How To Get Rid Of Old Window Air Conditioner

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Installing and removing a bulky window air conditioner (A/C) unit tin be tricky enough—then what do you do when yous need to get rid of the thing? Because of the environmentally-unfriendly refrigerant within, information technology is illegal nearly everywhere to just throw out an A/C unit. Instead, in many cases, information technology'southward up to you to find a local recycler that accepts A/Cs. Depending on where you live, you may be eligible for aid from your local authorities or utility provider, or yous may have to pay for a junk hauler. Whatever you practise, don't dispose of the A/C illegally!

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Do a web search for A/C recycling and use a wide search expanse. If given the selection, search specifically for A/C recyclers, since not all recyclers are licensed or equipped to handle the refrigerant inside A/C units. Also, if you tin can search within a prepare altitude of your current location—for instance, within 10 or 25 mi (xvi or twoscore km) of your US Goose egg code—you may need to cast a wide cyberspace in order to discover eligible recyclers.^[2]
- If you alive in a major metropolitan surface area, your odds of finding nearby eligible recyclers will likely amend. Otherwise, you may need to be willing to travel possibly 50 mi (fourscore km) or more.
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Contact the listed recyclers and choose your best selection. Once yous identify a few possible options, contact them directly to brand certain that they are able and willing to take A/C units. You lot can also go info on their hours and any costs or payment associated with your drop-off.^[iii]
- In some cases, the recycler may pay you for the valuable materials that brand upwards the A/C unit, especially the copper tubing and the refrigerant. Alternatively, y'all may accept to pay a fee to have the unit recycled. It all depends on the market where yous live and any subsidies or taxes that may exist levied.
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Load up the A/C and deliver it to the recycler. While some recyclers may do pick-ups for a fee, it's typically upwards to you lot to have your A/C unit to the recycler. Window A/Cs can easily weigh 50 lb (23 kg) or more, so lift and move the unit of measurement carefully, and get help if possible.^[4]
- Go along the unit of measurement upright while lifting, carrying, and transporting it. Otherwise, the unit of measurement may leak coolant, lubricants, or other fluids.

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Contact your local sanitation provider to meet if it handles A/Cs. In some cities, the local sanitation provider may pickup A/C units if y'all contact it beforehand.^[five] If and then, you'll likely exist asked to identify the unit on the curb (or your typical trash pickup location) on the agreed-upon day. Yous may also demand to apply a special tag to the unit of measurement.^[6]
- In New York Metropolis, for example, you tin request this service via online form on the Section of Sanitation website.^[seven]
- If you don't have to stick a special tag on the A/C, you may desire to add a "Does Not Piece of work" note to the unit and then no 1 else lugs information technology home in expectation of getting a "free" A/C.
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Enquire your utility company if it provides rebates and/or pickups. In many cases, local utility providers offer rebates when you switch to more energy-efficient appliances.^[8] In addition to a rebate, the utility company may be willing to pick upwardly the old apparatus for complimentary, although this is more likely with a refrigerator than a window A/C unit.^[9]
- Telephone call your local utility provider or visit its website. If they offering rebates and/or pickups, you'll probably accept to fill out an online form and provide proof that you've purchased a more energy-efficient replacement unit.
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Call appliance retailers and ask if they recycle old A/Cs. Some appliance retailers—especially big ones—may have sometime A/Cs for recycling. This may be the example even if you don't buy a new A/C from the retailer.^[10]
- You'll probably be responsible for delivering the A/C unit, especially if you're not buying one from the retailer.
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Encounter if you lot can get former A/C pickup with new A/C delivery. If you do buy a new A/C from a retailer and they offer commitment service, ask whether the delivery crew can take away your old A/C for recycling. This is a more mutual practice with larger appliances like refrigerators, washers, and dryers, but it'due south worth asking in regards to an old window A/C.^[11]
- Call the retailer before the commitment appointment, rather than waiting to ask the delivery crew straight.

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Sell or donate an old A/C that however functions. Say, for example, that your one-time window A/C still works only y'all want to upgrade to a more efficient model. In this case, in that location may still be a market for your functional A/C. Try selling the unit on one or more online seller sites that you trust. Alternatively, donate the A/C to a charitable organization that will in plough sell or donate information technology.^[12]
- When selling appliances or other large items, you lot're better off using a seller website that connects yous with local buyers. That way, you don't have to worry virtually shipping a heavy window A/C.
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Pay for a private junk hauler that does A/C recycling. Many junk haulers will take away units that contain refrigerants, such as A/Cs—for a price. Depending on where y'all alive, information technology may cost in the range of $200 USD to have an A/C unit of measurement hauled abroad for recycling.^[thirteen]
- You may get a amend deal if yous conform for the hauler to take away a lot of other junk as well.
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Recall twice before putting your A/C out for scrappers. If residents put their trash out on the adjourn for pickup where yous alive, there's a decent chance that there are people in pickup trucks driving around looking for valuable flake materials. Since both the refrigerant and the copper in A/C units have value, "scrappers" may be not bad to collect your A/C if you put it out. However, in that location are central negatives to this strategy:^[14]
- No i might pick up your A/C, and you lot may stop upwardly having to drag the A/C dorsum to your abode. Even worse, you may exist cited or fined for putting out an item that isn't legal for trash pickup.
- You have no idea whether the person who picks upwards the A/C will recycle it properly. When improperly recycled, A/C refrigerants are specially bad for the environment.
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Exercise not illegally trash your former A/C. Past one judge, the greenhouse outcome of leaked refrigerant from a single window A/C unit is equivalent to taking a 3,000 mi (iv,800 km) car trip. Don't try to sneak your A/C out with your household trash, and definitely don't dump it over a hillside or in the woods!^[fifteen]
- You may be stuck without a free or cheap pick for getting rid of your one-time A/C unit. Accept that you lot have a responsibility to brand sure it is disposed of properly.

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How should I go rid of my old AC?

Victor Belavus is an Air-conditioning Specialist and the Possessor of 212 HVAC, an air status repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air-conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of feel working with HVAC systems.

Air-conditioning Specialist

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There are different regulations in dissimilar cities. In some places, you tin schedule an air conditioning selection upward from the department of sanitation. Y'all tin can also search for places that offering old Air-conditioning rebates, or you lot can expect for a fleck yard that will dispose it according to EPA guidelines.