before moving day, so the movers can focus on lifting and protecting.
Protect Your Floors, Doorways, and Walls
Appliances are heavy enough to gouge hardwood, dent vinyl, and chip baseboards in a single slip. Lay down floor runners or moving blankets along the path, and pay special attention to thresholds and tight turns. Our guide to moving furniture across hardwood floors applies just as much to a 300-pound fridge.
An appliance dolly with a strap is far safer than a standard hand truck, and it is the right tool for stairs. Measure your doorways before moving day. If you would rather not gamble on the measurements, our packing team and movers do this every week.
Stairs, Rowhomes, and Tight Suburban Layouts
The Philadelphia area throws a lot of architecture at you. A finished basement in a Main Line colonial, a third-floor walk-up apartment, a city rowhome with a stoop and street parking, a split-level in Chester County: each one changes how an appliance comes out the door. Heavy items should always be guided down stairs by two or more people, with the dolly tilted back and one person controlling the descent from below.
This is exactly where experience matters. A team that moves appliances daily across Montgomery County and the surrounding suburbs already knows how to pivot a washer around a basement turn without taking out the drywall. When you are comparing companies, our post on moving tips and what to look for walks through the questions worth asking.
Decide What to Keep, Donate, or Recycle
A move is a natural time to retire an aging appliance instead of paying to haul it to the next house. If a unit is more than ten or twelve years old, weigh the effort of moving it against the energy savings of a newer model. Old refrigerators, freezers, and window air conditioners contain refrigerants and other materials that have to be handled properly, which is why the EPA runs its Responsible Appliance Disposal program. For local drop-off and recycling options, Montgomery County’s recycling resources are a good starting point.
If you would rather have it gone in one trip, LiteMovers can fold removal into your move. Our junk removal and donation hauling crews take old appliances off your hands so you are not left coordinating a separate pickup.
When to Call Professional Movers
Plenty of people successfully move a dryer down a flat hallway with a friend and a dolly. The calculus changes fast when you add stairs, a gas line, a side-by-side refrigerator, or a long carry to the truck. Pennsylvania-licensed movers carry the equipment, the manpower, and the insurance to do it safely, and a written estimate protects you from surprises. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s guidance on hiring household goods movers is worth a read so you know what a legitimate mover should provide.
LiteMovers is fully licensed and insured, holding PA PUC authority A-8916211 and USDOT 2173383, and we move appliances throughout Greater Philadelphia.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I unplug my refrigerator before moving?
Unplug your refrigerator at least 24 hours before the move so it has time to defrost and dry out completely. Empty it first, then wipe the interior dry and prop or secure the doors. Doing this the day before, not the morning of, prevents water from leaking onto the truck and your floors during transport.
Do appliances need to be disconnected before the movers arrive?
Yes. Water, gas, and dedicated electrical connections should be shut off and disconnected before moving day, not while the crew is standing in your kitchen. Washer water valves should be closed and hoses drained, refrigerator water and ice lines disconnected, and any gas dryer or range line shut off and capped by a licensed plumber or your utility. Having this done ahead of time keeps your move on schedule and avoids leaks or safety risks.
Does a refrigerator door need to be removed to fit through a doorway?
Often, yes. Many refrigerators are too wide to clear a standard 30 to 32 inch doorway with the doors on, so the doors and sometimes the handles are removed, the unit is moved through, and everything is reattached on the other side. This is common in older Main Line and Philadelphia homes with narrow passages. Measure your doorways ahead of time, or let an experienced crew handle the disassembly and reassembly.
Do I need the shipping bolts to move a washing machine?
Yes, if you still have them. Shipping bolts, also called transit bolts, lock the washer's spring-suspended drum so it does not bounce and damage itself in the truck. Reinstall them before moving day if you can find them. If the original bolts are long gone, a professional moving crew can secure the machine safely using padding and strapping.
Should I disconnect a gas dryer myself?
No. A gas dryer's line should be shut off and disconnected by a licensed plumber or your gas utility, then reconnected at the new home. Electric dryers are simpler to unplug, but a gas connection is a safety risk that is not worth handling yourself. Schedule the disconnection a day or two before your move so the appliance is ready when the crew arrives.
Ready to Move Your Appliances the Easy Way?
Skip the strained backs and scratched floors. Let an experienced, fully licensed Philadelphia-area crew handle your refrigerator, washer, and dryer from start to finish.
LiteMovers, 307 East Church Rd, Suite 1 and 2, King of Prussia, PA 19406 | 610-755-5535 | PA PUC A-8916211 | USDOT 2173383 | MC-888055
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