Removing a GE Wall-hanging Refrigerator/Freezer Unit??

[annainatlanta]

It will be for sale at some point, but first I need to carefully remove a 1960 GE Wonder Kitchen wall-mounted fridge (Woodbine Brown) from the wall. Nobody in town (Columbus, GA) has any clue about this appliance, and I'm looking for as much info as possible before starting so we don't bungle the job. It was working until a couple of months ago -- I think a motor blew -- and I need to transport it from Columbus to Atlanta where there are more specialist options.

Is the fridge hanging on brackets, or bolted into the wall?
How is it wired into the electrics?
What step-by-step do we take to unfasten it, then lower it to the cart/dolly to get it outside for transport?
Anybody know how heavy that thing is?

Thank you all very much!
Anna in Atlanta

 

[pulltostart]

Anna,

First - welcome to AW!

 

Second - yep, that unit is heavy!  So be sure you have some strong bodies to get it off the wall.

 

This refrigerator should be hanging on a bar which is anchored to the wall.  The bar is almost as long as the refrigerator and is probably attached with lag bolts into each stud.  The refrigerator simply rests on the bar by way of a corresponding "lip" on the back of the unit.  After physically hanging the unit it is wired, probably into a junction box, but possibly plugged into a duplex outlet.

 

Others have actual experiences with these and might offer better advice than I can offer.  But I suggest opening the access panel(s) at the top of the refrigerator and go from there.  The power connection should be visible at that point.  Once power is disconnected you (and your helpers) should be able to lift the refrigerator off the bar and set it down.

 

Good luck with the 'fridge - those are really unique appliances.  And, BTW, the name of the color is Woodtone Brown.

 

lawrence

 

[turquoisedude]

Welcome to the group!

I have one of these beauties and I have moved 3 now so maybe I can help!

For the power connection, if you remove the panel at the top of unit and look to the rear of the compartment at the right,you should see a standard AC plug and cordset; hopefully the installer put in an outlet here for this purpose!  So far I have not seen one that has been hard-wired.

While the panel is off you should also see 2 metal straps attached to clips on each end of the unit. When you are ready to remove the fridge undo these then lift the fridge up and off the lip of the mounting bracket.

As for moving help, 3 strong folks are the minimum  - get 4 if you can!

But before this, can you post the model number? It can be found in the lower left section of the fresh food compartment.  If you see an M or an N in the model number, you may have a problem with a resistor!  A 9-ohm replacement will solve it...  

Hope this helps!!

 

[tomturbomatic]

We put a LONG 2X4 or 2X6 under the unit and used a hydraulic jack under the board. If you just use the jack under the cabinet bottom, it will dig into the base of the refrigerator. We used the jack to lift it off the lip of the support bracket on the wall.