If you are moving a fridge, how long before turning it on depends on one thing: whether it stayed upright. A fridge kept upright the whole way can go back on almost straight away, with Fisher & Paykel suggesting a 10-minute wait. A fridge that spent time on its side needs to stand upright for at least two hours, and longer if your model's manual says so, so the compressor oil can settle back where it belongs.
Key takeaways
A fridge moved upright can usually be switched on soon after it is in position. LG's Australian support guidance says an upright fridge can be plugged in once any vibration has stopped, and Fisher & Paykel says to wait 10 minutes so the system pressures equalise. A fridge that was laid on its side should stand upright for at least two hours according to LG, and for at least a few hours according to Fisher & Paykel. The model's own manual overrides any general guide.
Why do you have to wait before turning a fridge back on?
The wait is about oil. The compressor that drives the cooling system holds a small amount of lubricating oil, and it is meant to stay in the compressor. LG's Australian support guidance explains that tilting or laying a fridge down lets that oil move out of place, and that plugging it in before the oil has settled can affect cooling performance or cause serious damage to the compressor.
There is a second, smaller reason. Fisher & Paykel's refrigerator user guide says that any time a fridge is turned off, you should wait 10 minutes before turning it back on, so the pressures in the refrigeration system can equalise before it restarts. That applies even to a fridge that has only been rolled out from the wall in a Coorparoo kitchen and pushed back in.
How long should a fridge stand after being moved upright?
This is the easy case. LG's Australian guidance says a fridge that was kept upright while moving can be plugged in right away, as long as any vibration has stopped. Fisher & Paykel says a fridge transported upright can be switched on after 10 minutes. By the time a crew has walked it into the new kitchen, levelled it and rolled it back into its cavity, that 10 minutes has usually gone.
Upright means upright the whole way, not most of the way. The question to ask is whether the fridge spent any real time lying flat or leaning hard over, in a ute tray, on a trailer, or wedged across the back seat of a wagon. A fridge that rode from Chermside to Carindale standing up in a body truck is a different case from one laid in a trailer.
How long should a fridge stand after lying on its side?
Here the brands differ, which is why the manual for your model is the final word. LG's Australian support page says to stand the fridge upright in its final position and wait at least two hours before plugging it in, and it says that applies even if the fridge was only on its side for about 10 minutes. Fisher & Paykel's guide says to leave it standing upright as long as possible, at least a few hours, before turning it on.
As a quick guide, this is what the manufacturer material we checked for this article says, as at October 2026:
- LG (Australian support guidance): kept upright, plug in once vibration has stopped. Moved on its side, stand it upright and wait at least two hours.
- Fisher & Paykel (refrigerator user guide): transported upright, switch on after 10 minutes. Left on its side, stand it upright as long as possible, at least a few hours.
- Electrolux (Australian user manual): once it is plugged in, let the refrigerator run for two to three hours before putting any food in.
The pattern holds even where the numbers differ. Upright is quick. On its side means hours, not minutes. If the paper manual is long gone, look it up on the brand's website by model number before move day.
Not sure whether it counted as lying down?
Treat it as if it did and take the longer wait. An extra couple of hours standing upright costs you an evening of takeaway. Starting the compressor too early risks the fridge itself.
Can you lay a fridge down to move it?
Only if you have to, and only on the side the manufacturer names. Fisher & Paykel's guide says that if the cabinet has to be laid down, lay it carefully on its side, and the guide we checked specifies the right-hand side when viewed from the front. Other Fisher & Paykel models specify the left, so check yours rather than guessing. Face down is the one to avoid, because it puts the cabinet's weight on the doors and hinges.
In a removal truck there is rarely any reason to lay a fridge down. A four-tonne or eight-tonne body truck has the internal height for a full-size French door fridge standing up, and that is one of the practical differences between booking a crew and borrowing a mate's ute. For a trailer or a ute, measure the fridge height and the vehicle first, and plan for the longer wait if it has to travel on its side.
How do you get a fridge ready the day before the move?
Most of the work happens before the crew arrives. A fridge that is still full, still frozen, or still connected to a water line on the morning of the move slows the whole job down. This is the order we suggest:
- Empty it completely the night before, door shelves included, and take out loose glass shelves and crisper drawers or tape them firmly in place.
- Switch it off at the wall and let the freezer defrost, with towels on the floor and the drip tray emptied.
- For a plumbed fridge with an ice maker or water dispenser, turn the water off at the tap and disconnect the line, or book a plumber if you are not confident doing it.
- On the morning, tape the doors closed and tuck the power cord away, as Fisher & Paykel's guide suggests, then wind the adjustable feet up so the fridge rolls freely.
The defrost is the step people skip. A freezer that is still dripping when it goes on the truck leaks onto whatever is packed beside it, and water in the back of a truck on a humid Cairns afternoon does not dry out by itself. Defrosting the night before, as our moving day checklist suggests, means the fridge goes on dry and lighter.
How do removalists move a fridge on the day?
The way our crews do it is simple and slow on purpose. The fridge goes onto an appliance trolley standing up, strapped to the trolley with a blanket between the strap and the finish. Two people take it, one on the handles and one guiding at the base, and stairs are taken one step at a time. In the truck it stands against the wall or a solid item, doors facing in, and is strapped so it cannot tip or walk on a corner.
Access is what changes the job. A side-by-side fridge in a Newstead apartment needs the lift booked and padded, and the lift door measured against the fridge depth. A high-set Queenslander in Paddington or an Edge Hill house with a long outdoor staircase means a longer, slower carry. Measure the fridge and the narrowest doorway at both ends, because some French door fridges need doors or handles removed to get through, and that is a job to plan rather than discover at 07:30 on the day.
“We would rather walk a fridge down a staircase upright and take the extra ten minutes than lay it down to make the carry easier. Laying it down saves a little time on the stairs, then costs hours at the other end, because now it cannot be switched on straight away.”
, R2G Moving Team
Ask about cover as well. Appliances are where a lot of damage questions end up, and a fridge that stops working with no outside damage is often treated differently from one with a dented door. Our guide to whether removalists are liable for damage explains how that tends to work in Australia.
What happens to the food while the fridge is off?
Plan for the fridge to be off for most of the day. The closest official reference is Food Standards Australia New Zealand's emergency food safety advice, which says a closed fridge should keep food cold for around four hours before it can begin to spoil, and that frozen food which has thawed should not be refrozen.
An emptied, defrosted fridge on a truck is well past that, so the food needs its own plan. FSANZ suggests eskies with ice bricks or gel packs for keeping food cold when the power is out, and the same setup works for a move. Keep the esky in your car rather than on the truck, especially on a Brisbane summer day or in the Cairns wet season, and pack the cold food last. Anything that has sat warm for hours goes in the bin. FSANZ puts it plainly: if in doubt, throw it out.
How do you know the fridge is working properly after the move?
Give it time before you load it. Electrolux's Australian user manual recommends letting a refrigerator run for two to three hours before putting any food in, so you can check it is operating properly and that enough cool air is circulating.
While it cools, level it with the adjustable feet or rollers so the doors close and seal, and leave the clearance the manual asks for. It will run for long stretches at first, particularly in a house closed up in the Queensland heat all day.
By the next morning it should be holding temperature. A fridge that still is not cold by then is worth checking for a wrong setting, a door seal that has not closed or blocked airflow at the back. After that, call the manufacturer's service line with the model number. Leave the ice maker until last, because plumbed models can take a while to start producing ice after reconnection, and the manual will say how long.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plug in a fridge straight after moving it?
Yes, if it stayed upright the whole way. LG's Australian guidance says an upright fridge can be plugged in once any vibration has stopped, and Fisher & Paykel suggests waiting 10 minutes so the system pressures equalise. A fridge that spent time on its side is different: stand it upright and wait at least two hours, or longer if the manual for your model says so.
How long should a fridge stand upright after being on its side?
Manufacturers put it at hours, not minutes. LG's Australian support page says at least two hours, even if the fridge was only on its side briefly. Fisher & Paykel says as long as possible and at least a few hours. The manual for your model is the final word, and when you are unsure, the longer wait is the safer choice for the compressor.
Should you defrost a fridge before moving it?
Yes. A freezer that is still frozen will drip as it travels, and that water ends up on the floor, in the truck and on everything packed near it. Switch the fridge off and empty it the night before, leave the doors open with towels underneath, and wipe it dry in the morning. A defrosted fridge is also lighter and easier to carry safely.
Do removalists move fridges upright?
A professional crew with a proper truck should move a fridge upright, on an appliance trolley, strapped in place and protected with blankets. That is how our crews handle them, and it means the fridge can usually go back on soon after it is in position. Ask your removalist how they move fridges when you book, especially for large French door or plumbed models.
Getting your fridge moved upright and back on the same day
R2G has been moving Queensland homes since 2014 out of our Archerfield and Cairns City depots,, and heavy appliances turn up on most of the house moves we run. Our removalists in Brisbane and Cairns removalists move fridges upright on trolleys with straps and blankets, and if there is a gap between homes we can hold your furniture in secure storage between homes. Tell us the fridge size and whether it is plumbed in when you get a free quote, and we will plan the carry around it.