A washer and dryer unit is one of the hardest things to move in any home. It’s plumbed in and heavy, and its internal components are highly fragile; a simple drop can render your washer and dryer useless. In Montreal, they are usually fixed in the basement or a closet-sized laundry room at the back of a triplex. This means the unit is only accessible through a narrow hallway and a set of stairs that are definitely not designed with appliance removal in mind.

Whether your unit is located in the kitchen, bathroom, or hallway on the second floor, you need to ensure it arrives at your home in good condition. It takes the right preparation, equipment, and a clear plan before unplugging your washer and dryer.

Here’s how to move a washer and dryer in Montreal:

What You’ll Need: Tools and Equipment

Gather the following equipment before moving day, as last-minute scrambling can lead to shortcuts that damage your machine.

• Work gloves.
• Moving dolly rated for heavy appliance moving.
• Transit bolts for securing the washing machine drum while in transit for front-loading washing machines.
• Moving blankets to protect against dents and scratches during the carry and in the truck.
• Stretch wrap to wrap the blanket and secure the power cords and hoses.
• Adjustable wrench and pliers for disconnecting the plumbing.
• Tape and zip-lock bags for labelling and storing bolts, hose clamps, etc.
• Moving straps to secure the machine on the dolly and in the truck.
• Towels and a bucket for removing residual water in the hoses.

Step 1: Prepare Your Washer for the Move

On the night before the move, run your washer on an empty rinse and spin cycle to clear out standing water and residue in the drum. Transporting your washer and dryer with water inside creates weight, mould risk and water damage in your truck or stairwell. Here’s how to prepare your washer for the move:

• Disconnect the water supplies: Turn the hot and cold water supply valves off behind the washing machine. Place a towel and bucket under the connection before unplugging the hoses to catch any dripping water. Once disconnected, hold the hose ends up to drain any remaining water, then coil and secure them with tape.
• Disconnect the drain hose and let any residual water drain into a bucket, then secure it at the back of the machine with tape.
• Install transit bolts if yours is a front-loading machine. Top loaders don’t use transit bolts; instead, secure the drum with packing foam or cardboard.
• Unplug and secure the power cord at the back or side of the machine.

Step 2: Prepare Your Dryer for the Move

A full lint trap is considered a fire hazard and should be completely emptied. Disconnect the exhaust duct from the wall vent and from the back of the dryer, and set it aside for reuse.

Most apartments and triplexes in Montreal use 240V electric dryers, so confirm whether your new unit has a 240-volt outlet. You don’t need transit bolts for the dryer, but you should stack it with towels or packing material to prevent the fins from bending while in transit. Tape the dryer door shut and secure the power cord against the machine.

Step 3: Moving the Washer and Dryer Through Your Montreal Building

This is where a DIY move gets complicated because a washer and dryer can weigh anywhere between 110 and 155 kg. Moving such heavy machinery down the stairs isn’t easy, and a lot can go wrong if not properly executed.

Ensure you protect your building by laying floor runners on hardwood tiles. Use door jamb protectors on all doorframes where the washer and dryer will pass. If it’s a triplex walk-up, wrap the stairs and railings with moving blankets.

While loading the washer and dryer onto the moving dolly, make sure they’re upright; lying them on their sides can damage internal components. Also, slide the dolly under the machine from the front or back, never the side, and secure the machine with two straps. One person should handle the dolly, while the other guides and steadies the front.

Exterior Montreal staircases are almost impossible to navigate without the proper skills and equipment, so it’s best to leave that to the professional Montreal movers.

Step 4: Loading the Truck

The washer and dryer must always travel upright and should be placed against the truck wall closest to the cab. Never place the washer and dryer near the doors because they will shift when braking.

Strap the appliance to the truck’s anchor points and keep boxes and lighter items away, as they could get damaged if the machine shifts.

Step 5: Reinstalling the Washer and Dryer at Your New Montreal Home

Before unloading the machine from the truck, go through your new laundry to confirm everything is in order. This includes the water supply valves, an accessible drain standpipe or laundry sink, and whether the electrical outlet matches the plug type of your washer and dryer.

Here is how to reconnect a washer and dryer:

• Remove the transit bolts from the washer.
• Connect and tighten water supply hoses, then slowly open the supply valves to identify leaks.
• Reconnect the drain hose to the laundry sink or standpipe.
• Reconnect the dryer exhaust duct to the wall vent.
• Plug in both machines and ensure they are properly leveled to avoid vibration and noise.

Run a test cycle on the washer side and watch out for leaks at the hose connection under the machine. A drum that’s rattling signals it’s out of balance or still has transit bolts. Do the same for the dryer to ensure the drum and exhaust are working correctly.

When to Call Professional Appliance Movers in Montreal

You should never attempt a DIY washer and dryer move if you’ve never done one before. Call in the professional appliance movers in Montreal if:

• Your building has an external spiral staircase.
• You have a gas dryer that needs professional disconnection.
• You live on the upper floor of a triplex or walk-up with no elevator.
• You own a high-end machine still under warranty (damage claim from a DIY move isn’t covered).

At MovinGo, our team consists of professional appliance movers who do this almost every day. They will demonstrate their skills and experience as they move your washer and dryer through tight staircases, narrow triplex hallways, and spiral exterior staircases common in Montreal. We are the best Montreal movers, and we will move your washer and dryer better than anyone.

Need to move just appliances, or are you seeking a professional residential moving service? Get a free quote from MovinGo today.