Guides
How to get rid of an old air conditioner
By Junk Lords crew / Published / Updated
Why you cannot just toss it
Window units, portable air conditioners and dehumidifiers all use refrigerant. It has to be recovered by certified people before the unit is recycled. Curbside trash will not take them, and cutting or puncturing the lines releases the refrigerant.
Prep steps
- Take it out of the window carefully. Window units are heavy for their size and can fall. Use two people, and support it from inside before removing the brackets.
- Drain it. Tip it slightly over a bucket or outdoors so condensation water runs out. Portable units have a drain plug.
- Coil the cord and tape it to the side.
- Keep the accordion panels with the unit, or toss them in household trash.
Where it can go
- Your town facility, which often charges a fee for refrigerant appliances.
- A buyer or neighbor, if it still cools.
- A pickup with other items.
Fall is the usual time
Most people pull units out of windows in September or October. If the unit is dead or you upgraded to a heat pump, that is a good time to get rid of it instead of storing it another winter.
Posted prices
Every job starts from the same posted price card. A single item is $64. A small job, up to about 1.5 cubic yards, is $119. A medium job, about 3 cubic yards or roughly a room, is $189. A large job, about 5 cubic yards or roughly a garage bay, is $239. An extra-large job, about 10 cubic yards, is $479, and anything past 10 cubic yards is $45 per yard. A mattress or box spring is $64 alone or $20 each on a job. A washer, dryer, stove or dishwasher is $69 alone and free on a job. A fridge, freezer, air conditioner or dehumidifier is $99 alone or $35 on a job. A TV or monitor is a $15 add-on. Construction debris is the job price plus 20%. Estate cleanouts start at $499 and hoarding cleanouts at $599. The full list is on the pricing page.
Several units at once
Landlords and families clearing a house often have three or four old window units in the attic or basement. Each is $35 when added to a job, so bundling them with other items costs far less than booking each one alone.
Dehumidifiers too
Basement dehumidifiers are handled the same way: $99 alone or $35 on a job. Empty the water bucket first.
Central air and heat pumps
Outdoor condensers and heat pump units are connected to refrigerant lines and electrical. They need to be disconnected and the refrigerant recovered by an HVAC technician. We do not disconnect them.
Storing a working unit
If the unit still cools and you plan to use it next summer, store it upright in a dry spot. Storing it on its side can affect the compressor. If it is old, noisy or no longer cooling well, removal now saves space all winter.
How booking works
Send photos through the quote form or text them to (207) 333-1422. No card is needed to ask. Caden looks at the photos and sends your price. If it works for you, you pay from the link he sends and that confirms the slot. The price we send is the price you pay unless the pile changes. If you add things after the price goes out, the price is updated before work starts, not after.
Related: appliance and refrigerant removal, how to get rid of old appliances, posted prices
If you want it handled for you, start with our appliance removal page. Related reading: How to get rid of a washer and dryer.
Questions
How do I get rid of an old air conditioner?+
Drain and unplug it, then take it to a facility that handles refrigerant appliances or add it to a pickup.
Can I throw an air conditioner in the trash?+
No. It contains refrigerant and curbside pickup will not take it.
What does air conditioner removal cost?+
$99 on its own or $35 when added to a job.
How do I get rid of a dehumidifier?+
The same way as an air conditioner: $99 alone or $35 on a job. Empty the bucket first.
Do you remove central air units?+
Not from the house. An HVAC technician must disconnect them and recover the refrigerant first.
Do I need to drain the air conditioner?+
Yes. Tip it over a bucket or outdoors so the water runs out.