Don't plug in fridge for 24 hours after moving?

[Bassyhead]

I got a mini fridge ("Avanti"? if it matters) from my cousin who went to syracuse a few years ago. My aunt told me not to plug it in for 24 hours after moving, just let it stay in the same spot. Dunno if this is true, never heard of this. My dad got a new fridge a few years ago and the guys from Sears plugged the thing in right after they tore the box off it. Is 24 hours necessary? I'm only moving it 15 miles, so climate and altitude shouldnt matter....

 

[yobarman]

I dunno that doesn't make sense.. I could see turning it off 24 hours before moving...so you know, all the ice in the freezer melts away.

 

[shiner]

Never heard anything like that before.....seems kinda silly.

 

[amdskip]

Yes, that is true. 12 hours should be enough though.

 

[Kelvrick]

That doesn't make any sense. Only thing I could think of is to let the coolent settle? But, you're not supposed to lay the fridge down or anything anyway. Who knows? *shrug*

<== monkey dance

 

[Mutilator]

It would make more sense to say plug it in and don't put any food in it for 24 hours to give it time to get cold.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Ah, children....

He is RIGHT. DO NOT PLUG IT IN.

When it lays on its side or otherwise during transit, the oil that lubricates the compressor shifts. You want all the oil to settle back into normal resiviors before you fire it up.

-PAB

 

[The Stigenator]

might have to do with older freon based (ice forming) fridges..

the newer ones I believe dont require that.

 

[Pacfanweb]

That's only if you laid it on its side while moving. Because the oil needs to settle back down. 24 hrs is way too long, but that's what they usually tell you.
1 hour should be plenty.

 

[ObiDon]

Yeah, it's a coolant thing. It only applies when you lay the fridge down instead of shipping it upright. That's why the Sears delivery guy didn't have to wait.

ps -- I was also thinking 12 hours

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
might have to do with older freon based (ice forming) fridges..

the newer ones I believe dont require that.

I dont think it has anything to do with R22. R12 is a gas and a liquid depending on temperature, so as far as R22 goes, its fairly liquid so to speak.

-PAB

 

[Bassyhead]

Not sure of the coolant, i think it said "R14" or something on it. I dont have the fridge here.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: Bassyhead
Not sure of the coolant, i think it said "R14" or something on it. I dont have the fridge here.

Its called refrigerant. You can use piss as a coolant, just it dosent work very well.

-PAB

 

[ObiDon]

You can use piss as a coolant, just it dosent work very well.

<--- leaves to buy beer and "watercooling" equipment for case mod

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Bassyhead
Not sure of the coolant, i think it said "R14" or something on it. I dont have the fridge here.

If you've tipped the 'fridge over for any significant length of time (more than a minute or so) then you'll need to leave it sit for about 12 hours. AFAIK, the coolant is the compressor lubricant and you want to let that all seep back down into it's proper place before turning the 'fridge on. If you leave the 'fridge upright during travel then you don't need to worry about it. Also, IIRC R22 is more volitile than R12, the reason being that R22 is formulated to break down in case of release so as not to harm the ozone. I've got a friend in HVAC with whom I can check facts later if you'd like.

ZV

 

[schmedy]

ITs a wonder how many people guess at things here. As PshyoAndy said the reason behind not turning it on is when it is not kept upright at all time, so if it was on its side or who knows why but upside down, the oil can come out of the compressor, nothing to do with the coolant, and if you start it up before the oil settles back down it could cause the compressor to burn out.

[/guess]Really what happens is the little elf who turns on the light and lives in your fridge needs time to fix up is little house since it was on its side, if you don't wait the light won't work till hes done his 24 hour cleaning spree. [/guess]

 

[Lounatik]

schmedy,you are almost there. I used to be a fridge and appliance repairman and the reason they say no to plug it in for several hours is this: Now bear in mind this is only if the unit was on its side or upside down. The oil in the compressor's motor will act as a corrosive when left floating around in the system. It is okay sitting at the bottom of the compressor lubing things up like its supposed to do, but it absolutely does not like to mix with freon. It won't affect the machine right away, but you can severly shorten the lifespan of a machine, be it an a/c unit or a fridge by running it too soon. A few hours upright usually does the trick.


Peace




Lounatik