Learned something new- can't move a refrigerator transporting on its back

[Rmay635703]

What you replied is what I believed to be as accurate. Hasty research returned what I thought was likely inaccurate.


Google searches reported the back transportation method of a refrigerator can have a high rate of failure even after letting the oil drain back overnight.

Also applies to dehumidifiers.

Transported one home in the only way it could fit, let it sit a couple days and it failed hours later

 

[oilboy123]

I have known about the fridge/compressor oil issue for a long time. Glad I caught that my dad and brother had moved my old fridge on the side. I told them to leave it sitting 24 hrs. It lived 26 years.

Anything that has a compressor with oil I believe could have an issue. I bought a Rheem Marathon water heater from Home Depot about 9 years ago. It has a plastic outer tank, and a spun fiberglass inner tank. With foam between them. I would have transported laying down. But the guy said it was supposed to be transported upright.

So that is what I did. Probably a good idea

 

[CDX825]

There is enough oil in a compressor that if it lays on its side its not going to all run out and cause an issue. The only place it would be able to go is out the suction line anyway and as soon as the compressor starts its going to suck it back in.

The bigger issue is the rubber grommets that are part of the base of the compressor being pulled out from it hanging on its side.

 

[Fitter30]

I've moved probably 10 refrigerators on their backs from new ones to 25 years old never had a problem with any of them leving them upright for 24 hours.

 

[GON]

I've moved probably 10 refrigerators on their backs from new ones to 25 years old never had a problem with any of them leving them upright for 24 hours.

The videos in this thread go in technical discussions why a refrigerator is at a clear / unquestionable risk by transporting a refrigerator on its back.

Guess it is like Russian Roulette. Only a 20 percent risk in participation in Russian Roulette..but the results are catastrophic if a.player hits that 20 percent.

 

[KrisZ]

The videos in this thread go in technical discussions why a refrigerator is at a clear / unquestionable risk by transporting a refrigerator on its back.

Guess it is like Russian Roulette. Only a 20 percent risk in participation in Russian Roulette..but the results are catastrophic if a.player hits that 20 percent.

There is only one risk really, that is the oil being “trapped” in the evaporator. The solution to that would be tilting it downward, instead of standing it up, and leaving it like that for several hours to allow the oil to drain back.

Time factor also plays a role, if you’re transporting it few miles and don’t leave it lying down, not a lot of oil will get a chance to migrate. So if you have to transport a fridge on its side or back, do it quickly, or put something under the top, to make it tilted up slightly.

 

[repairman54]

Internally some compressor motors are spring mounted for vibration / sound control so vertical transport can be important so pump doesn't come off its mounts along with oil issues.
It's been a long time since I've cut one open so I'm not sure if they still do that on modern smaller units.

 

[Fitter30]

Internally some compressor motors are spring mounted for vibration / sound control so vertical transport can be important so pump doesn't come off its mounts along with oil issues.
It's been a long time since I've cut one open so I'm not sure if they still do that on modern smaller units.

1970 was in first year trade school for hvac. Brother gave me a refrigerator compressor that was brand new and noisy. Took it to schoolcut open had a broken spring one of three. Teacher found a spring and welding class welded it back up aand used it for a vacuum pump. There was only one other in 43 years service that I've come across with a bad spring.