Replacing American fridge - panicking over logistics!

[Stringbean70]

We have a huge Amana American fridge that is on its last legs (I’ve had a repair guy out - nothing more can be done). So I need to replace it and have identified a Fisher & Paykel one at John Lewis. So far so good. However, I am having ridiculous anxiety (palpitations!) when I think about the logistics:

1. Finding a removal firm that can disconnect and remove existing fridge by taking it out through first floor sash window and down over the balcony (that is the only way to get it out). Then hoisting the new one up over 1st floor balcony
2. Disposing of old fridge (our local council don’t do this for American fridges)
3. Finding someone to install new fridge (it will have to ‘sit’ for 24 hours after being hoisted in and before being installed apparently)
4. the possibility of exorbitantly pricey new fridge being damaged when being hoisted over balcony (it will have to be out of its packaging in order to fit through window)

Does anyone know of any firms in London (Sw18 area) that can help? Or a project manager? I feel completely overwhelmed tbh

Do John lewis not offer an install and dispose of the old one for an extra fee?

Not if it involves hoisting it in or out over a balcony, no. Sadly but understandably

Oh jeepers, I totally missed that bit of your post.

Are you sure you need to go to so much hassle?
The doors can be taken off, the old one and new one.
Have you discussed with JL?
I wouldn't buy off a company who couldn't sort it themselves.

😂 and John Lewis don’t dispose of American fridge freezers anyway (just checked). God knows what you meant to do with them as our council won’t take them either!

@AdventFridgeOfShame yes, sadly, even with doors off, the only way out and in is over a first floor balcony. John Lewis hopeless - plus they won’t take away old American fridge freezers (even though they sell new ones!). Would happily buy from another retailer but can’t find a single one who will deliver over a balcony

What makes it need to go over the balcony?
Where is your shoehorn problem?
Does your place pass building standards?

A road crew company?
They can move anything anywhere.

The sort of place that moves pianos?

No idea if it passes building standards @AdventFridgeOfShame - house was built in early 80s. Kitchen is on first floor and the staircase leading up to it is narrow with a tight bend - fridge definitely won't go round it. We tried when we bought the house - but it had to go over the balcony. Piano removal companies a good shout - thank you. Whether they will dispose of old fridge though, I don't know.... Will investigate.

are there lots of similar properties around where you live? Could it be worth posting on a local Facebook group to see if anybody’s had the same problem and found anyone able to do it?

How about a removal company, at least for the moving bit, then get someone else to install.

Also, are you sure you want to replace it with another american style f/f given you are going to have the same hassle in another few years 😫

I was wondering how to get a american fridge in through my doors but yours sounds way more complicated!

AO disposed of my old American FF - I didn’t buy the replacement from them but you can book just a disposal.
Could you contact a local removals company and see if they can help with moving the appliances.

@Skiphopbump Well you've sorted disposal for me - just checked AO website and they will do it for £20! Do they definitely do American FFs? Amazing! Now to find a company that will hoist it over the balcony....

Mine was taken by them just under a year ago. It was too big to fit on the van but they came back later on the same day and collected it.

God that sounds expensive and stressful!

Is it worth the hassle? Would a tall fridge and freezer side by side be workable?

I would ring some removal firms. They do things like this all the time.

I think Liebherr (sp) do expensive but lovely fridge units designed to be fitted together? I know because the kitchen designer just tried to sell me 3 together, fridge freezer and wine (!). You could buy just the fridge and freezer parts and they could come up separately?

I guess that you are supposed to wrap them up and post them back to America.

I have a lovely retro style fridge made by Swan. I found it on line. I love it! Plus its made in the UK.

Well, with F&P, you shouldn’t have a problem for a long time, once its in. Mine took about 25 years to go to God. And the engine from another fridge has been replaced with F&P.

No idea how you're going to hoist it but I do have the French style F&P American fridge freezer with the water filter and I love it! Worth every penny! It's well packaged but please don't be tempted to be taking it out of packaging and removing doors to move it, I guarantee it will end up scratched or damaged. Mine already has dents on the door from where DH pulled open the dishwasher while I had the fridge doors open causing dishwasher to hit fridge door.. he couldn't understand why I was pissed off!!!

Good quality removal firms will have one of those outdoor furniture elevators that will carry the new fridge up. Those larder fridges usually come apart into two halves though and the doors come off.

Get in touch with a local independent electrical retailer. They might be more helpful than the multiples like JL.

Did you buy that new? Or was it for-sale secondhand as a one off?