Before you buy: measure and match your hookups

Five minutes with a tape measure saves a missed delivery, a restocking fee and a wasted day. Here is everything to check before you order, with pictures.

1. Measure the path, not just the spot

The appliance has to get through every doorway, hallway and stairway between the truck and its final spot. Measure the narrowest point on that path and compare it with the appliance depth (the smallest side it can turn through).

• Doorways: measure inside the frame with the door open. A door that only opens 90 degrees takes an inch or two off the width.
• Hallways and turns: a tight turn needs more room than the appliance depth. If the hallway is narrower than the appliance height, the appliance cannot be tipped to make the turn.
• Stairs: check the ceiling height at the landing and any railing that sticks out.
• The spot: leave one inch on each side and at the back for airflow and hoses.

Every listing on our site shows the width, height and depth of that exact unit. Write them down and bring them to the tape measure.

2. Standard sizes, so you can plan fast

Most appliances come in a few standard widths. Use this table to check your opening, then confirm with the exact size on the product page.

Appliance	Common width	Common height	Common depth
Top freezer refrigerator	28 to 30 in	61 to 66 in	29 to 32 in
French door or side by side refrigerator	33 to 36 in	68 to 70 in	30 to 36 in
Apartment or compact refrigerator	19 to 24 in	55 to 60 in	24 to 26 in
Range or stove	30 in (some 20 or 24 in)	36 in to cooktop, 46 to 48 in to top of backguard	25 to 28 in
Washer or dryer, full size	27 in	38 to 43 in	28 to 32 in
Dishwasher	24 in	34 to 35 in	24 in

French door and side by side refrigerators are delivered to the first floor only. They do not fit most second floor stairways.

3. Match your hookups before you buy

A dryer or range only works with the outlet or gas line you already have. Look behind the old appliance and compare with the pictures below.

• Electric dryer or electric range: count the prongs on the outlet. Tell us three prong or four prong when you order and we bring the matching cord.
• Gas dryer or gas range: you need a gas line with a shutoff valve within reach. We connect to an existing line. We do not run new gas lines.
• Washer: hot and cold water valves that turn, plus a drain standpipe or sink. Turn the valves before delivery day to make sure they are not stuck.
• Dishwasher: a water supply valve under the sink, a drain connection and a power source. Dishwashers are drop off only unless installation was arranged with us.
• Refrigerator with water and ice: a water line behind the refrigerator. Without one, the refrigerator still works; the ice maker and water dispenser do not.

4. Level it once and it runs quiet

Washers walk, dryers rattle and refrigerator doors swing open when the appliance is not level. Every unit we deliver gets leveled, but floors settle and appliances get bumped. Here is the two minute fix.

• Washers: make sure all four feet touch the floor. Shipping bolts must be removed before the first wash; ours are already removed.
• Ranges: a slightly higher back makes oil pool at the front of a pan. Level front to back and side to side. Use the anti tip bracket that comes with the range.
• Refrigerators: tip the front up a quarter inch so the doors swing closed on their own.

5. Leave room for air around your refrigerator

A refrigerator cools by moving air. Block the vents inside or the coils outside and it works harder, freezes unevenly and wears out early.

• Fill it about three quarters full. Full enough to hold the cold, loose enough for air to move.
• Keep the vent openings between the freezer and the fresh food section clear.
• After delivery, a refrigerator can take up to 24 hours to reach full temperature. Do not load it with warm groceries on day one.
• Vacuum the coils (behind or under the unit) twice a year.

6. What the warranty covers, and what it does not

Our in house warranty covers the parts that make the appliance run: compressor, motor, heating element, control board, pump, burners and the like. It does not cover consumable parts you would replace in any appliance, such as:

• Light bulbs (refrigerator, range hood or oven bulbs)
• Water filters and ice maker filters
• Drip pans, racks, shelves, bins and knobs that were present and intact at delivery
• Damage from moving the appliance after delivery, power surges, pests or improper hookups

Bulbs and filters are available at any hardware store. Bring the old bulb with you and match the base and wattage printed on it.

7. Bought a (NEW) appliance? Register it with the manufacturer

Items marked (NEW) on our site are new in box with the manufacturer's own warranty. That warranty belongs to you only if you register it, and registration is quick:

1. Find the model number and serial number on the sticker inside the door or on the back of the unit. It is also on your receipt from us.
2. Go to the manufacturer's website and search for "register product." Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, LG and Frigidaire all have a registration page.
3. Enter the model, serial number and your purchase date (the date on your Plug Appliances receipt).
4. Save the confirmation email. Keep your receipt with it.

Questions before you order?

Call or text 216-417-3634 and tell us your measurements and your hookup type. We would rather spend two minutes on the phone than send the truck back.