Moving to a new apartment or replacing old equipment often confronts owners with a difficult question: how to transport large household appliances without damaging them. Refrigerators Bosch are famous for their reliability and complex system of compressors, which require a special approach when moving. Improper preparation or violation of transportation rules can lead to fatal consequences for the unit, including failure of the expensive motor.
Many people mistakenly believe that it is enough to simply unplug the device from the outlet and take it outside, however, for models of the German brand there are strict nuances. Compressor, fixed on special springs, is extremely sensitive to shaking and shocks, especially in cold weather. fixed state. Ignoring safety rules during loading often becomes the reason for costly repairs in the future.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the stages of preparation, packaging and direct transportation of your refrigerator Bosch. You will find out whether the unit can be placed on its side, how long it should stand before turning on, and what tools you will need for safe operation.
Preparing the refrigerator for transportation
The first and most important step is to completely empty the internal space. Defrosting must be done efficiently: remove all products, remove shelves and boxes. If water or ice remains inside, tilting the cabinet may cause liquid to splash onto electrical components or cause corrosion of metal parts.
After defrosting, thoroughly wipe the inside walls with a dry cloth. Pay special attention to door seals - they must be washed and dried so that mold does not form on them during transportation. It is best to pack all removable items, such as glass shelves and plastic containers, separately in bubble wrap or cardboard boxes marked “fragile”. contamination.
- 📦 Collect all the small parts (shelves, trays) into one box and label it.
- 💧 Make sure the drainage hole is completely free of moisture and dirt.
- 🔌 Disconnect the power cord and securely secure it with tape on the back wall.
- 🧼 Carry out a final dry cleaning inside the cells before closing the doors.
☑️ Preparation checklist
Do not forget that the internal glass shelves may break if they vibrate during movement, even if they are secured in grooves It is best to remove them and transport them in a passenger car or separately packaged in the cargo hold. This will take more time, but will save you from purchasing new components.
Fixing the doors and compressor
Refrigerator doors Bosch have heavy hinges and tight seals, which can suffer if they open spontaneously during transportation. To prevent this, use masking tape or special transport tape. It is not recommended to use ordinary stationery tape, as it can leave traces of glue on the glossy surface or damage the coating when removed.
Do you need to remove the doors?
It is not necessary to remove the doors from the Bosch refrigerator during normal residential transportation. This is only necessary in the case of very narrow doorways through which the frame cannot fit even diagonally. Removing doors requires special tools and skills, as the air supply system or electronics at the top of the door may be damaged.
Particular attention should be paid to securing the compressor. In modern models motor-compressor it is suspended on springs inside the case. When shaking, it can “loose” or move, which will lead to breakage of tubes or damage to the suspension. There are often special transportation bolts on the back wall that must be tightened before moving.
⚠️ Attention: If you did not find the transportation bolts in the kit or do not know how to fix them, do not try to jam the compressor with wooden blocks yourself. This can disrupt the balancing of the system and lead to increased noise during operation.
To securely fix the doors, use several turns of tape around the perimeter, without pulling it too tightly, so as not to deform the profile. Make sure that door handles (if they are protruding) will not catch on jambs or other objects when passing through doorways.
Packaging the case to protect it from damage
The ideal option is to keep the original packaging from the refrigerator Bosch. The cardboard box, foam inserts and protective film are designed by engineers specifically to protect specific components of your model from shaking and shock. If the box has been preserved, simply place the prepared unit in it.
If there is no factory packaging, you need to create a protective layer yourself. Wrap the refrigerator body in several layers of stretch film, and then line it with soft blankets, foam, or bubble wrap. Special protection is required for the corners of the case and protruding parts, which most often suffer during loading.
| Packaging material | Purpose | Protection efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial cardboard | Protection from scratches and dust | High |
| Foam corners | Shock absorption | Very high |
| Stretch film | Fixation of layers and door | Medium |
| Wadded blanket | Protection from chips and scratches | Medium |
After wrapping, make sure that the packaging material does not block the ventilation holes if you plan to transport refrigerator in a closed body for a long time. Although ventilation is not critical when turned off, access to air will help the residual moisture inside the thermal insulation evaporate faster.
Transportation: vertically or lying down?
One of the most common questions when transporting equipment Bosch: in what position should it be transported? Manufacturers strongly recommend transporting refrigerators strictly to vertical position. This is due to the design of the compressor and the refrigerant circulation system. When transporting vertically, the risk of oil displacement into the cooling circuit or damage to the motor suspension springs is minimal.
However, the realities of life, such as low ceilings in a freight elevator or the height of a gazelle body, often dictate their conditions. Transportation in a horizontal position is permitted, but with serious restrictions. You can only place the refrigerator on a certain side, usually indicated in the instructions (most often the one from which the condenser tubes come out, or the opposite side of the compressor location).
- 🚛 The tilt during vertical transportation should not exceed 40 degrees.
- ❄️ In a horizontal position, it is strictly forbidden to place the unit on the door or back grille.
- ⏳ The transportation time in a lying position should be as short as possible.
- 🛡️ Be sure to use a thick layer of shock-absorbing material under the body.
If you are forced to transport the refrigerator lying down, try to avoid sudden braking and potholes on the road. The speed of the vehicle should be moderate. After arrival, such a refrigerator will require a longer time to settle before turning on, so that the oil flows back into the compressor.
The nuances of transportation in the elevator and stairs
Descent and ascent of the refrigerator Bosch is a task for at least two people with physical strength. The weight of modern models can reach 80-100 kg or more. When moving along the stairs, the load-bearers should be at the top and bottom, controlling the center of gravity. Sudden jerks during descent may result in injury or the load falling.
When using a freight elevator, make sure that the diagonal of the cabin doorway allows the unit to be carried. If the refrigerator does not fit, do not try to force it in by leaning on the elevator walls or doors. This can damage both the equipment and the elevator itself. In such cases, a short-term tilt is allowed, but not more than 45 degrees.
⚠️ Attention: When moving up stairs, never hold the refrigerator by the door handles, plastic decorative elements or tubes from the back. Carry only by the metal frame of the body or the bottom (if the movers have reinforced handles).
If the house does not have a freight elevator, and the flights of stairs are narrow, you may have to use special belts for carrying heavy loads. They allow you to distribute the weight and free your hands to secure the load. Be careful when turning flights of stairs so as not to touch walls or railings.
Settling time after transportation
After the refrigerator is delivered to a new location, you cannot immediately plug it into the network. Oil, which could get into the cooling system tubes when tilted or shaking, must completely drain back into the crankcase compressor. If you turn on the unit immediately, the compressor will run “dry” or try to compress the liquid (oil), which will lead to water hammer and breakdown.
The time required for settling directly depends on how exactly the transportation was carried out. If the refrigerator was transported vertically without strong shaking, 2-4 hours is enough. If the equipment was transported lying down or the road was very uneven, the waiting time increases.
In winter, when transporting in an unheated body, you must allow the refrigerator to warm up to room temperature before turning it on, even if you didn't tilt it. A sudden start of a cold compressor can lead to cracking of the plastic and damage to the seals due to temperature changes.
First start and performance check
After the settling time has expired, you can proceed to the first start. Place the refrigerator on a level surface, check the level using a spirit level and adjust the legs if necessary. Connect the unit to the mains, but do not load food yet.
Let the refrigerator run idle for 1-2 hours. During this time, it must reach the set temperature, and the automation must turn off the compressor. Listen carefully to the operation of the motor: extraneous knocks, hums or vibrations may indicate problems that arose during transportation.
Check the tightness of the door and the operation of the lighting. If all parameters are normal, you can gradually fill the chambers with products. You should not immediately load the full volume of warm food - this will create an extra load on the cooling system in the first hours of operation.
What to do if the refrigerator does not freeze?
If after 5-6 hours of operation the temperature does not decrease, check whether the door closes tightly. If the problem persists, it is possible that freon leaked or the compressor was damaged during transportation - you need to call a technician.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transport a Bosch refrigerator at temperatures below -10°C?
You can transport it, but you cannot turn it on right away. After being brought into a warm room, the refrigerator must remain unplugged for at least 24 hours. This is necessary to evaporate condensate that could form on the internal elements and warm up the oil in the compressor to operating viscosity.
Do you need to remove the doors when transporting through a narrow opening?
In most models Bosch the doors can be removed by unscrewing the hinges. However, this requires caution as control cables and No Frost ducts may pass through the doors. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better not to take risks and turn to professionals.
What to do if the refrigerator shook a lot during transportation?
Increase the settling time to the maximum (24 hours). Before turning on, gently rock the housing to help the oil drain down. When starting up for the first time, carefully monitor the sound of the compressor.
Is it possible to use a cart to transport a refrigerator?
Yes, you can, but only if it is possible to securely secure the case with straps. Carrying a refrigerator on a cart, holding it with your hands, is dangerous - it can fall and get dents or damage to internal components.