Do movers move appliances? Yes, and on most Ontario moves the washer, dryer, and fridge are the heaviest things on the truck. The real question hiding inside this one is about hookups: who disconnects the water, who handles the gas, and what happens to the beer fridge that has lived in the garage since 2009. Here are the straight answers.
The Disconnect Rule, Explained Honestly
Professional movers move appliances every day. What most won’t do is work on gas lines, and in Ontario that’s the correct answer: gas appliances should be disconnected and reconnected by a licensed gas technician, full stop. A gas dryer or gas stove needs that appointment booked before move day.
Water is simpler. Washer hoses and fridge water lines are basic connections, and the safest routine is shutting the valves and disconnecting the night before the move. Then everything is dry, drained, and ready when the crew arrives. Dishwashers are the odd one out, since they’re plumbed and often hardwired, so a plumber or installer handles those ends.
The Washer Has a Secret Bolt Problem
Front-load washers hide the most commonly missed step in all of appliance moving. The drum floats on a suspension system, and it needs to be locked down for transport with shipping bolts, the same ones that came installed when the machine was new. Whirlpool’s own guidance explains the bolts secure the drum so transport can’t damage internal components. Kept yours? Install them the day before. Lost them? Replacement kits are inexpensive and worth every dollar on a bumpy Ontario side road. Top-load washers skip the drama, needing only drained hoses and a secured lid.
Fridge, Stove, Freezer: The Prep List
- Fridge: empty it, unplug it 24 hours ahead, and let it defrost with the doors open. It rides upright, and it should stand for a few hours at the new house before plugging back in.
- Chest freezer: same defrost routine, and everything inside needs a cooler or a new home. A full freezer can’t ride the truck.
- Stove: electric just unplugs. Gas waits for the licensed technician. Either way, degrease it before move day so the crew isn’t wrestling a slippery 200-pound box.
- The garage beer fridge: it counts too. Defrost it, empty it, and yes, we’ve heard every joke about relocating the contents by hand.
What the Crew Brings to the Party
Appliances are dense, awkward, and unforgiving of shortcuts, which is exactly the job appliance dollies, shoulder straps, and floor runners exist for. Doorways get measured, floors get protected, and the machine rides strapped upright. Like pianos, appliances are specialty weight, and our guide on moving a piano safely shows how much technique heavy items really involve. Moving just one appliance? Our packing services include a single-item option built for exactly that.
Appliance Questions, Answered Straight
Do movers disconnect the washer and dryer?
Movers transport them; disconnection is usually the owner’s job the night before. Water hoses are simple to shut off and drain. A gas dryer needs a licensed gas technician in Ontario, so book that ahead of move day.
Will movers move a fridge with food in it?
No. A fridge travels empty, defrosted, and dry, both for safety and because doors swing and shelves shatter. Plan meals down to empty in the final week, and cooler-pack whatever survives.
Do front-load washers really need shipping bolts?
For anything beyond a very short, gentle move, yes. The bolts lock the floating drum so the suspension can’t slam around in transit. Manufacturers sell replacement kits if the originals are long gone.
Can movers move a gas stove?
Yes, once it’s disconnected. The disconnection and the reconnection at the new house belong to a licensed gas technician. Schedule both appointments when you book your move and the day runs seamlessly.
Heavy Metal, Handled Gently
From farmhouse kitchens near Elmira to family homes in Fergus and Brantford, our crews move the machines that run your house, beer fridge included.
Request your free estimate or call You Move Me Kitchener-Waterloo at (226) 499-6700, and tell us what’s in the garage. We won’t judge.