Can you lay a mini fridge on its side for a week and expect it to work?

Question

I bought a mini fridge about a week ago and its been in my car on it side since. I am 8 months pregnant so I can't lift the thing and my boyfriend is just lazy to take it out. He said it was ok to leave it on it side. Will it still work if its been on its side that long or should I just return it?

Answer 1

DO NOT turn it on when it is upright for at least 24 hours or you can kiss it goodbye, all the freon gas bubbles have got to settle BEFORE you turn it on

Answer 2

It is not recommended, but if it is absolutely necessary to do so, I've included a site that will tell you what and how to do it.

Hope this is of help to you. Good Luck.

Answer 3

It is imperative that you let it stand upright for a day before pugging it back in to allow the oil to drain by gravity back to the crankcase of the compressor.Other than that,it will be fine.

Answer 4

If its a newer R-134a freon fridge - it's toast.  If its an older R-12, let it sit for 24 hours and plug it it... it should be fine.  Check the owners manual or look at the back of the fridge - it should say either R-12 or R134a

Answer 5

It might be toast. It would depend on which side lines are on the compressor. If both are up you "may" be okay. If down it could be toast.

Refrigeration units are never supposed to tipped more than 45 degrees. Definitely not on their side.

If you the oil that should stay in the bottom of the compressor soaks in to the head of the compressor while it is on the side, it will never work again.  

I would leave it upright for longer than a day before trying it.  

Answer 6

You should stand it upright for 24 hours before turning it on, and it should work fine.  The oil in the compressor needs time to drip back down to the bottom so it doesn't burn up.

Oh, and unlike alwayson, I didn't have the foresight to mention that GRAVITY is a factor.  lol  Silly me.

Answer 7

It will work fine if you let it stand upright for several hours,

or a day to be safe, before turning it on.

The refreigerant/oil mix will flow back to where it belongs in that time.