How to get rid of a large window AC Unit - Easy Recycling Tip

[MineralMan]

This morning at 8:30, I posted an ad in the Free Stuff section of Craigs List:

SCRAPPERS: Large 24K BTU window AC unit alongside driveway at [address]. Copper, aluminum, steel. No need to knock. Just take the thing away.

At 9:20, my wife and I were coming back from walking the dogs. A guy in a pickup was just driving off with the thing in the back. Now I don't have to move this 200-lb piece of junk. Any metal scrap will be picked up if you post a similar ad on Craigs List. Scrappers are looking for it all the time.

BTW, the new AC I installed on Saturday is working just great. I pushed the old one out the window, and it landed neatly right next to the driveway. I never touched it again. NOTE: Large window AC units are a pain to install, by the way. Took me half the day.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. All you have to do is leave it by the alley

and scrappers will come for it. I got rid of an old washer and dryer that way. Sometimes you don't even need to advertise.

[drm604]

4. I think this is the best way to do it.

I'd be wary about posting my address on Craigslist.

[MineralMan]

5. No alley behind my street, sadly.

If you put metal scrap by the curb, though, it will be gone by the end of the day. I always put a FREE sign on such things. But I didn't want to move this 200-lb junky unit to the curb, so I took the time to place an ad. Problem solved by an enterprising guy with a truck. I think I'll move some other scrap to the curb and run another ad. I have a broken snowblower and some other metal scrap I'd like to get rid of, too.

Woohoo!

[reddread]

2. really? they steal em from rooftops where I come from

you need more meth addicts.

[MineralMan]

8. Yes, they do that here, too, but there are plenty of

legitimate freelance scrap haulers around, too. Guys trying to earn a living. It's hard work, but we have many metal scrap collectors in the area who manage to make some money this way.

Last year, I did a web site for a metal recycling business. I learned that a good portion of the metals they buy come from these scrappers. They're also very aware of the theft problem. Here, scrap buyers have to copy the seller's driver's licence for each purchase. That new law has cut down on the metal theft in the area.

[reddread]

10. im not sure who is to blame for the massive damages inflicted

but im leaning towards the recyclers.

[MineralMan]

12. I'm not sure what that has to do with my thread, though.

There are also legitimate scrap metal collectors. Criminals are criminals. Nobody stole anything at my house, because I advertised the item and someone trying to earn a living picked it up. Another guy just stopped by and asked if it was gone. He had a pickup full of old lawn furniture and other obvious metal junk already loaded. None of it looked stolen. It all looked like junk.

[NV Whino]

3. Freecycle is also a good way to get rid of stuff.

[TexasProgresive]

6. Was the residual freon recovered as per law?

Or will the salvagers just open the lines to escape into the atmospere to further damage the ozone layer?

[MineralMan]

9. What do you think?

Anyhow, the reason it stopped working was a refrigerant leak from a fractured fitting. So, there wasn't any left in there anyhow. It had already leaked into the atmosphere.

[TexasProgresive]

13. You didn't mention that in your OP

And you were giving advice to people without mentioning that if possible the freon should be recovered. Enviromental laws are a pain and not only in the wallet but there are reasons for them.

[pintobean]

15. Maybe it was

Maybe pushing it out the window caused the cracked fitting.

[MineralMan]

21. Uh, no. It got pushed out the window

Last edited Tue May 26, 2015, 01:39 PM - Edit history (1)

because it was no longer working, after 15 years. The fractured line was the reason. Why would I get rid of a working air conditioner? Those things are expensive. I replaced the 25K BTU unit with a 15K BTU one. The old one was over-sized for the room, anyhow.

It stopped working. I investigated and found the cracked tubing. Now I'm out over $400 for the new one. Not what I planned for this year, frankly. Fortunately, it's early enough in the spring that I found a sale price. The new one's nice, though. Control systems have improved and it's going to be cheaper to operate.

[MineralMan]

20. You're right. I didn't mention it.

Now it has been mentioned. Thanks.

[pintobean]

11. Years ago, I put an old fridge in the alley.

The scrappers usually get them within hours. This time, some asshole came along and just cut the copper lines so he could just take the coil. I heard the pop and hissing of the freon escaping. I went out and chewed him out, got his plate number, and reported him to the city.

Ever since, I don't put stuff with freon in the alley.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

7. Craig's List "Curb Alerts." I've run many over the years.

[pintobean]

14. Curb alerts are selfish and they suck.

20 people might come after the item(s), but only the first one there gets it. The ad might stay up for another 20 minutes after it's deleted, leading people to think it's still available. I take the little bit of time that it takes to exchange a few emails, rather than waste a bunch of people's time.

[Arugula Latte]

22. I do that too. The first person to respond gets the address.

[shraby]

16. I put stuff on freecycle too. Gone within a few hours. Keeps the stuff out

of the landfills.

[ret5hd]

17. And if you put something out by the curb and nobody picks it up...

put a "FOR SALE -- $10" sign on it, then go inside and close your front door.

[sufrommich]

18. Yep,scrappers are the way to go. Usually an ad isn't even necessary,

just put it by the road with a "free" sign.

[hobbit709]

19. Around here all you got to do is put it out on the curb. It will be gone within 3 hours.