Appliance Moving in Jeddah — Fridges, Washers and Screens

The fridge: why six hours, and when to switch it on again

Inside a fridge is a sealed refrigeration circuit containing gas and oil that lubricates the compressor. When running, the oil is distributed through the circuit; after disconnection it needs time to drain back and settle in the compressor base — hence the six-hour window before moving. After arrival the rule depends on how it travelled and for how long. If it was carried upright over a short distance inside Jeddah, two hours is enough before switching on. If it travelled upright over a long intercity route, wait four to six hours. If anyone was forced to carry it lying down — which we refuse to do — it must stand upright for a full twenty-four hours before power is applied, so the oil returns from the refrigeration lines to the compressor. Switching on sooner pumps oil into the circuit and creates a blockage that destroys the compressor.

The washing machine: transit bolts separate a sound machine from a ruined one

The inner drum of an automatic washing machine hangs inside the casing on strong springs and shock absorbers that let it swing during the spin cycle. That suspension is designed for controlled vertical movement in a fixed position, not for violent shaking in a truck crossing speed bumps. Every new machine therefore ships with three or four transit bolts fixed through its back panel that lock the drum to the casing, and the installer is told to remove them at first installation. The problem is that most people throw those bolts away afterwards, so when a move comes years later they are nowhere to be found. Moving a machine without locking the drum shatters the springs and shock absorbers, and the result appears weeks later as violent vibration, loud noise and the machine walking across the floor during the spin. We therefore keep sets of transit bolts for the most common models in the Saudi market and fit a matching set before loading, then remove them at the new home after levelling — a step many forget, which leaves the machine shaking despite being perfectly sound.

Televisions: why upright carriage is compulsory

Modern LED and OLED screens are built from very thin layers behind the front glass, and the display panel itself is designed to carry its weight distributed vertically as it hangs on a wall. Laid flat, the panel's weight spreads across its whole area, and any point pressure from above or any vibration creates bright patches or permanent lines that can only be repaired by replacing the entire panel — at close to the cost of a new television. We therefore always carry screens upright in a foam-lined carton, strapped between soft items, and we strongly prefer the original carton where it has been kept, because its moulding is made for exactly this purpose. If you expect to move again in future, keep your television cartons — advice that saves money and worry.

Built-in appliances and gas and water connections

Built-in ovens, dishwashers and extractors demand safety attention rather than merely technical care, because they connect to gas or water. Before removing any gas oven we close the cylinder valve or the mains line and check for leaks with a soap solution before disconnecting the fitting. With a dishwasher we close the water valve and drain the hose completely, because residual water leaks inside the truck and soaks everything travelling with it. At the new home we do not reconnect a gas line until the fitting matches and a sound regulator is in place, and we run a leak test before the crew leaves. These are steps that must never be relaxed however tight the schedule.

Making the appliance guarantee enforceable

A verbal guarantee on appliances is worthless in practice, because their faults appear late and their cause is hard to prove. We therefore follow one simple, decisive procedure: before loading we photograph each appliance externally along with its data plate and serial number, and we run whatever can be run to confirm it works. At delivery we repeat the test run in front of you and record the result. That gives us a documented reference for the condition of each appliance immediately before and after the move, and makes the guarantee against faults caused by our handling genuinely enforceable rather than a promise. It also protects the company from claims about faults that existed before we arrived, which is fair to both sides.