Moving Appliances in Malaysia: How to Move a Fridge, Washing Machine, TV and More Safely

The items that cause the most worry in a house move are the big ones that plug in. A fridge that stops cooling, a washing machine drum that rattles after the move, or a cracked TV screen can turn moving day into a costly week. Most appliance damage during a move is preventable: prepare a few days ahead, keep things upright, use the right materials, and give each appliance time to settle before switching it on.

This guide covers moving appliances in Malaysia step by step, from the prep you do days before, to handling each appliance, to reinstalling and testing at the new place. Waiting times and technical steps come from linked manufacturer and Malaysian government sources, but your own manual always comes first.

1. Why Moving Appliances in Malaysia Needs Its Own Plan

Appliances are heavy and have moving parts, fluids and electronics inside. A fridge compressor holds oil that can shift if the fridge is tilted. A front-load washer’s drum sits on a suspension that isn’t built for lorry bumps. A flat screen can crack from pressure alone. Airconds and gas stoves involve refrigerant, wiring or gas. Add condo lift bookings, narrow stairs and afternoon rain at the loading bay, and appliances deserve their own plan.

2. Prep Days Before the Move

Find the manuals and model numbers

Collect the manual for every major appliance. If the paper copy is gone, note the model number from the sticker (inside the fridge, at the back of the washer or TV) and look it up on the brand’s website. The manual tells you the transport position, the waiting time before switching on and how to fit transit bolts. Keep them in a bag that travels with you.

Locate the washing machine transit bolts

Front-load washers arrive with transit bolts (shipping bolts) at the back that lock the drum. Samsung says to refit them before moving the machine, because moving without them can damage the suspension, and to remove them again before use (Samsung India). Samsung UK notes there are usually 3 to 5 bolts depending on the model and advises keeping them for future moves (Samsung UK). If yours are missing, contact the brand’s service centre early.

Book technicians and transport early

Aircond dismantling, water heater reinstallation and gas stove connection need qualified people, who get booked out at month-end when many tenancies change over. Book them when you book your lorry, along with the condo service lift (see Section 12). About a week before, stop buying frozen food in bulk so there is less to keep cold on the day.

The timeline below is a practical planning guide. Adjust it to your move date and your manuals.

3. How to Move a Fridge

Before the move

Empty the fridge completely, unplug it and leave the doors open to defrost, with old towels around the base. Wipe it dry, remove or tape down shelves and drawers, and tape or strap the doors shut. Samsung’s transport steps for side-by-side fridges also include shutting off the water supply valve, draining the dispenser and securing the power cord (Samsung South Africa).

Keep it upright

Every manufacturer page we checked says to move the fridge upright. LG explains that tilting can move compressor oil out of place, and that vibration on its side can damage refrigerant lines or affect cooling (LG USA). If you must tilt it, sources differ: Electrolux says transport it on its back if upright isn’t possible (Electrolux UK), Samsung says tilt it backward as little as possible, and LG says avoid laying it compressor-side down. In the lorry, stand it upright and strap it to the side wall.

How long to wait before switching it on

Manufacturers give different figures. Here is what the pages we read today say:

Sources: Samsung Gulf, Samsung South Africa, LG USA, Electrolux UK. These are overseas pages and Malaysian models may differ, so check your manual. If unsure, waiting longer only costs a few hours, so keep essentials in a cooler box on moving day. Once it is on, let it reach temperature before loading food.

4. How to Move a Washing Machine

Front-load machines

1. Unplug it, turn off the tap and disconnect the inlet hose over a basin.
2. Drain leftover water through the drain filter or hose as your manual shows.
3. Refit the transit bolts with the supplied spanner.
4. Tape the door shut and bag the hoses and bolt caps, taped to the machine.
5. Keep it upright. Samsung Hong Kong warns that transporting a washer on its side, front or back can damage it (Samsung Hong Kong).

Top-load machines

Top-loaders are built differently and many don’t use transit bolts the same way, so follow your manual’s transport section. Drain it, bag the hoses, tape the lid shut and keep it upright. Don’t carry it by the lid or control panel.

At the new home

Remove the transit bolts before the first wash and fit the plastic caps. Samsung UK suggests moving the drum by hand to confirm all bolts are out, then levelling the feet on a solid, level floor. Running a machine with the bolts in can damage internal parts. Do a short empty rinse-and-spin and watch the hose joints for leaks.

5. TVs and Computer Monitors

• Photograph the cable connections before unplugging.
• Remove the stand or bracket and keep the screws in a labelled bag.
• Use the original box and foam if you have them. If not, wrap the screen in a blanket or bubble wrap and add cardboard or foam board over the face.
• Samsung’s TV packing guidance recommends at least two people for handling, several layers of protection and not pressing on the screen while wrapping (Samsung Argentina).
• Carry and load the TV on its edge, as it sits in its box, and never stack boxes on it. Monitors follow the same rules.

6. Air-Conditioner Units: Leave It to a Technician

Moving a split aircond is not DIY. Removing the indoor and outdoor units involves the refrigerant circuit, copper piping and electrical connections. Book a qualified aircond technician to dismantle and reinstall it, and ask whether the unit and piping can be reused. If you rent, check your tenancy agreement, as the aircond may belong to the landlord.

New power points or wiring at the new home are electrical installation work. Suruhanjaya Tenaga (the Energy Commission) advises consumers to appoint an electrical contractor registered with the Commission, listed on its ECOS portal (Suruhanjaya Tenaga). Its domestic wiring guideline says circuits for airconds, water heaters, ovens and dryers should be connected separately from other circuits (ST domestic wiring guideline, PDF).

7. Water Heaters

The same ST guideline says electric water heaters must have a double-pole switch or isolator and be permanently connected to a protected circuit with a residual current device, and that a storage heater must not operate without its pressure relief valve. In practice: switch off at the DB board, let an electrician disconnect it, drain storage tanks before moving, and have it reinstalled properly, never with an improvised plug.

8. Microwaves, Ovens and Small Kitchen Appliances

• Remove the microwave’s glass turntable and roller ring and wrap them separately. Tape the door closed.
• Clean grease and crumbs from ovens and air fryers, and remove racks and trays.
• Hard-wired built-in ovens and hobs should be disconnected by a qualified person.
• Wrap rice cookers, kettles and blenders individually, tie the cords, and label boxes “KITCHEN – APPLIANCES – FRAGILE”.

For the rest of the house, see our step-by-step guide to packing when moving homes.

9. Gas Stoves and LPG Cylinders

At the old home, close the cylinder valve, let the gas in the hose burn off, then remove the regulator. Keep the regulator and hose together in a bag.

Move the cylinder upright with the valve closed, secured so it can’t roll, in a ventilated space away from heat and ignition sources. Transport guidance from Flogas, a UK LPG supplier, says vehicles should carry cylinders upright, be open or adequately ventilated, and keep smoking and ignition sources away (Flogas). Don’t leave a cylinder in a closed car under the sun.

At the new home, Suruhanjaya Tenaga’s gas safety tips say to use a competent or certified person for installation, a hose and regulator that meet the standard, a gas stove with the ST-SIRIM label, and not to place the cylinder under the hob. If you smell gas: close the valve, don’t touch electrical switches, open the windows, leave the area, call a competent person, and call the fire brigade if needed (Suruhanjaya Tenaga gas safety tips).

10. Packing Materials You Will Need

• Moving blankets or thick old blankets
• Bubble wrap and foam board for screens and glass
• Stretch wrap to hold blankets and keep doors shut
• Packing tape, plus masking tape for appliance finishes
• Ratchet straps or rope for securing tall appliances in the lorry
• Zip-lock bags and a marker for screws, bolts and remotes
• Old towels and a basin for draining
• A dolly with straps rated for your fridge’s weight

11. Lifting Safely

A two-door fridge or front-load washer is too heavy and awkward for one person. The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) manual handling guidelines are written for workplaces, but the principles apply at home. They note that manual handling contributes to 40% of reported musculoskeletal disorder cases in Malaysia, recommend team lifting and handling aids such as trolleys, and flag carrying loads up steps, through closed doors or around trip hazards as higher risk (DOSH Guidelines for Manual Handling at Workplace 2018, PDF). DOSH also says back support belts are not recommended without medical advice, as they can give a false sense of security.

• Never move a fridge or washer alone. Use at least two people and a dolly.
• Clear the route: doors propped open, rugs removed, wet floors dried.
• Keep the load close, lift with your legs and don’t twist while carrying.
• On stairs, go one step at a time with the stronger person below.
• Wear closed shoes with grip and well-fitting gloves.

12. Condo Lift and Loading Bay Booking

In a condo, the service lift is often the bottleneck. Most management offices require a booked moving slot, and many ask for a deposit, a form and lift padding before heavy items go in. Rules differ by building, so ask about allowed days and hours, how far ahead to book the lift and loading bay, the deposit and refund, mover registration at the guardhouse, and the lift’s door and car dimensions. A fridge that only fits by tilting it needs a longer rest before switching on.

If you are leaving a rental, our move-out and deposit refund guide covers the handover and getting your deposit back.

👉 Moving a fridge, washing machine or the whole house? WhatsApp TheLorry: 017-964 5401

13. Moving Day Checklist

• Fridge emptied, defrosted, dried, doors taped
• Washing machine drained, transit bolts refitted, hoses bagged
• TV stand removed, screen wrapped, cables photographed
• Aircond dismantled by the technician, or left if it belongs to the landlord
• LPG valve closed, regulator removed, cylinder upright and away from heat
• Manuals, remotes and screw bags in your personal bag
• Appliances loaded upright against the lorry walls and strapped
• Photos of each appliance’s condition before loading

TheLorry’s homepage lists approximate loads per vehicle; for example, the 1-tonne lorry is described as fitting a washing machine and a single-door fridge alongside other furniture for a room or apartment move (TheLorry). Our guide on how to choose the correct lorry type and size explains the options.

14. Reinstalling and Testing at the New Home

1. Put each appliance in its final position, with the ventilation space your fridge manual specifies.
2. Level the fridge and washer with the adjustable feet.
3. Wait the recommended time before switching on the fridge (Section 3).
4. Remove the washer’s transit bolts, connect the hoses, open the tap and check for drips.
5. Plug into wall sockets. Samsung UK, for example, says not to connect its washing machines to extension leads (Samsung UK).
6. Leave the aircond, water heater and gas stove to the technician, electrician and a competent gas installer.
7. Test everything on day one: fridge cooling, a short wash, TV inputs, microwave, oven and water heater.

15. Warranty Considerations

Keep receipts and warranty cards with your manuals. Terms vary by brand, but two points are worth knowing. Physical damage is usually not covered: Samsung’s TV packing guidance states the factory warranty does not cover breakage from impacts or cosmetic damage (Samsung Argentina). Incorrect installation can also matter: Samsung UK says installations not done according to the manual may void the warranty at its discretion if they contribute to a fault.

Follow the manual, photograph appliances before and after, and if something fails, contact the brand’s authorised service centre. If you hire movers, ask what protection applies to your items.

16. Disposing of Old Appliances (E-Waste)

Moving is a good time to retire the old fridge or TV, but don’t leave it beside the rubbish bin. The Department of Environment (DOE) says household e-waste such as washing machines, dryers, TVs, computers, mobile phones, airconds and fridges should go only to a registered collection centre, because it contains hazardous substances such as lead, cadmium and mercury. Find centres through DOE’s list or the MyEwaste app; some offer pick-up (DOE e-waste FAQ). DOE notes small appliances such as microwave ovens are not yet among the six controlled items, but you can ask collectors whether they accept them.

For bulky items, see our guide to old furniture disposal, which explains TheLorry’s disposal service.

How TheLorry Can Help

TheLorry offers house moving with movers, furniture and appliance delivery, and on-demand lori sewa (lorry rental) where you choose the vehicle, manpower and add-ons. Tell us which appliances you are moving when you book. See our house moving and on-demand lori sewa page for details. Aircond, electrical and gas work should still be done by qualified technicians.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I wait before switching on a fridge after moving it?

It depends on the brand and how it was moved. The pages we checked range from plugging in once vibration stops (LG, kept upright) to at least 4 hours (Electrolux; Samsung Gulf if moved on its side), and up to 24 hours on one Samsung page. Check your manual; if unsure, wait longer.

Can I lay a fridge down to move it?

Manufacturers recommend upright. If tilting is unavoidable, Electrolux says transport it on its back, Samsung says tilt it backward as little as possible, and LG says avoid laying it compressor-side down. Then allow a longer rest.

What happens if I forget the washing machine transit bolts?

Samsung says moving a front-loader without them may damage the suspension, and running it with them still fitted may damage internal parts. Refit before the move; remove before the first wash.

Can I move my own aircond?

It should be dismantled and reinstalled by a qualified aircond technician, with any new wiring done by an electrical contractor registered with Suruhanjaya Tenaga.

Is it safe to carry an LPG cylinder in my car?

Keep it upright, valve closed, regulator removed, secured, with ventilation and away from heat. Don’t leave it in a closed car in the sun, and have the stove reconnected by a competent person.

Where can I throw away an old fridge or TV in Malaysia?

At a registered e-waste collection centre, listed on DOE’s e-waste portal and the MyEwaste app. Some offer pick-up.

Final Word

Moving appliances safely comes down to four habits: prepare ahead, keep them upright and secured, leave aircond, wiring and gas to qualified people, and let each appliance settle before switching on. Test everything on day one.

👉 Get a house moving or lori sewa quote: WhatsApp TheLorry: 017-964 5401

Sources

• Samsung Gulf: When can I plug in my Samsung refrigerator after moving it?
• Samsung South Africa: How to transport the side-by-side refrigerator
• LG USA: Can I move my LG refrigerator on its side?
• Electrolux UK: Transport instructions for refrigeration appliances
• Samsung India: Front load washing machine shipping bolts
• Samsung Hong Kong: How could I transport washing machine safely?
• Samsung UK: How to install your washing machine
• Samsung Argentina: Recomendaciones para embalar un TV
• Suruhanjaya Tenaga: Appointing a registered electrical contractor for house wiring
• Suruhanjaya Tenaga: Garis Panduan Pendawaian Elektrik Pepasangan Domestik (PDF)
• Suruhanjaya Tenaga: Tip Keselamatan Gas Secara Umum
• Flogas: Transporting gas bottles
• DOSH: Guidelines for Manual Handling at Workplace 2018 (PDF)
• Department of Environment: E-waste FAQ