If you've ever moved a fridge freezer, or even bought one brand new, you'll know that you are meant to give them time to settle once they've been put back down again. Waiting 24 hours before plugging in your fridge prevents compressor damage and ensures proper oil circulation.
Set it upright in its final location and allow the freezer to sit for the same amount of time that it was on its side (24 hours maximum). Do not plug the unit into the electrical receptacle without allowing this settling time. The appliance can be damaged if it is plugged in prematurely.
Once the unit is in the house you should: Leave the appliance to sit for 3 hours. Then plug it in and switch it on. It should then be left overnight to stabilize before putting any fresh food into it.
You should leave your fridge/fridge freezer to settle for at least 4 hours. Once 4 hours have passed, you can plug your appliance in. When doing so, make sure that the thermostat control is set to on. Before placing food into the appliance, allow your fridge some time to cool down to temperatures safe for food storage.
The refrigerant used to make the appliance work has to settle before you can plug it in. Please wait 2 hours before you plug it in. If you plug it in straight away it is possible that damage may occur to your new appliance. The refrigerant used to make the appliance work has to settle before you can plug it in.
Fridges and freezers are full of fluid that's used to cool the compartments. In transit, your appliance gets shaken around, so it's best to let everything settle and consider the duration needed to 'let it stand' before you plug it in.
Upon initial installation or when the settings on the temperature controls are changed, it usually takes 24 hours for an upright or chest freezer to reach the proper temperature.
"After transporting: If it has been necessary to transport the refrigerator on its side (ex. Top Freezer and SxS models), it should stand upright for an equal amount of time as it was on its side before plugging it in. If it was on its side for more than a day, leave standing for 24 hours before running.
However, some brand new appliances need as little as eight hours before being ready to use. It's up to you how cautious you'd like to be, but the hazard is that if you don't wait a sufficient time, you will damage the cooling capacity of your fridge freezer, which you can't easily repair.
When can I put food in my new fridge freezer? You can put food in your new fridge freezer after letting it settle for 4 hours if it was transported on its side or 1 hour if it was transported upright. After this amount of time you're absolutely fine and safe to put your food in your new fridge freezer.
It's best to wait at least 4-6 hours for the oil in the compressor to settle after transport. However, for your peace of mind, it's a good idea to let it sit for 24 hours to be on the safe side.
Never try to move a full freezer. A freezer with food adds extra weight, making it harder to move.
Top-freezer fridge – depending on the brand will take 4 hours to 24 hours. French door fridge – depending on the brand will take 2 hours to 24 hours. Side-by-side fridge – depending on the brand will take 2 hours to 24 hours. Bottom freezer fridge – depending on the brand will take 2 hours to 24 hours.
Generally, if you're going to be 100 percent sure that the oil has settled back down into the compressor, you should leave it for 24 hours.
Plugging in and turning on the fridge immediately can cause the compressor to run dry, leading to damage.
A moving dolly, specifically one built to move fridges, should be used. The dolly will hopefully come with straps to help secure the fridge-freezer to the dolly. This will do the heavy lifting for you and is especially helpful when moving your unit down a flight of stairs.
Let it stand
In transit, your appliance gets shaken around, so it's best to let everything settle before you plug it in. If it was transported upright, give it at least an hour before you plug it in. If it was transported on its side, turn it the right way up and leave it for at least four hours.
Therefore, if you know the appliance has been transported upright, leave the appliance to stand/settle for 6hrs before switching on. If you know the appliance has been transported horizontally (laid down), leave the appliance to stand/settle for 24hrs.
Freon settles in an air conditioner in a matter of minutes. Though, it depends on the type of air conditioner too. If the air conditioner is portable, it takes about 5-30 minutes for the Freon to settle. This time must be dedicated to the appliance for it to function properly.
After the Move
After you have moved the refrigerator to its new location, let it stand upright for 24 hours before plugging it in to allow all the fluids to settle. While you are waiting, place the shelves and drawers back in their original positions.
Is it safe to unplug the refrigerator? The answer is no. The temperature of a refrigerator needs to be maintained at a certain level, and if you unplug it, the temperature inside drastically changes leading to many problems.
If you're moving a fridge or freezer into your new home, it's best to turn it off 24 hours before. This gives the fridge's evaporator time to defrost, which reduces the risk of any damage during the move. It also lets the oils and fluids inside settle and stops them moving through the compressor.
If the refrigerator or ice maker was recently installed, you should allow 24 hours for the refrigerator to cool enough to begin making ice.
So, Can an Empty Freezer Get Cold? Yes, an empty freezer can get cold, but it's not as efficient. When it's empty, there's nothing to help hold the cold. Think of it like this: when you open the door, all the cold air rushes out, and the freezer has to work harder to cool down again.
How long does it take for a freezer to get cold after defrosting. This is an important question, as you need to know how long your food will be out of the freezer for. The answer is anything between 4 and 12 hours depending on the freezer you have.