How to Pack Electronics for a Move

Besides grandma's fine china, your electronics may be among the most valuable items in your home. So if you are among the more than 40 million Americans who will move this year, you need to pay special attention to how you pack and transport these items to avoid a technology meltdown. Read on to learn how to pack electronics for a move.

Instructions

1. Consult the owners manuals for items such as large screen, plasma and LCD televisions, computers and printers. Often, these manuals will contain tips for packing and moving the items in question.

2. Use original packaging and crating whenever possible. If you have saved the original boxes and packing materials that contained your television or computer, that's going to be the best bet for moving it safely to another location. Even if you only saved the box, you can buy packing material to cushion the item safely inside for a move.

3. Pay extra attention to the central processing unit (CPU) of your computer. This is the most sensitive part of the computer and can be damaged by jarring. However, don't use packing peanuts with the CPU as cushioning because they can cause static electricity, which might damage the information stored on the CPU.

4. Label all the cords that you unplug from a piece of electronics so that you can easily re-assemble the items when you arrive at your new home. Marking small pieces of masking tape with corresponding numbers written on the cords and the locations where they plug in will save you a lot of time on the back end of the move.

5. Maintain the appropriate temperature for your electronics. If you're moving during extreme weather conditions (hot or cold), you probably shouldn't load electronics or their accessories such as CDs in your car or moving van the night before your move.

6. Remove ink and toner cartridges from printers and faxes, and secure printer heads before moving.

7. Purchase strong boxes for moving any items that you don't still have the original crates. Pad the bottoms of those boxes with packing materials or blankets and sheets.

8. Consider hiring a professional service to pack plasma, LCD and large-screen televisions. Then, remember that the television may need to recalibrate or be allowed to set for several hours after a move before use.