Ranges should be shipped with the steel grates removed from the top and placed in a flat box inside the baking chamber of the oven. Any burner caps which might be on the cooking surface that are removable should also be placed in the interior with the grates, along with any gas line connectors from behind the appliance which you want to ship with the product. All oven racks should be moved to the lowest possible position, and a small towel can be draped over the end of the rack at the front before you close the door. This will prevent the racks from bumping against the front door during transport. The door should be taped shut on both sides using a sturdy grade of duct tape.

Refrigerators need to have the interior shelves secured during transport to prevent damage. If you did not keep the small plastic shelf-locking tabs which came with the product when it was new, it’s best to remove the shelves and ship them separately, especially the glass items such as crisper covers, etc. One bump in the road can completely de-shelve a refrigerator if the shelves are not secured. If the refrigerator has a removable drip pan underneath, it should be placed inside the unit or taped securely in place before transport. The doors should be taped shut as well as the toe-plate at the bottom of the unit. Any icemaker plumbing connectors or water line tubing in the back can be placed in an empty crisper drawer if needed at the new location. Refrigerators may be placed on their back or sides for transport, but must be stood upright for 24 hours afterward before plugging it in to allow the refrigerant oil to migrate back to the compressor.

Clothes Dryers do not require much preparation, but power cords and/or gas lines should be removed and placed in the drum for transport. This includes any special ducting that you might want to use at the new location. The door and any external lint screen covers should be taped shut.

Washing machines should have all external hoses removed and placed in the spin basket for transport. It is also important to stabilize the wash tub to prevent damage from movement during transport. Most machines came with some sort of block placed inside the basket to retard movement until unpacked, although many installers throw these away.  A simple wood plank cut to fit the inner tub diameter and taped in place across the top of the agitator should be sufficient to protect the machine. The lid should be taped down before moving the machine.

NOTE:  Duct tape will not harm the finish on your appliances, but in some cases may leave a slight residue. To remove this, use rubbing alcohol or a product such as Goo-Gone to remove the adhesive marks.

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