Measure before you buy: a delivery and fit checklist for large appliances
Many returns are not about performance but about size. A tape measure is the cheapest protection you have.
The space
- Width, height and depth against the product specifications, with clearance on every side
- The clearance the manufacturer asks for around vents and coils
- Which way doors open and the room needed to open them fully
- Overhead cabinets or shelves
The delivery path
- Front door, hallway, stairs and interior door widths and heights
- Elevator interior size and weight limit
- Tight turns where a large item must pivot
- Whether the item can be partly disassembled
Connections
- Outlet location and electrical requirements, including whether the appliance needs its own circuit
- Water supply and drain positions and hose length
- Venting route for dryers and some other appliances
- Access for an installer
Order of operations
- Read the dimensions and installation requirements in the specifications
- Measure the space and photograph it
- Measure the narrowest point of the delivery path
- Ask about installation, haul-away of the old unit and any extra fees