What Should You Do With Any Old Appliances?

The prospect of a new appliance arriving is exciting, but it can lead to a dilemma of what you should do with your old one. Most consumers don’t relish the thought of simply dumping their appliance, where it will sit in a landfill leaking fluids into the ground. Yet, no one wants to have their new appliance just sitting there as they are still figuring out the challenge of disposing of an old unit. Of course, you need to properly dispose of old appliances, or you could face a hefty fine from the city. Fortunately, with some creative thinking, you can get rid of an unwanted machine, without detrimental environmental impact.

Image of old appliances laying out in the street

Charity Donation

If your old appliance is still in good working order and clean, you may want to consider donating it to a charity. There are charities that will accept donations of refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves and other home appliances. While you won’t receive any cash for it, you can take a write off on next year’s tax return. A basic internet search should allow you to find the details of major charity organizations in your area who will take your old appliance off your hands.

Sell It

While you may want a new appliance with all the latest features, there are many people out there who would be delighted with your old machine. There are many people setting up a starter home and would appreciate the opportunity of buying a working appliance at a reduced rate. There are lots of free online classified sites, forums and even community groups where you can place an ad. You can also use social media to let people know that you want to sell your appliance for a reasonable price. One of your connections may know someone who will give your old appliance a new home.

Even if your appliance isn’t in working order, it doesn’t mean that someone won’t want it. State in your free ad that the appliance isn’t working and someone may want it for spare parts or to repair. There could be someone out there who has a similar unit and wants to keep it running, but is now struggling to find spare parts. While you’re not going to make much cash from this option, you would know that your old appliance will be helping someone.

Dealer Recycling

There are many appliance dealers who will deliver a new appliance and remove your old one for a small fee. This can be very convenient as you don’t need to time the removal of your old appliance before the new one arrives. The dealer will remove the old appliance and situate your brand new unit, so you will have no disruption of service.

Local Recycling

It is also worth investigating whether your city has a local recycling program. Some cities have a recycling service that will collect old appliances at the curb, but there is usually a fee. The manufacturer of your old unit may be able to advise you on recycling options in your area.

Scrap It

As a last resort, if you are struggling to donate, sell or recycle your old appliance, you could sell parts of it for scrap. Scrap metal dealers are often interested in the metals and other materials used in old appliances, and you may be able to get a little cash and get rid of something you no longer need.

If you’re not sure if you’re ready to upgrade your appliance and would like to assess its repair condition, you’ll need the help of an experienced professional.

For assistance with any of your appliance repair issues, speak to a professional appliance repair specialist.