New fridge freezer – don't switch on for 24 hrs – really?

Anyone have the knowledge to back this statement up? You see it all the time on new fridges, freezers etc. “24 hrs to let the coolant settle”.

Really?

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I trust the fountain of all knowledge to have a qualified refrigeration technician somewhere but some googling says that it is necessary – that if its been tipped over at all, there may be oil in the refrigeration pipes that must be allowed to drip back in to the compressor..

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2463067
https://www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/leaving-fridge-or-freezer-to-stand/
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/1897085-What-will-happen-if-I-turn-new-fridge-freezer-on-quicker-than-the-manufacturers-booklet-says

Yes, in my old job, we always advised 24 hours. This allows the cooling to settle after transportation. If you move a fridge and have to tip it on its side, move it with the “metal test tube” (at rear of unit) uppermost, this unsettles things less and means you can turn the unit on sooner after the move in safety.

Currys told us 4 hours.

Currys never really liked you.

That would explain their customer service.

I was advised a few hours too, I think Currys, I just plugged it as it was needed straight away. That was 10 years ago now and not had an issue.

It’s not the “coolant” (whatever the hell that is!) Refrigerant is a gas (although is in liquid state in some parts when operating).
The advice is indeed to ensure the oil is sat in the bottom of the compressor, which will be a hermetically sealed reciprocating type. Running a compressor like this dry would be terminal.
I would suggest that there is a hefty safety margin in that 24hrs.

Son of refrigeration engineer here, so next best thing for OP!
As Wrecker says it’s not the coolant that you need to let settle it’s the oil in the motor/compressor. The oil is free in the compressor (like an oil bath/sump). Laying the fridge on its side can allow this oil to find it’s way into the actual pipes where the coolant should flow. If you don’t let it settle then turning the fridge on pumps round oil rather than coolant. I am not sure of the actual mode of failure, but it’s possible that oil/coolant could permanently emulsify, things like the dryer unit will be oil contaminated and perhaps pressure builds up as the compressor is trying to compress none compressible oil rather than coolant. So yeah, in summary give it 12-24 hours to be on the safe side.

I wondered about this a while back after buying a dehumidifier that has the same warning, so went and found out. Oil in the wrong place can cause parts inside the compressor to fail mechanically when they try to compress it.

You’ll find people online saying “It’s an old wives tale” or thinking it’s only an issue for old fridges, y’know, before progress something something. They’re wrong even if it hasn’t caught them out, they just… failed to get unlucky.

This video probably has more than you want to know 😀

Many many years ago when I worked on deliveries for Curry’s there was definitely a don’t switch on for x hours advisory on fridges and freezers.

You see it all the time on new fridges, freezers etc.

Do you not think that there’s a clue in that statement?