Have some kitchen wall painting to complete? Finally taking down that headache-inducing wallpaper? Moving? Listed here are tips for making moving heavy appliances easier and safer.
A customer recently installed new wood flooring in her kitchen. Since she'd once damaged vinyl flooring as she moved her appliances for a painting project, she was worried about damaging it again. She asked us: “What can one do to protect the floor the next time I need to move my appliances?”
Here are a few ways to protect your floor when moving major appliances making the job easier for you:
Pivoting = bad
First, typically of thumb, avoid pivoting appliances whenever you can. Most people mistakenly try this first, which generally results in floor damage. Additionally, pivoting can cause major damage to appliance feet along with other parts.
Clean your floor
If you have vinyl, ceramic or wood flooring, it's a wise idea to clean it before relocating appliances. Dirt, dust and stickiness will generate more friction against whatever tool you utilize as well as your appliances’ feet. This results in greater likelihood of floor damage such as ripping or scratching.
For across-the-room moves-
Customers have told us that these plastic floor guards work ideal for short-distance moves of washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers yet others.
How it works:
- Place the guides while watching appliance.
- Lift the appliance and slip the guides beneath them.
- Set the machine down.
- Inch the appliance forward over the guides until the back legs are resting atop the guides, too.
- Connect each guide piece as needed to create a moving path for the machine.
- Carefully inch the appliance forward until you reach the desired destination.
Alternatively, we've also heard from customers who swear by using thick, high-quality carpet remnants and plywood as a do-it-yourself appliance mover. With the square carpet remnants facing down, top it having a sheet of plywood. Lift the appliance's front legs to rest the machine on the plywood and gently coax it forward, taking care not to pivot the machine. After the machine's back legs are in position, you should be able to slide the appliance around the room with ease. Note: Make sure to use thick carpet and plywood. Appliance feet will begin to puncture thin carpet.
Another option is to rent an AIRSLED(R) appliance mover, which utilizes air to assist in moving appliances, as the name implies. This eliminates any heavy-lifting by you. They're pricey therefore it is best to rent them, if you don't frequently move appliances.
Here's how it works:
Search “AIRSLED rental” or “appliance moving equipment rental” in your favorite search engine or speak to your local equipment rental company to locate this. Here in Michigan, they're available to rent for $20-30/day.
For longer-distance moves-
Use high-quality, professional-grade dollies available at home improvement stores to make appliance moves safer and easier. These dollies and other helpful moving equipment are also available from moving equipment rental companies.
Consider getting a pro
Though we opt for the DIY route for most tasks, moving appliances is a vital and dangerous job. Based on your situation, it may be worth the investment to employ professional movers who have expertise in moving oversized and heavy items. It may eliminate a lot of hassle and worry for you personally.
Seize the maintenance opportunity
While your appliances are temporarily relocated, consider providing them with a thorough cleaning. It's a prime chance to access to hard-to-reach spots.
For example, you can clean off your refrigerator's condenser coils. They're the big, radiator-like coils located behind or beneath the unit. They remove heat from refrigerators and keep the temperature cool inside. When dirt and dust form on the coils, the refrigerator must use more energy to get rid of the heat from the unit. A long-handled bristle brush as well as your vacuum cleaner will remove dirt and fur in the coils fast and efficiently.
Any appliance-moving or floor-protecting advice to talk about? What's worked for you? Please tell us in the comments below.
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