How Much Is A Washer And Dryer Worth In Scrap Metal?

We use our washer and dryer almost daily to make short work of laundry duties in our home. Like many other appliances that receive high use in the house, a washer and dryer have a limited life expectancy. If your washer and dryer have stopped working, or if they are too costly to repair, selling your washer and dryer to a scrapyard for scrap metal may be an excellent way to recoup at least a small fraction of the overall cost of your washer and dryer.

Scrap metal prices for a washer and dryer will vary based on the weight of the appliance and the material. A washing machine is usually made with aluminum and will weigh about 200 pounds, earning you between $18 and $22 in scrap metal. Comparatively, a dryer usually weighs about 100 pounds and will make you between $8 and $10 from a scrapyard.

Selling a non-functioning washer and dryer to a scrapyard is a great way to earn some additional money and recycle the metal material to be melted and recycled. Scrap metal prices will change drastically depending on numerous factors, including the time of year, quality of your metal, and your metal type.

Always call your scrapyard the day you plan to deliver your washer and dryer to receive the most up-to-date and accurate pricing for your appliances.

If you are struggling to determine whether you should repair a broken washer and dryer or simply replace the washer and dryer, it is a good idea to consider what is called the 50% rule. This rule means you should never spend more than half of the cost on replacing the washer and dryer with a repair.

Take, for example, the following scenario. You know a new washing machine will cost $700. However, your technician has quoted you $400 to repair your current washing machine. In this scenario, $400 is more than half the price for a replacement, so it is financially savvy to replace your washing machine.

It is also a good idea to understand what components or pieces are broken on your washing machine or dryer. Sometimes, the repair is straightforward and requires only minimal supplies and replacement costs. This thought process is valid for an exhaust vent repair or a heating element repair. However, some repairs are more extensive and costly. If your washer has a cracked washing tub or a broken motor, you could be looking at an expensive repair very quickly.

Understanding when it is time to dispose of your washer and dryer will also depend mainly on the age of your current appliances. Usually, a washer and dryer each will last an average of 8 to 13 years. Of course, it is quite common to find a washer and dryer that functions for 20 years or more, with only minimal repairs.

When evaluative whether to repair or replace your current units, consider the age of the appliance. Understanding that you are running your washer and dryer on borrowed time should help you lean closer toward replacement if the repair is costly or extensive.

If you have determined that your washer and dryer have reached the end of their life, figuring out what to do with your old appliances can be difficult. If you purchase a new washer and dryer from a large hardware store, like Lowes or Home Depot, they will often offer a service to tow away your old, broken unit. This method is a clean, efficient, and quick way to remove unwanted appliances. However, this service does not give you any money for the value of the washer and dryer.

Alternatively, taking your washer and dryer to a junkyard may be a great option to recoup some costs. A junkyard will pay you based on the weight and type of material you are recycling. A washer and dryer are large appliances that typically weigh about 200 pounds for a washer and 100 pounds for a dryer.

Based on the current metal pricing and metal market, you may be able to fetch around $40 for the pair at a scrapyard.

When trying to determine how much you will receive for your washer and dryer in scrap metal, it is important to understand how scrap metal pricing works. Usually, scrap metal pricing is based on the type of metal you are recycling and material weight. Large appliances like a washer and dryer tend to receive a higher dollar amount for trade because they are much heavier.

The type of metal will also determine the price of the scrap metal. Most washers and dryers are predominantly made of aluminum. This metal can easily be retrieved from the side panels of the washer and dryer, making it easily accessible for the scrapyard worker. Some common prices for scrap metal include:

Taking your washer and dryer to a scrapyard to recycle the metal helps to give your washer and dryer new life, albeit in a different form. When you take your washer and dryer to the scrapyard, a worker will first dismantle your appliance, removing the valuable and easily retrievable metal pieces.

The metal is then cleaned and sorted with other similar metal parts. This process ensures the aluminum is sold with aluminum and the copper is sold with copper. Cleaning the metal helps to eliminate unwanted contaminants that could impact later stages in the metal recycling process.

From here, the metal is purified and melted into smaller casts, called ingots. An ingot is a smaller brick of the purified metal. Once a pure ingot of a specific metal is manufactured, it can quickly be sold to a larger manufacturing plant to be used in manufacturing. The ingot is then sold, cast, and reformed for use in a brand-new appliance or machine, breathing new life into your recycled scrap metal.

Related Questions

Which appliances are worth the most for scrap metal?

When an appliance fails outright or is simply too costly to repair, often a great option to recoup some of your costs is to take the appliance to a scrap metal yard. This practice is a great way to recycle the metal in a non-functioning machine. In general, the larger appliances will generally fetch higher price tags compared to smaller appliances. Washers, dryers, stoves, and dishwashers tend to receive top dollar.These appliances are also much easier to take apart to retrieve the metal, which means that the scarp metal employees get a better financial return for very little effort. Pulling the side panels out of a washer or dryer and recycling the inner components can be completed in only a few minutes. Plus, the side panels of a washer and dryer usually come off in large, seamless pieces, which are easier for the scrapyard to sort, clean, and recycle.

Can I take a refrigerator to a scrapyard for scrap metal?

Although a refrigerator is a large appliance and would fetch quite a high price from the scrap metal due to its weight, a refrigerator can, unfortunately, not go to the scrapyard. Several dangerous chemicals and components within a refrigerator must receive special treatment when recycling and reusing the materials within the appliance.Because it takes a specialist to remove these chemicals, refrigerators often are not worth much in scrap metal. The time it takes to extract the chemical and then recycle the metal is not cost-effective. If you are disposing of the refrigerator, call a specialist to ensure it is safely removed and disposed of.