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Scrap yards are in the business of buying and reselling old metals, so when you bring in an appliance to a scrap yard, it will typically be inspected and priced based on its weight.
Scrap yards will always offer more money for old appliances whether they still work, don’t work or have damaged parts.
With that said, people often wonder how much scrap yards are willing to pay for appliances.
The scrap business is very competitive especially at this time when we’re being encouraged to recycle.
If you have lots of old appliances, don’t send them to the landfills.
Instead, sell them to the scrap yards to earn some money back.
In this guide, we will go through a list of some of the items you can scrap and their estimated maximum price per pound.
Top 20 Things that Make The Most Money in A Scrap Yard
Here the top 20 materials and things that make you the most money when visiting the scrap yard, so if you have anything rich with the following below then you should be making top dollar at the counter.
- Copper
- Brass
- Aluminum
- Steel
- Gold
- Silver
- Copper wire
- Stainless steel
- Iron
- Cars
- Appliances
- Electronics
- Batteries
- Insulated copper wire
- Catalytic converters
- Radiators
- Electric motors
- Lead
- Stainless steel sinks
- Aluminum rims
Which appliances can you sell for scrap metal?
The truth is not every home appliance is suitable or will be accepted by the scrap yards.
Depending on the appliance, it can be used as an investment material, or it will be considered as a hazardous waste and not allowed to be recycled.
When thinking of scrapping appliances, go for the larger ones such as refrigerators, washing machines, dish washers, freezers, dryers, microwaves, old stoves and more.
Such equipment has more metallic parts that can be recycled and used as raw materials.
Other appliances that can be recycled include electric motors, computers, printers, fax machines and thermostats.
Oftentimes, appliances with copper components are considered more profitable.
Copper is a metal with such a high scrap value and would likely fetch you a higher price at the scrap yards.
In addition to that, appliances with motor coils, condensers and capacitors are considered a good source of reclaimed copper.
Most scrap yards will accept used or old appliances for recycling.
But it is important to remember that not all scrap yards will purchase every type of household appliance.
In this regard, avoid household items with lots of plastic and other non-metallic components including toaster ovens, mixers, blenders, electric irons and more.
Invest more of your time in collecting the larger appliances that come with a higher scrap price.
How much do scrap yards pay for appliances?
Typically, the value of appliances for scrapping will vary greatly depending on their size, condition and the amount of metal in them.
They prices are determined according to the weight of the old appliances.
Scrap yards will pay you by the pound, so you must know their weight first before selling.
Additionally, you may have to dismantle and separate the metal parts before selling them to the scrap yard.
That said, we’ve provided a list of various appliances along with information regarding their estimated scrap value.
Refrigerators
A refrigerator is a vital appliance in many homes. We need them to keep our foods cold and fresh.
There are many different types of refrigerators available in the market today.
They come with the best features you can think of.
However, most appliances have a typical life span that eventually comes to an end and you have to replace them.
In this regard, people often wonder how much do scrap yards pay for refrigerators.
For starters, the scrap value of a refrigerator will depend on the weight of the appliance and the model.
The heavier ones will have a higher scrap value. For instance, average weight of a new refrigerator is about 200 pounds.
The price you’re likely to get for this appliance at a scrap yard will range from $10 to $30.
However, if it’s a heavy duty, old refrigerator, you might get more than $100.
Washing Machines
Appliances such as washing machines are considered a necessity by many families.
They help homeowners get rid of the dirt and bacteria on clothes.
There are many different brands out there that offer a variety of features that can inspire you to buy one in the first place.
However, you will have to change them after some time because they begin to get worn out and lose their efficiency to clean.
If you have an old washing machine, you can sell it for scrap at your local scrap yard and make some money.
The price you will get will depend on its weight as well as its condition.
For instance, a small washing machine will be worth $10.
However, if it’s an older and heavy machine, you can earn $30 or more.
Dishwashers
The safety of dishes and sanitation are two important factors that need to be considered when buying a dishwasher.
There are different kinds of dishwashers available out there.
Some are more advanced and feature an array of benefits.
However, most will be outdated and in need of replacement after a while.
People with an old and possibly worthless dishwasher may consider selling it for scrap.
However, a typical dishwasher will be worth about $20 to $30.
If it’s an older and heavy one, you can make some extra money by collecting the metal components and selling them separately at the scrap yards.
Majority of the dishwashers are made of steel components and it’s easy to take them apart and sell the main parts.
Old Stove
Another household appliance that is vital for preparing and cooking meals at home is the stove.
There are many different types of stoves available in the market today with so many new features and technology.
But some people prefer old school ranges because they like their performance and simplicity.
Stoves are generally made of metal components and there are several types that can be recycled.
For starters, the scrap value of a stove will depend on its size and weight.
For instance, if it’s a large burner range and weighs about 150 pounds, you can make $10 for scrap.
Cast Iron stoves tend to be more expensive and will have a higher scrap value.
This is because Cast Iron is the most expensive metal that you can find on a stove.
The stove’s value will also depend on its condition.
If it has some mechanical parts, you can get more than $20 for scrap.
Hot water heaters
A hot water heater is an important element in many homes.
It provides a constant supply of hot water to the residents.
The hotter the water, the better it is for you because it will be more effective in cleaning your clothes, dishes and other dirty items.
In case you have an old and obsolete hot water heater that no longer works for you, it may be time to sell it at the scrap yard for extra cash.
The price you can expect to make after recycling it at the scrap yards will depend on the amount of metal in it.
In case it weighs more than 150 pounds, you can make $30 or more.
Some of the valuable metals in a hot water include aluminum, copper and steel alloys.
Grills
The last, but not the least, we have grills. Many people prefer grills because they are convenient to use and easy to clean.
There are many different types of grills that you can find in the market today.
Some feature an electric controller while others feature an ignition system and a regular flame.
When your grill is no longer working, you can sell it for scrap at the scrap yard and make money.
The price you will get will depend on the model of your grill and its overall condition.
If a grill is made of cast aluminum or stainless steel alloys, the metal can be sold separately at scrap yards.
Some even have a body made of Cast Iron, which is always a valuable and more expensive metal.
The scrap value of this kind of grill will be above $50.
Oven
Another device that is popular among people who like to cook at home is the oven.
You may have a regular oven in your kitchen or an electric one that features a range of advanced features.
However, all of them will eventually wear out and you will need to replace them with new ones.
Despite their popularity, you can’t recycle them because they are made from electrical components and the metal parts inside might be too dangerous to handle.
As such, you can sell them for scrap at your local scrap yard and make some extra money.
The price you will get will depend on the weight of your oven, the size of it and a few other factors.
For instance, if your oven weighs about 150 pounds and it’s smaller, you can make about $10 for scrap.
Way smaller ovens will earn you at least $3 in scrap value.
Dryers
Dryers are an important part of most houses.
They help in getting rid of unwanted clothes and sanitizing them.
Since they are used extensively by most families, most dryers don’t last for a very long time.
This means at some point you’ll have on your hands an obsolete, worn-out and no longer working dryer.
It’s only sensible to take the dryer to a scrap yard, where you can sell it for some money and make the most out of it.
While you won’t get such a high price for a dryer compared to other items, you can expect to make about $10 for scrap.
In Conclusion
There are so many household appliances and items that become obsolete after a while and we need to replace them with better models.
However, not all of them can be recycled because of their electrical and mechanical components.
Most of the things that you can recycle at the scrap yards will include metals like copper, iron, aluminum and steel – the most valuable items you can find in your household.
Older dishwashers, stoves and hot water heaters are usually made of these metals and will be worth your time.
FAQs
What appliances are worth the most to scrap?
Refrigerators are often the most valuable and worthy appliance to scrap especially because they do have some parts with Copper or Copper wire.
What appliance has the most Copper in it?
The answer is usually a water heater.
Copper conducts heat better than other metals and it’s this property that makes copper useful in water heaters.
As such, if you have an old water heater in your garage, you may want to get rid of it and recycle it at a scrap yard.
Refrigerators and air conditioners also have a lot of copper in them.
