Moving to a new home and not sure how to pack your oven/stove? Here are some tips to ensure your stove gets moved safely.
Protect the floor
You will likely need to slide your stove around a bit to pack it properly. When doing this on a wood floor, you will want to take steps to protect the floor from scratching. Put some cardboard on the floor and slide the stove onto the cardboard first.
Clean the stove first
Always thoroughly clean and degrease your stove before moving. Otherwise, the grease might end up getting all over other items during the move. The grease will also get on the packing supplies, which in turn can dirty the floors in your new home if you carelessly throw the supplies on the ground.
Disconnecting a gas stove
Some moving companies are qualified to disconnect a gas stove for you, but chances are you will have to do this yourself before moving day. Disconnecting a gas stove is a relatively simple process but, if you have any doubts about your ability to do so safely, you should call a professional to do it for you. The process involves first shutting off the gas valve or the gas main (if the stove doesn’t have its own dedicated shutoff valve). Then you disconnect the supply hose. You will need to test to make sure all the gas has left the stove by trying to light it. The stove might light for a bit as the remaining gas in the supply tubes burns off. Finally, cap the supply hose.
Remove all oven racks
You can remove all the oven racks from the stove and pack them separately. Alternatively, you can put them on the bottom of the oven and tape them down. You may have some sticky residue to clean up afterwards though.
Tape down burners
If you have a gas stove, then you will need to tape down the burners and burner caps. You can also opt to pack these separately.
Secure the cord and door
Use ties to secure the stove cord in place so it doesn’t present a tripping hazard or get damaged. You will also need to secure the door with strong rope so it doesn’t open during the move. It is not recommended to use tape to secure the door because it can leave a residue or even peel off some of the oven’s finish.
Protect the stove
It is best to keep the stove safe by packing it in its original box or a new box which you purchase for it. If you don’t have a box for the stove, then you can protect it by wrapping moving pads around it. Remember that large items should be moved into the moving van first.