Moving appliances FAQ

You might need to make a ramp for the door sill, but otherwise invest in some Sliderz. They work well.

I've used this

under a full size freezer. Also under a stacked washer and dryer.

Won't the surface being concrete scratch (the slider or the surface)? They would seem be to OK for carpet but not hard surfaces?

I see they also have some barrow products - do you mean those?

Theo

If all else fails (such as the methods recommended by others in this thread), I've moved large appliances simply by 'walking' them. Requires more effort, though.

Interesting. Is there a cunning way to manoeurve a washer onto it? It would seem easy to wheel around, but getting it on and off would be tricky to do without help lifting?

Theo

This might be a better bet:

With two saparate halves, you can tilt on one side, slip one bar under, then tilt back the other way to then get the 2nd bar under so the weight is being supported by teh floor rather than by two people lifting to/from the wheeled frame.

or even this:

I used a piece of upside-down carpet. I covered the door cill with a sheet of hardboard.

Tumble dryers, fridges and freezers aren't heavy (assuming they're empty!) so get a pal to help you carry them, or "walk" them yourself, if necessary with bits of hardboard to protect the floor. Washing machines are a bit more sweat-inducing but can also be "walked", or slid on a hardboard or MDF sheet, or carried if you can find a mate to help. If you can't find a pal then get it onto a sheet of MDF or Ply and put some bits of pipe underneath to act as rollers. Door sills are easily dealt with by using a sheet of something rigid. FWIW I've recently been moving a 2000kg lathe and a 500kg mill by myself, just using bits of pipe, a crowbar and some wood blocks (and lots of grunting and swearing). If you opt for a sack truck then be careful not to pivot the "foot" into the middle of the bottom of the washing machine - many don't have solid bottoms.

Much depends on what surface you are moving stuff. For example, across a vinyl floor or other smooth surface, and piece of inverted carpet under the appliance will make it easy to slide.

Various skate type platforms etc can also work well

For more difficult moves then I use:

That can make things easier to get over steps etc (sometimes with a block or brick against it to make a lower "step" to ease getting it up)

Normally I stick some old blankets or carpet over the trolly to stop it scratching up the appliance.

I have successfully moveed things like a washing machine out of a house, down a few steps and into the back of my car on my own using a trolly, some old blankets, and a couple of wood planks to make a ramp. (reverse it into the car - handles first - stick a blanket under them so they slide easily on the floor of the boot, then push appliance up the ramp on its side on the trolly)

Tilt the machine well over, push the dolly well under, tilt the machine the other way and "walk" it the rest of the way on?

Although they can tend to go different ways when you're moving the machine!

Of course you use a sack truck. Over years and years of development, nobody has come up with something better.

That's what I thought, but wanted someone to prove me wrong :)

I was looking at this one:

Although they go quite pricey, and wondering if it was worth the extra...

Theo

sack barrow is a very good device. it rolls on a flat surface and can lever a load up a small step

I had a pair of them in the 1980s but didn't keep them very long. Wasn't impressed.

Didn't have any difficulty moving a washing machine from the utility room, over a step into the integral garage about three years ago, and I'm not exactly muscle bound. Shifted the old dish washer into the garage as well, with no problems. Fridges and freezers are structurally quite light; delivery men are likely to show off by carrying smaller ones unaided single handed.

It's odd how expensive these all are. I'm sure they were more like £20 when I bought mine 3 years ago.

Tilt, shove under with foot, brace against something solid, shimmy it on the rest of the way. I've done it without help, but it is _much_ easier with another pair of hands. Also helps if you're fairly tall, as long arms make it a bit easier. The washer/dryer combo and the freezer are still sitting on them - makes it much easier to clean under them.

I've tried those. The main problem is the fact that the wheels don't swivel, so when you try to turn a corner, it causes difficulties - often one of the wheels will lose touch with the unit you are trying to move.