Last updated on August 14th, 2022 at 01:27 pm
Most refrigerators come with pre-installed wheels and rollers that allow you to push them from one place to another when cleaning or repositioning them in the kitchen.
In addition, some refrigerators have front legs for adjustment when moving them while others do not.
So, these refrigerators tend to roll and slide during use, leaving most users to wonder why this happens.
Refrigerators roll or slide due to the size of the door or the weight of the door gaskets. A heavy refrigerator door can cause it to move or tilt sideways when it is opened if the fridge is not well balanced. You may need to lock or level the refrigerator at a spot. An imbalance or leveled refrigerator stand also causes this problem.
How To Stop The Refrigerator From Rolling Or Sliding?
#1. Level The Fridge
Refrigerators roll and slide due to the effect of rollers or wheels that are not often locked in place.
So, you can use wood, wooden hedge, shims, and plastic furniture coasters to keep the wheels from moving or sliding. Additionally, if it is necessary, then level the refrigerator.
#2. Adjust The Leveling Legs Or Shims
Most refrigerator brands have leveling legs, while some have adjustable rollers and shims. The rollers are found directly behind the grille or kick plates on the fridge.
The location may vary depending on the model of refrigerator you are using. Once it is located, remove the base grille.
Next, turn the leveler low or raise it to the other side of the fridge.
To increase the height by adjusting the legs, turn them clockwise. Next, turn the adjusting legs anticlockwise to lower them.
Continue to turn and adjust it till the refrigerator is leveled.
Before installing shims on the fridge, check underneath the fridge to see gaps between the refrigerator legs and the ground.
These gaps simply mean that the refrigerator is not leveled. Once identified, slide the leveling shim in to form a snug fit.
These shims, which are probably made of only plastic and very sturdy materials, make your fridge level and help prevent your fridge from rolling.
#3. Lock The Wheels
To lock the wheels, attach the base grille from underneath a fridge; then, use a screwdriver to lose the wheels and tighten them back.
Next, turn the screw anti-clockwise to lower them while turning screws clockwise. You can continue to adjust the wheels till it reaches a point where it is firmly placed on the ground.
The front must not be more than a quarter-inch higher than the rear. You can also use the level up to measure the height of the wheels.
Three Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Slide Or Roll Your Refrigerator?
When you first move to a new apartment or a new home, you will most likely leave the refrigerator at one end of the kitchen until you decide to move out or change the position of the fridge, which rarely happens.
When you eventually get ready to move it, be extra cautious, like keeping the refrigerator upright.
There are three reasons why sliding and rolling your refrigerator is not advised and can result in severe damage to the fridge.
- Your instincts will push you to tilt or bend your refrigerator to the other side, where you carry it on one end, and another person helps you lift the other.
No matter how reflexive this feels, refuse the urge of sliding or tilting your refrigerator because no matter how insignificant the shifts are, they can damage the refrigerator.
- A slide in your refrigerator can damage it because most modern refrigerators contain several chemicals such as oil refrigerants, lubricants, and many others.
This liquid shifts or moves inside the fridge where it shouldn’t be. For example, the oil inside the compressor may drain into the refrigerant lines.
And because oil can not be compressed, the compressor automatically shuts down when the refrigerator is connected to a power source.
- The sliding of a refrigerator also amounts to shelves sliding out. Well, this varies from one model to the other. Some refrigerators do not come with removable shelves but have pre-installed brackets.
Therefore, whenever the fridge is distorted, the stands become slagged. This results in the fridge being stained with grease, food particles, and debris scattered over the refrigerator interior.
How To Stabilize Refrigerator?
A stabilized refrigerator makes you comfortable as you use it and keeps your refrigerator functioning effectively. If a refrigerator is not stable, you can do it yourself.
Or you need to locate the legs behind the grille on your refrigerator to adjust them. I will outline a step-by-step guide on how to stabilize a refrigerator in this article.
There are two methods of stabilizing the fridge. The first method of stabilizing a refrigerator is adjusting the leveling legs, and the second is adjusting the rollers.
#1. Stabilizing Your Fridge By Adjusting The Leveling Legs
#1. Detach The Grille Over The Legs
The grille is always at the bottom of the refrigerator and looks like a plastic covering over the legs. The grille can be detached or removed by drawing it gently with your hands.
However, some refrigerator grilles are attached or screwed and will require you to unscrew them first before taking them out.
Depending on the brand of refrigerator you’re using, consult your manufacturers’ guide for detailed procedures on removing the grille on your refrigerator legs.
#2. Examine The Legs
Observe your refrigerator legs closely to see the type of leg they have.
While most refrigerators have rotating legs, some of the legs are held together by bolts and screws and require screwdrivers to remove them.
For instance, Ge refrigerators have their legs held by screws and need a flat blade screwdriver to remove them.
#3. Rotate The Legs
Looking carefully at the top and bottom of your refrigerator legs, you will notice a slot at the top and a bolt close to the bottom.
While using a flat-headed screwdriver on the slot, use an adjustable wrench and pliers on the bolt.
To lift the refrigerator high, turn the refrigerator clockwise while you turn the refrigerator’s leg anti-clockwise to lower it. It is to enable you to make the refrigerator leveled on all sides.
Contrary to this, other refrigerator brands such as Whirlpool refrigerators have legs without fasteners, and their legs are turned to the right when you need to lower them and left when you want to raise them.
You may also need to lean the refrigerator backward to reach the legs when adjusting them if it is too far for you.
But you have to be extra careful so that you don’t tilt the refrigerator too much.
#4. Control The Refrigerator’s Tilt With A Level
While working on your refrigerator, place a level on top of it. If it is even, its level will be flat on all sides. However, if it is tilted, gently adjust the legs to make them even.
#5. Measure The Refrigerator Slope
The level should slope slightly to the back when used on the refrigerator’s bottom. Ensure the front is 25 inches higher than the back.
#6. Replace The Grille
Carefully push back the grille into the refrigerator’s bottom. You should also remember to replace all clips and screws.
#2. Stabilizing Your Fridge By Adjusting The Rollers
#1. Remove The Grille Over The Leg
The grille lies at the bottom of the refrigerator. Pull it out using your hands or screw it. Still consult your manufacturers’ guides to know the correct way to remove the grill.
#2. Adjust The Screws
Every roller has a screw attached to it. Use a plier or wrench for a screw of 3/8 inches.
In the clockwise direction, turn the screw to raise the legs while turning them counterclockwise when you want to lower them.
#3. Measure The Refrigerator’s Tilt
When adjusted properly, the rollers should be flat on the refrigerator. To measure this, place the level on the top of the fridge just behind the refrigerator’s door.
#4. Measure The Refrigerator Slope
Place the level on the bottom of the fridge and allow it to slope slightly backward. Next, adjust the rollers to a height of 25 inches.
#5. Replace The Grille
After this, put back the grille and replace all loose plates and screws.
Conclusion
Refrigerators are capable of sliding and rolling out of position. These result from a refrigerator having heavy doors and unbalanced fridge stands or even an unleveled refrigerator.
However, the good news is that you can stop it by locking your refrigerator in a spot using a wooden hedge, shim, and plastic furniture coasters to keep the wheels in place.
You can also fix a sliding or rolling refrigerator by leveling your refrigerator.