Water Heater Recycling

Water heaters are scrapping opportunities for the taking! With a little work, they can help prop up your bottom line throughout the year. Often we have contractors or plumbing companies bring old water heaters to us to be recycled. However, are you getting the most out of your water heater scrapping?

Can I Bring Whole Water Heaters To Scrap Yards? 

If you bring the whole water tank to the scrapyard, it’ll be processed as light-steel shred, mixed metal or another variant, which is a lower base rate for convenient scrapping. If you have a large, heavy load, you can also use scrap container services from local yards to help with transportation and storage. However, there may be extra parts made of higher value metals like copper, brass, and aluminum which can be separated. Here are the components you can look for that contain these valuable metals: 

• Copper: Heating elements, internal copper tubes, fittings and wire
• Brass: Valves (i.e. drain valve), gas regulator, and knobs 
• Aluminum: Pilot Light pipe, burner pipes, and valves

How Much Is A Water Heater Worth?

Depending on the size of your water heater and the types of material used to build it, you could be looking at anywhere from $7 to $30* for scrapping a water heater. This depends largely on whether you bring the whole tank to the scrap yard or whether you separate parts out. Additionally, you should always check on the buying rates for each type of metal currently on the market. It’s up to you to decide whether you should dig out the pieces, but over time it can add significantly to your bottom line, especially if you help dispose of dozens of water heaters over the course of a year. 

Recycle Your Water Heater At Metalico!

With several locations across Buffalo and Western New York, you can easily find Metalico when you need to recycle water heaters. Whether you bring it whole or pieced out, our team will help you find a competitive price for your efforts. Our facilities are also compliant with all regulatory standards surrounding responsible recycling processes, so you will be doing your part to help the environment! Contact us today to learn more about recycling with Metalico. 

*estimates based on national averages subject to change

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