How do movers handle large appliances, and what should you do before pickup?

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The crew moves the appliance: it dollies it out, pads it, secures it in the truck, and sets it in place at the new home. Getting it ready is a separate job that should be finished before the truck arrives: empty and defrost the refrigerator, drain and brace the washer, and have any gas appliance disconnected by a qualified technician or your gas utility, never by yourself. On a Georgia hourly move, prep work the crew does at your request is billed at no more than the hourly rate.

What to do before pickup, appliance by appliance

  • Refrigerator and freezer. Empty it, defrost it, and let it dry, a day or two ahead so it is not leaking on move day. Remove or secure shelves and drawers. Under Georgia’s rules, a carrier may not accept articles that must stay frozen or refrigerated in transit unless they are in a container that holds the temperature for the whole move, the move is 150 miles or less, delivery happens within 24 hours of loading, and the carrier does not have to service them on the way (Rule 570-38-3-.05(5)).
  • Washer. Turn off the water, disconnect and drain the hoses, and install the drum’s shipping bolts or brace if your model has them; the owner’s manual says how.
  • Dryer. Unplug an electric dryer and disconnect the vent. For a gas dryer, have a qualified technician or your gas utility shut off and cap the gas line.
  • Dishwasher. Disconnect and drain the water supply and drain lines.
  • Range or cooktop. Clean it and secure the racks and grates. For a gas range, the gas line goes to a qualified technician or your gas utility.

Drained, dry, disconnected, and with loose parts removed or taped is the goal, so nothing leaks onto or damages other goods. On a Georgia move, this part is yours by rule: unless you and the carrier agree otherwise, appliances “must have all motors, mechanical parts, loose accessories and ornamentation securely fastened, bolted, or tied down by the customer” (Rule 570-38-3-.05(8)).

Gas lines are not a do-it-yourself step

A gas connection that is loosened or capped wrong can leak. Have a qualified technician or your gas utility disconnect and cap gas appliances before moving day, and reconnect them at the new home. If you smell gas, leave the home and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.

Who does the prep, and how it is billed

On a Georgia move. DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 7 has no appliance-servicing item. If the crew does prep work at your request on an hourly move, Rule 570-38-3-.07(3)(e) says “Rates for ancillary non-transportation services performed by a carrier at the request of a customer shall not exceed the hourly rates for transportation” when the move is billed by the hour. If the carrier cannot do a service itself, such as gas or plumbing work, it must, at your specific written request, make reasonable attempts to arrange a third party; you pay that party’s actual charges, and the carrier is not responsible for the quality of that work (Rule 570-38-3-.05(10)).

On an interstate move. The federal consumer booklet in Appendix A to 49 CFR Part 375 lists appliance servicing among accessorial services, “services such as packing, unpacking, appliance servicing, or piano carrying, that you request to be performed or are necessary because of landlord requirements or other special circumstances.” The price is in the mover’s tariff, so get it on the written estimate.

Either way, decide before the estimate what you will do yourself, what a technician will do, and what you are asking the crew to do, and get the crew’s part in writing. Other extras that can and cannot appear on a Georgia bill are covered in hidden fees and accessorial charges.

Checklist for the last week

  1. Book a technician or your gas utility for any gas appliance, at both ends.
  2. Use up or give away frozen and refrigerated food.
  3. Defrost and dry the refrigerator and freezer at least a day ahead.
  4. Drain and disconnect the washer and dishwasher, and brace the washer drum.
  5. Remove or secure shelves, racks, and loose parts.
  6. Tell the mover which appliances are going and whether any need the crew’s prep.

Fuel cans, propane cylinders, and other items a mover will not load are covered in what a moving company will refuse to move.

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