Wine fridges come in two kinds that look alike and leave the house very differently. A freestanding unit stands on its own and moves like any small appliance. An under-counter unit is built into a run of cabinets, trimmed in and often sitting on a finished floor that scratches easily.
Freestanding units
These are the easy ones. Take out the bottles, slide out any loose racks, unplug it and it’s ready to go. Most are a one or two person carry depending on their size.
Built-in and under-counter units
A built-in wine fridge sits in a cabinet opening, usually held by trim or a couple of screws through a bracket at the top or the sides. Before the pickup it needs to be free of the cabinet and sitting clear of the opening, out on the floor where it can be lifted.
Most slide out once the trim and screws are off, but they rarely slide easily. The adjustable feet at the bottom are usually wound down tight against the counter above; winding them up a few turns gives the unit room to move.
Lay a piece of cardboard or an old rug in front of the opening before sliding a built-in unit out. A loaded wine fridge’s feet can scratch a hardwood or tile floor in one pull.
What to have ready
Every appliance needs to be disconnected before pickup, including electrical, gas, and plumbing connections. For most wine fridges that just means unplugged. A few units with a drain line have that shut off and capped as well.
Refrigerant must be removed by a certified technician before pickup. As with any refrigerator, book the technician first and the pickup after.
Bottles out, loose racks out. Fixed shelving can stay where it is. Loose wooden or wire racks travel separately so they don’t shift during the carry.
Wine fridge checklist
- Bottles out and stored elsewhere
- Loose racks out
- Built-in unit free of the cabinet and out on the floor
- Cardboard down in front of the opening
- Unplugged, any drain line capped
- Certified technician visit done
A wine fridge starts at $105 on its own, or adds $50 to a pickup that’s already collecting a refrigerator or other kitchen appliances.
