8 Brilliant Tips What To Do With Old Air Conditioners

So, you’re looking for ideas on what to do with old air conditioners? Then, we think you’ll appreciate what we have for you.

Every year, millions of people replace their old air conditioners with newer, more energy-efficient AC models. However, most of them don’t know how to properly dispose of their old AC units.

This is where we come in.

In this article, we will share 8 economical and eco-friendly things you can do with your old air conditioner rather than throwing it away. But first…

What Happens to Old Air Conditioners When You Throw Them Away?

Throwing away old air conditioner units and sending them to the landfill is not a great idea since they will become a new source of pollution and toxic materials in the environment.

For starters, a single old aircon unit can be a source of various non-biodegradable and toxic trash materials such as plastic and heavy metals.

Moreover, older air conditioners use a type of chemical refrigerant containing hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and greenhouse gases which are known to be health risks and ozone-depleting substances.

Due to this reason, the U.S. government has made it illegal to dispose of air conditioners without first reclaiming their refrigerants.

Even the latest aircon units that are using the R410a refrigerants (which is considered less hazardous than the R-22 refrigerants used on older air conditioners) can still be harmful to the environment if not disposed properly.

And since air conditioners are one of the most commonly used household appliances today, each of us consumers need to step up and be responsible enough to find eco-friendly options when it comes to old aircon disposal.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at your best options.

Best Methods For Old Air Conditioner Disposal

1. Give away your old air conditioner

Your old air conditioner unit might not mean much to you anymore, but they can mean the world to the people who are in need of one. 

Of course, this is granted that your old AC unit still works.

Start by asking your family and friends if they know someone who would appreciate an old aircon for free.

You can also use your social media account or your local newspaper to let more people know that you’re looking to give away an old air conditioner. 

We bet you’ll be surprised how many people will be willing to come and take your old air conditioner off your hands.

Alternatively, you can donate your old air conditioner to a local charitable organization. This is a good way to help your community and it also ensures that your old air conditioner will be put to good use.

Why give away your old air conditioner?

Giving away or donating it is the number one tip we recommend you do with your old air conditioner for a couple of reasons.

First, you will be able to help people in need without any real cost on your part.

Second, you’re giving a life extension to your old AC unit, which is a great way to conserve Earth’s natural resources.

And finally, you’re keeping a potential trash and pollutant out of the landfill.

2. Sell your old (still working) aircon unit

How would you like to make some money from your old air conditioner? Well, you can!

There are many places you can sell your old aircon unit if you’re looking to make some extra money. 

Here are some of the best options:

• Use your Facebook and other social media accounts and advertise selling a second hand aircon unit. Visit Facebook and other online marketplaces and post your old aircon unit for sale.
• Decluttr – Decluttr is one of USA’s most trusted buying and selling sites that you can use to sell your old old aircon.
• Craigslist – Craigslist is one of the most popular classified online websites. You can list used appliances for free on this platform. Interested buyers near you can also contact you to buy the item you are selling.
• Shpock – Shpock is an online selling app based in the UK that you can use to sell used appliances.
• 5Miles – This is another online selling app you can use to sell used appliances locally. With 5Miles, you can find potential buyers of your old air conditioner within 5 miles near you.
• Sell your old aircon at your local thrift shop or during garage sales.

Note: When selling your old aircon online, make sure to include the brand, model number, capacity, and other necessary information a buyer would want to see.

3. See if you have a RAD program partner in your area

In case of broken and extremely old aircon units, giving them away or selling them might not be an option anymore.

So the next best thing you can do is look for RAD program partners in your area.

The Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) is a program by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed to provide free pick up and removal of appliances, including old air conditioners.

RAD has partnered with various businesses, companies, and trash disposal services that agree to send appliances like air conditioners to facilities that will recycle them.

During publication of this article, more than 70 facilities across 32 US states are part of the EPA’s RAD program. 

They have qualified technicians and equipment to handle the safe removal of the refrigerant and the proper disposal of your AC unit.

For your reference, below is a map of the location of the current partners of the EPA’s RAD program.

4. Scrap your old air conditioner for parts

How do you feel about scrapping your old AC unit for parts?

This idea is especially viable if you have expert knowledge and skills in handling electronic appliances.

What can you salvage from an old air conditioner?

Appliance repair shops and scrap yards are always happy to pay you for scrap metal, recyclable materials, and electrical parts from your old aircon unit. They will also accept copper, aircon coils, and more.

However, keep in mind that to scrap an air conditioner, you will need to remove all of the harmful chemicals, such as Freon, from the unit first before you can sell the other parts.

How to scrap an old aircon unit?

• The first thing you need to do is remove any Freon from the AC unit. You can do this yourself if you possess the appropriate skills and knowledge. If not, you can contact a licensed professional to get it done.
• The next step is to detach the compressor from the rest of the unit. You can do this yourself using a wrench or socket set.
• After you detach the aircon compressor, use a saw to cut it into small pieces. Make sure to keep safety in mind and wear gloves and eye protection while doing this.
• Separate metallic parts  according to types such as aluminum, copper, and steel. Different metals will fetch different prices in scrap yards and junk shops.
• After you separate the metals from your old aircon unit, you can then take them to a scrapyard, junk shop, or recycling center.
• Let them weigh your scraps and wait to get paid.

By following these steps, you can scrap your old air conditioner at home. 

But for more details, below is also a video on the complete guide on how to scrap an air conditioner:

Needless to say, scrapping for parts is a great option if you’re still wondering how to get rid of old air conditioners.

It’s not only a good way to make some quick extra money but it also helps keep old air conditioners out of landfill sites.

5. Sell your old air conditioner straight to a local scrap yard

This is a great way to make some money if you don’t want to scrap your old air conditioner yourself.

You can start by finding a local scrapyard near you that accepts metal parts from old appliances.

Once you find one, ask if they are willing to accept an old AC unit and how much would they pay for it. You can also ask if they are willing to pick up the unit or you need to bring it to them.

Another option would be to search online for scrap yards near you that will buy your old aircon unit for recycling.

Start by searching for phrases like “recycle air conditioner for cash near me” or “air conditioner recycling scrap yards near me.”

6. Send your old AC unit to local recycling facilities

Although you won’t make some money with this tip, another best option and an eco-friendly thing you can do with your old air conditioner is to find places where it can be recycled.

Most cities have local recycling programs and a dedicated recycling factory that accepts old appliances like old coffee makers, old projection TV,  and old air conditioners.

Contact your city or county government office to find out what recycling program is available in your area.

Alternatively, you can find recycling facilities near you that accept old aircon units. In your browser, search for phrases like:

• air conditioner recycling near me
• window air conditioners recycling near me
• portable air conditioner recycling near me
• air conditioner disposal near me
• free air conditioner disposal near me

Depending on the type of the old air conditioner you have, you can find various aircon recycling facilities near you by searching for.

7. Return old AC to manufacturer/retailer for credits

Many aircon manufacturers and retailers offer rebates when you return their old unit to them.

So if you’re planning to buy a new model at the moment, take your old AC unit to its retailers and distributor.

They might offer bounty programs and the option of giving you a discount for a new purchase in exchange for you bringing them your old air conditioner.

This way, you can save money on your new AC unit and the retailer is then responsible for the proper disposal of your old air conditioner. Win-win!

8. Refurbish your old air conditioner

And finally, our last tip on what to do with old air conditioners is perfect for people who do not want to dispose of their old air conditioner altogether.

If this is you, then the best way for you would be making your old air conditioner as good as new!

But before you decide on whether you should refurbish your old AC rather than buy a new air conditioner, consult a professional or a qualified contractor and ask them how much it will cost to refurbish your air conditioner. 

Refurbishing your old air conditioner will help you some money from buying a new AC unit and it will also extend the life of your appliance.

However, keep in mind that older models of air conditioners (those manufactured before 2010) cannot be refurbished because they use the R-22 line of cooling refrigerant, which has been phased out.

Final Thoughts

There are a number of great ways you can properly dispose of your old aircon units. They can be reused, recycled, or scrapped, and each has its own benefits.

And while it may be tempting to simply throw your old air conditioner in the trash, as a responsible appliance owner, keep in mind that throwing old aircon units can destroy our ozone layer, contribute to global climate change, and cause other serious environmental impact.

There are actually a number of environmentally-friendly ideas and different ways when it comes to the proper disposal of old air conditioners.

And we certainly hope that with this article, you now have better plans on what to do with old air conditioners rather than simply dumping with the rest of your trash.

Frequently Asked Questions