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How to Move a Washer and Dryer
Not only are washers and dryers large and bulky pieces of equipment, they can also be expensive to repair or replace. That’s why when it comes to moving them, extra care is required.
When moving oversized items, like washers and dryers, it is best to leave it to the professionals. You can find affordable moving labor to load your machines for you, with Moving Help – Powered by U-Haul.
If you still want to tackle this task yourself, be sure to recruit some helping hands and carefully follow the instructions below.
How to Move a Washing Machine:
1. Prep the washer.
Run an empty cleaning cycle on your washing machine a day or two before you plan on moving it. Leave the washer door open to allow the drum to dry completely, avoiding any mold or mildew during transit.
2. Unplug the washer.
Before unplugging your washer, be sure to have first turned off the breaker connected to the unit's outlet. Once you have disconnected the power source, you can carefully shimmy the washer away from the wall, allowing easier access to the plug-in. Once you have unplugged your washer, you can secure the power cord to the side of frame using some duct tape.
3. Disconnect from water.
Your washer should have two water connections, one for hot water and one for cold water. Your washer's water sources should be located on the bottom, backside of your washer. The hot water hose will typically be red, and the cold water hose will be blue. Before unscrewing the hoses, be sure to turn off each water source. Next, carefully detach the washer's drain hose. Be sure to have some rags or a bucket nearby to catch any excess water that might still be in the hose.
4. Stabilize the washer.
Your washer should have come equipped with transit bolts. When inserted, these bolts will keep the drum of the washer stationary, making sure it doesn’t bounce around potentially causing damage while moving.
If your washer did not come with transit bolts, you can instead wedge a few pieces of styrofoam board in-between the drum and the frame.
5. Protect your washing machine.
To avoid any scratches or dents to the body of the washer, try wrapping it with a thick moving pad. Apply a few layers of stretch wrap to keep the moving pad in place and offer an extra barrier. If your washer has an agitator you can place a few pillows or blankets around it, keeping it in place.
6. Load onto the equipment dolly.
Slide your washer onto an equipment dolly and use ratchet straps to secure the washer (your dolly might have a ratchet strap already attached). Now, you can begin moving your washer.
Prior to moving day, try to coordinate some extra help. To ensure a quick and safe move, have one person in charge of pushing the dolly, as well as at least one spotter to clear a path for whoever is pushing.
How to Move a Dryer:
1. Unplug the dryer.
Just like when you unplugged your washer, be sure to have first turned off the breaker associated with the dryer's outlet. Once the power is disconnected, you can unplug the dryer and secure the plug to the side fo the machine with a bit of duct tape.
2. Protect your dryer.
Keep your dryer dent and scratch free during moving day when you protect it with a heavy-duty moving pad. Keep the moving pad in place with a bit of stretch wrap.
3. Load onto the equipment dolly.
Carefully slide your dryer onto an equipment dolly and then secure it to the dolly using a rachet strap. Assign someone to push the dolly, as well as someone to act as a spotter who can clear a path to your moving truck.
Know When to Get Assistance
Take your time when moving your washer and dryer, accidents tend to occur when moving large equipment in a rush. If at any point you feel unsafe or unequipped, feel free to have your machines moved for you with same-day labor from Moving Help.