My dear wife gave me a new Frigidaire 7.5 Cu. ft for Christmas... To go in my pole barn/shop. Cool, . will come in handy.

Thing is, she stored it laid down in the back of her SUV for a couple days including several miles of driving around.

I have always heard the best practice was not to lay them down. I have moved several over the years but always only standing up.

I haven't plugged it in yet, just got it today, how long, or is it even necessary, to wait to plug it in.

You absolutely need to have it upright for a couple days. The compressor oil is rather heavy and in some narrow tubing. That oil needs to be settled back down prior to plugging in to it will burn out the compressor.

I’d leave it standing for a week if it was in its side for a couple days, prior to plugging it in.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
You absolutely need to have it upright for a couple days. The compressor oil is rather heavy and in some narrow tubing. That oil needs to be settled back down prior to plugging in to it will burn out the compressor.

I’d leave it standing for a week if it was in its side for a couple days, prior to plugging it in.

Yep, leave them upright for at least a week, longer would be better to be safe. But a week setting level, in the place they will be installed should be good to go.


ARman

It will be fine. Stand up as mentioned for a day or two and it will be good to. That is probably over kill. I do not think it needs to stand for a week before plugging in?
I would make a call to the place she bought it if really concerned.

Yeah.
24 hours is sufficient unless it sat in very cold temps enough to cold soak the oil.

But a week, vs a repair of burnt out compressor, evac, cleaning, purge, vacuum, re-charging is likely going to cost more that replacement.

I could wait a week it's only a big deal to a dog...

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:

I could wait a week it's only a big deal to a dog...

I was at the store the other day and noticed that Alpo is now up to 99¢ / can. That's almost seven bucks in doggie dollars.

I’ve delivered literally thousands of refrigerators over the past 40 years and all of them lying on their back. You can plug it in and run them within 10-15 minutes of returning to vertical. The only exception is if the unit had been running prior to being laid flat. I would give it an hour or 2 for oil return
On new stuff, no delay needed

You've done without it this long, is waiting a week really a hardship?

Freezers also are supposed to be kept upright.

quote:

Originally posted by John Steed:
You've done without it this long, is waiting a week really a hardship?

Freezers also are supposed to be kept upright.

Since the guy who actually worked with appliances says 10-15 minutes is long enough to wait, he's probably good by now. Waiting a week would actually be creating an unneeded hardship.

quote:

Originally posted by Appliance Brad:
I’ve delivered literally thousands of refrigerators over the past 40 years and all of them lying on their back. You can plug it in and run them within 10-15 minutes of returning to vertical. The only exception is if the unit had been running prior to being laid flat. I would give it an hour or 2 for oil return
On new stuff, no delay needed

I was pretty sure this was the case . Thanks Brad!

quote:

Originally posted by Paten:

Since the guy who actually worked with appliances says 10-15 minutes is long enough to wait, he's probably good by now.

Conflict of interests.

So a slight thread drift but since Brad has answered the OP’s question, I would like to ask one on a related item.

What about portable AC unit’s that sit on the floor and have exhaust tubes running to the window. If one of these units is transported or moved in a manner where the unit is laid on its side, how long should one wait before starting the unit up once it is positioned in a full upright position?

quote:

Originally posted by sigarmsp226:

What about portable AC unit’s that sit on the floor and have exhaust tubes running to the window. If one of these units is transported or moved in a manner where the unit is laid on its side, how long should one wait before starting the unit up once it is positioned in a full upright position?

Literally the same. If it's been in use prior to moving, let it sit a couple hours. If it's been in storage, by the time you get the venting rigged up, you can plug it in and go.

The 4 years I worked at our local Sears store, we delivered all our appliances in a long wheelbase cargo van lying down. I've always used a pick up truck and laid them on their back. We've done that since 1984 so it seems to be working out OK.

Like I said in the OP... "The old debate"
I have heard this debated for 50+ years.

And now I get from 10 minutes to a week suggested.

Of course, I will defer to the forum expert, Brad so I'm good to go anyway.

Thanks, everyone!

My rule of thumb has always been to stand it upright for as long as it was horizontal. It will take just as long for the oil to get back to where it belongs as it did for it to leave where it belongs.

But yeah, tipping it up and plugging it in works too.