Sometimes, when people are moving to a new place, they don’t want to leave their washing machine behind. But, washing machines are big and heavy pieces of machinery require an extensive procedure to move them to a new location. This blog will guide you step by step on how to move your washing machine from your old house to the new one.
To keep things simple and easy, we have divided this procedure into four phases which are:
- Phase 1: Checklist to Prepare Your Washing Machine for Moving.
- Phase 2: Steps to Prepare Your Washing Machine for Moving.
- Phase 3: Moving Your Washing Machine.
- Phase 4: Unload It and Set Up Again.
Phase 1: Checklist to Prepare Your Washing Machine for Moving
Find Some Friends:
A washing machine is a heavy piece of equipment and requires more than one person to handle while moving. So, even if you are planning to move your washing machine by yourself, you will still need some helping hands. We advise that you engage your friends to help you with it.
Get Necessary Tools:
First, find the shipping bolts, which are usually at the back of the machine, and secure them. Shipping bolts or transit bolts are used to keep the drum from moving during transportation. It is important that you find and secure the shipping bolts before you move your washer otherwise you might damage your drum during the process.
Washing machines are heavy equipment and require a lot of manpower to lift them, so you will also need an appliance dolly to take the washing machine out of the house safely. Moreover, get a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench because you are going to need them as well.
Get User Manual:
User manuals are generally disregarded at the time of unboxing, but they contain very useful information about the appliance. The user manual of your washing machine will provide you with proper instructions that need to be followed before moving the washing machine.
We advise you to find the user manual before moving to the next step because it might come in handy during the process.
Gather Supplies:
Finally, gather all the supplies that you are going to need while moving your washer from one place to another. We have made a list of supplies for your convenience:
- Moving Blankets
- Rope or Bungee Cord
- Duct Tape
- Bucket
Phase 2: Steps to Prepare Your Washing Machine for Moving
Empty and Clean:
Check for your washing machine if there are any clothes inside. Empty the drum and give it a thorough clean by running an empty cycle with a cleaning agent. After that leave your washing machine for at least 24 hours so that it dries out properly. If you don’t have so much time, you can also use a clean dry towel for this.
Disconnect Power:
Turn off the power supply to your washing machine and unplug it from the outlet. This will eliminate any chance of electric shock during the process.
Disconnect Water:
Disconnect the water supply to the washing machine for both hot and cold water. For that, you will need to rotate your valve in a clockwise direction until it is fully closed. After that, detach both hoses from the water supply of the house.
Drain and Pack the Hoses:
After detaching, leave the hoses to drain all the water from them. Later, remove the water hoses and pack them properly using duct tape.
Empty the Drain Hose:
Now, it is time to drain any residual water in the drain hose. For that, detach the drain hose and let any dirty water flow out of the machine. After that. secure the drain hose with some extra duct tape to make sure it doesn’t get lost during transportation.
Install Transit Bolts:
Drums of washing machines have very sensitive suspension mechanisms. There is a high chance of damage if you try to move your machine without transit bolts. So, it is important to get your drum immobilised with the transit bolts before moving it.
Gather your Friends:
For the final step of preparation, make sure that your helping hands are available to move your washing machine because you are going to need them to move this heavy piece of equipment.
Phase 3: Moving Your Washing Machine
Pull Out the Washing Machine:
Now is the time to pull your washing machine out. You may have pulled it out a bit to reach and turn off the water valve before, but this time, you need to pull it out completely. Place sliders under each front leg to prevent any damage during this procedure. If you don’t have sliders, you can use a piece of soft cloth to put under your washing machine.
Wrap it in Blankets:
Wrap your washing machine with moving blankets and tape the blankets properly so that they don’t move or fall during transportation. This will protect your machine from any scratches or exterior damage while you are moving your washing machine.
Get it Moving with Appliance Dolly:
We recommend not moving any heavy piece of machinery without an appliance dolly. They can be rented from moving companies or you can purchase one for your use.
Now, in order to get the appliance on the dolly, you need to carefully tilt it backwards and when you have enough space, slide the dolly under the washing machine and mount the machine onto it.
After balancing properly, tie your machine to the cart using ropes or bungee cords to avoid any displacement while you are moving the dolly.
Load it on the Moving Truck:
You can use a ramp to load the appliance on the moving truck. But when you do that, make sure one of your friends keeps their hand on the washing machine to prevent it from sliding off the dolly or the ramp.
If you don’t have a ramp and you have to lift your washing machine to load it on the truck, make sure that you have enough manpower for that. Lift the appliance dolly together and keep it balanced to save your machine from tipping over.
Secure the Washing Machine on the Truck:
Once you have loaded the washing machine, tie the washing machine to the sides of the truck using ratchet straps or ropes to make sure it does not move during transportation.
Phase 4: Unload It and Set Up Again
When you arrive at your new location, unload the washing machine and move it to its new location using an appliance dolly and position the washing machine in its new place.
You can follow these steps to set up your washing machine again:
- Cut the Electrical Power to Your Laundry Room.
- Remove the Transit Bolts.
- Fix the Drain Hose to Its Place.
- Fix the Water Lines and Open the Supply Valves.
- Plug in the Washing Machine and Restore the Power to the Laundry Room.
- Give Your Washing Machine a Test Run and Check for Any Leaks in the Lines.