I have purchased a 3 year old GE Side by Side Refrigerator. I am picking it up tomorrow and I was told that I could lay the fridge on the side while transporting it as long as I stand it upright for about an hour before I plug it in at home. This will allow the refrigerant to settle and would not harm the fridge. Is this correct or am I correct in assuming that you should NEVER lay a refrigerator on its side or back while transporting it? Your reply will be greatly appreciated.

They say the newer refrigerators you can do just as you said you can lay the fridge on the side while transporting it as long as I stand it upright for about an hour before I plug it in at home


It was the refrigerators from many years ago that you could not lay on their sides.
I think they changed it around the time the side by side refrigerators got popular.

Always keep a refrigerator upright.

Two reasons.

First, the compressor has oil in it. If you lay it on it's side or back, the oil can run into the coils. After standing it back up, the oil may or may not be able to run back down into the compressor. It all depends on the shape of the coils. Take a look at coils and you will see what I mean.

Second the compressor motor, which is inside the "can", sits on springs to reduce vibration. Turning it on it's side may break a spring. Ever heard a refrigerator or A/C motor go "clunk" when its starts or stops? That's caused by a broken spring.