My refrigerator has just been installed. How long does a refrigerator need to settle before being plugged in?

Your refrigerator needs some time to settle before you can start using it. You should let it stand unplugged, in an upright position, for at least 4 hours to allow its compressor oil to settle. 

You can plug your appliance in once 4 hours have passed. Make sure that the thermostat control is set to ON but don’t start loading food right away. Allow your fridge some time to cool down to temperatures safe for food storage, which might take up to 12 hours. 

Ideal refrigerator temperatures are 4 °C or 5 °C for the fridge and -18 °C for the freezer compartment. Check the temperature inside your appliance with an accurate thermometer. 

Place the thermometer inside a cup of water and put it inside the fridge compartment. To check freezer temperatures, do the same with the thermometer inside alcohol or cooking oil (because water would freeze). You can begin storing food when the desired temperatures are reached.