# Moved a freezer, how long before I can fire it up?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-a-freezer-how-long-before-i-can-fire-it-up/199894
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 6, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-a-freezer-how-long-before-i-can-fire-it-up/199894 "2003-09-06T05:47:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-a-freezer-how-long-before-i-can-fire-it-up/199894/1 "2003-09-06T05:47:12Z")
It seems I recall something about moving freezers and letting the freon settle. Is this true or not?
I just got a 2nd hand freezer and had to lay it down in the back of the van to get it home. It is not sitting in place and waiting for power… but I can’t remember the rule on this.
???
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-a-freezer-how-long-before-i-can-fire-it-up/199894/2 "2003-09-06T05:59:54Z")
24 hours.
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### Author:  [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-a-freezer-how-long-before-i-can-fire-it-up/199894/3 "2003-09-06T06:57:16Z")
“It is not sitting in place and waiting for power”
I mean **it is NOW sitting in place**.
24 hours. Good. That’s what I thought I remembered. Thanks FI
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### Author:  [@Aussie\_Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aussie_Daniel)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-a-freezer-how-long-before-i-can-fire-it-up/199894/4 "2003-09-06T18:58:39Z")
I always thought it was so oil can settle inside the motor/compressor casing because if it didn’t then it would get splashed around and potentially block the fine tubing that the compressed freon/refrigerant is pumped through.
I’m right or wrong, but either way what’s the worst that can happen if it was placed upright into its home then switched on immediately, without a 24 hour wait?
A.D.
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### Author:  [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-a-freezer-how-long-before-i-can-fire-it-up/199894/5 "2003-09-06T19:03:18Z")
If you don’t wait 24 hours, the freezer could get a cramp and then drown.
Oh wait …
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### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-a-freezer-how-long-before-i-can-fire-it-up/199894/6 "2003-09-06T20:55:31Z")
When I bought a fridge, I was told to wait 8 hours for the oil to settle, FWIW. I didn’t because it was midsummer and a lot of food was getting ready to spoil. I decided to wait 4 because I figured that they probably exaggerated and anyway 90% of the settling would have taken place in the first half of the time. I have not observed any ill effects.
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-a-freezer-how-long-before-i-can-fire-it-up/199894/7 "2003-09-07T03:16:33Z")
[Appliance Aid](http://www.applianceaid.com/faq-side.html) says “a few hours”. And it’s for the oil to drain back. You did move it on it’s side, didn’t you (not on it’s back)?