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We're having out furnace and AC replaced tomorrow. I want to ask the contractor to leave behind some more valuable pieces of scrap. The question is: what to keep? I don't do steel since I have no space or ways to transport. Nor do I want to bother with freon. I am interested in copper, alum, wiring and anything else non-ferrous, also motors. So...
AC: Is there anything of value there other than the fan and wiring?
Furnace: Fan + some wiring but anything else?
Thanks much
Did you talk to the company to see if they would break all this stuff down for you? He'll probably either say you do it or I take it. But, if he leaves it intact, at least you could learn what is inside and valuable for next time. If he will break it down, there is probably copper pipes, the "radiator"(I don't remember the official name) and a motor, some wiring. The furnace- I have no idea.
He will probably be nice and disassemble it for you for like $25
I doubt you'll want to do much tearing apart of the furnace, because it's mostly soot. No - there is some #1 iron and probably some copper lines will be left. You could tear the wiring out for the copper. I don't bother, though, just not worth it. The AC has quite a bit of copper tubing, but if you cut ANY of it, you'll be releasing the freon. That leaves the motor and wiring. Again, not worth it for the difference it'll bring. Then, if your scrap yard is like mine and charges to accept items with freon, you'll lose money. The "radiator thing" is freon-filled copper tubing surrounded by aluminum sheet. Your yard might have a category for "Copper/Aluminum". I take the effort to cut away the aluminum from the copper. The aluminum becomes very strong. I use a grinder and Sawzall.
Consider what Hypoman said and tear it all apart for the experience.
Thanks Mick for filling in my mind blanks.
I tore apart a furnace recently. Not much going on in there, but there is insulated wiring and a blower motor. Didn't find any copper tubing in mine, but yours may be different. If it's gas, there may be some brass fittings.
Tear both units down and whatever is left that you don't want, put out at the curb, or a free ad on craigslist. It will disappear pretty fast.
old thread but I'll reply anyway. A lot of HVAC companies work the scrap in to their price of installing your new system. They count on getting your old system so they can scrap it. Read your contract.
Don't forget the tungsten element in furnace.
Goes by "reefer" at most yards I've been to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hypoman
Their talking about what their smoking out back while the boss isn't looking,,,LOLQuote:
Goes by "reefer" at most yards I've been to.
just do what my mother in law 2 miles down the road does, even tho she knows Im a recycler, she lets the AC guy take her 5 T air cond and furnice away. bi--h, hates me. all other scrap she puts out for the trash people.
in reality the only thing worth messing with on the furnice is the copper lead the burner and the wireing and the blower , they will take less then 5 min to remove. the reast let him haul away for another scrapper.
when they come out ask then to bring their freion recovery tank and have him blead the system. the AC is where the money is any way, and also usually easy to dissassemble. just my .02