Disposing of old appliances can be challenging due to their weight and size, and the presence of harmful chemicals that can harm the environment. Transporting them to a local landfill or transfer station without the proper transportation can be difficult. Additionally, you will need to call around, because only a limited number of places accept old appliances, and most will charge a disposal fee.

Most appliances contain hazardous elements like Mercury and coolants that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and destruction of the ozone layer. The release of these toxic chemicals can contaminate groundwater as well, making their way into the local water supply. These toxins can cause serious illness including cancer and damage to the liver, brain, and immune system.

Tossing your used appliances in a landfill or somewhere illegal is not only harmful to the environment, but also the community, and your family.

Want to do your part to protect the environment and your community in a simple way? Just skip the dump, and recycle all your old appliances today. You’ll feel good about doing something good!

Facebook Marketplace is a tool that allows Facebook users to buy and sell items with people nearby. Once you post a picture, description, and price of the appliance you are selling in Marketplace, potential buyers can find it by either browsing categories or searching for related keywords and filtering by price or location. When someone decides to buy your appliance, they can contact you to work out the details of the transaction.

Craigslist is a popular online classified listings website. Sellers post listings for items on their location page under the category it falls under. You can easily post your appliance for sale on the website for free. Use quality pictures and a specific description to quickly attract buyers. Whenever you find a buyer and meet them to complete the transaction, make sure to meet in a public place and bring someone with you if possible in order ensure safety.

Oodle takes a bit of a different approach to helping you locally sell your used appliance. When you use other local marketplace apps and pages, they only show you listings directly posted to their site. Oodle, on the other hand, shows you listings that people posted on the Oodle website, as well as listings from similar services such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Letgo, OfferUp, and eBay.

Water Valve: Is your washing machine filling up slowly with water or not at all? Check the water valve. It might be clogged or restricted. Try completely clearing out the valve and then run it with a quick rinse and drain cycle. If it requires any necessary replacements, it will likely cost you less than $100. You can try to do this by yourself just by watching a few short tutorials on Youtube.

Air Conditioner Troubleshooting: Living in areas that are especially hot, like Arizona or Florida, can be incredibly frustrating if your air conditioner suddenly malfunctions. Common issues that can disrupt your cool comfort include poor airflow, dirty coils or filters, and a lack of refrigerant. To check this, thoroughly inspect your AC unit to identify if any of these factors are to blame.

Drum Roller: If your washing machine suddenly made a loud thud, there’s no need to panic about the cost of a brand new appliance just yet. A loud noise doesn’t always indicate a major problem. In many cases, the issue can be easily explained and resolved. For example, the washer might simply need a new roller for the drum, which can be as affordable as $10-15. Consider exploring affordable solutions such as replacing the drum roller for potential cost savings.

Thermostat Reset: For an HVAC unit that stopped working, try resetting the thermostat. In order to do this, you are going to need to fully turn off the thermostat. Then, locate the circuit breaker box and reset it. Give the air conditioner about a half hour to reset. Once the time has passed, turn your thermostat back to cool to check and see if the airflow returns back to the way it was.

Oven Fuses: If your oven won’t start, it may be due to a blown fuse. A blown fuse can also be a sign of a wiring or component problem, so you’ll want to check the heating element and wiring before replacing the old fuse. Always prioritize safety and remember to disconnect the appliance from the main power source by fully unplugging it or switching off the circuit breaker beforehand.

Water Heating Element: An electric water heater that has started making some strange popping noises could be an indication of mineral deposits on the heating element, especially if you have hard water. Simply remove the heater element and clean or replace it, then carefully inspect the area for any potential leaks, ensuring the proper functionality and safety of your water heater.

The steel outer casing of large appliances can be recycled and reused in the production of newer appliances and numerous other items. Aside from being used for scrap metal purposes, some steel appliance cabinets can be repurposed as useful home goods.

Recycled Steel: Every year, about 70 million tons of steel scrap from discarded products like appliances, cans, cars, and construction materials are made into items such as newer appliances, aircraft, plumbing, and ductwork. Repurposing metal from old appliances in this way helps to reduce waste and pollution in your local environment by about 80%.

Most appliance heating elements are made of a heating alloy wire inside of a stainless steel alloy tube. Heating elements in appliances can often take the form of a straight rod (toaster oven) or a spiral/S-shape (oven/stove) for balanced and even heat distribution.

Recycled Heating Elements: Most heating elements used in household appliances are made of an alloy called nichrome. Nichrome can definitely be recycled as scrap metal and used in new products including jewelry, artwork, fireworks, 3D printers, and new mufflers.

Cooling appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, and drink coolers keep items cold through the use of a refrigerant running through a series of coils. You’ll typically see condenser coils are often made of materials such as aluminum, copper, or an alloy.

Recycled Condenser Coils: The recycled copper from old condenser coils is extremely valuable, having at least 95% the value of copper from newly mined ore. Metals recycled from condenser coils can be found in anything from door hinges to medical equipment.

Racks and shelving from appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers, while made of materials which we usually think of as being recyclable, can be hard to recycle due to their composition. Without a marketplace, these shelving products often end up in the landfill.

Recycled Shelves & Racks: Tempered glass from refrigerator shelves can be crushed and used as a concrete additive. Any racks or shelves made from metal are likely able to be recycled as scrap, while any plastic materials may be able to be sold to manufacturers.

Whether you’re upgrading to something new or just making some room, consider these facts when disposing of your appliance: