How to Dispose of an Old Air Conditioner

Question: How to Dispose of an Old Air Conditioner

How do you properly dispose of an old air conditioner? When replacing an air conditioner with a new model, what should you do with the old unit? Can an air conditioner be disposed of in the trash? What is the best way to dispose of an air conditioner?

Answer: Air conditioners regardless of type, all contain some form of cooling refrigerant. As there are federal or state/province regulations as to disposal of these types of appliances, before you dispose of it in a landfill, recycle or trash bin, call your local sanitation department to find out if it needs to be prepared before it can be discarded. It may just need to be taken to a certain disposal area, or it may require a qualified technician to remove the coolant, similar to what is done with disposal of refrigerators and freezers.

When buying a replacement air conditioner, check with the retailer to see if they'll take and dispose of your old model for you. Some merchants may provide this service as part of the sale.

Read More About Air Conditioners & Cooling:

Air Conditioner Buying Tips
What's an EER Air Conditioner Rating?
Freidrich Ductless Split Systems
Central Air vs Room Air Conditioners
Ways to Beat the Heat

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