A new water heater is in, and now a 150-pound steel cylinder is taking up floor space in your garage. Do not leave it there to gather rust, because you have several practical ways to get rid of an old water heater, and a few of them pay you back.
You can recycle it for scrap metal, sell the copper and brass for cash, donate a still-working unit, or pay a hauler to make it disappear. If you are handy, that steel tank can even become a smoker or a garden planter.
Here is how to safely remove your old water heater, then the best options to recycle, scrap, donate, repurpose, or dispose of it, plus what each route typically costs.
Key Takeaways
- Safety First: Disconnect the power (gas or electric) and fully drain the tank before you move it.
- Recycle or Donate: Take it to a metal recycling center or schedule city bulk pickup; only a still-working unit is worth donating, and most charities want you to call first.
- Scrap for Cash: Strip the copper and brass, then haul the steel shell to a scrap yard for the best payout.
- Repurpose It: Handy DIYers can turn an empty tank into a smoker, a solar pre-heater, or a garden planter.
How To Remove an Old Water Heater
Before you can scrap or recycle the heater, you have to get it out of the house safely. This is heavy, awkward work, so grab a partner if you can.
1. Cut the Power Supply
Safety comes first. Disconnect the energy source before you touch anything else.
Gas Water Heaters
Find the gas shut-off valve on the supply pipe running to the heater. Turn the lever 90 degrees so it sits perpendicular to the pipe. That stops the gas flow.
Electric Water Heaters
Go to your main breaker panel and flip the breaker labeled “Water Heater” to “Off.” If it is not labeled, use a non-contact voltage tester at the unit to confirm the power is truly dead.
Remove the access cover and test the wires. No reading on the tester means you are safe to proceed. If working with electricity makes you uneasy, stop and call a professional.
2. Drain the Tank
Water is heavy, so the tank has to be empty. Close the cold water inlet valve at the top of the tank.
Next, open the hot water faucets at a couple of sinks or tubs in the house. This breaks the vacuum in the pipes and prevents an air lock, so the tank drains smoothly instead of gurgling to a stop.
Attach a standard garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the heater and run the other end to a floor drain or out to the driveway. Open the drain valve slowly, and stay clear of the outflow, since leftover water can still be scalding.
3. Disconnect and Remove
Once it is empty, use a pipe wrench to disconnect the water lines and the vent pipe (on gas units). If the pipes are soldered copper, a hacksaw will cut them free.
Tilt the heater onto a heavy-duty appliance dolly and strap it in. A full-size tank can weigh 150 pounds or more, so move slowly to avoid hurting yourself or gouging a doorway.
Recycling and Disposal Options
Once the heater is out of the house, you have to decide where it goes. Here are the best options, from the ones that pay you to the ones that cost the most.
1. Recycling Centers
Most metal recycling facilities accept water heaters. They shred the units to recover the steel, copper, and brass.
Some centers pay a small amount based on the weight of the steel, while others charge a nominal drop-off fee, so call ahead to check. You will usually need a valid ID, because scrap-theft laws are strict in many states.
2. Municipal Bulk Pickup
Check your local waste management website. Many cities run “bulk waste” pickup days once a month or by appointment, and it is often free or already covered by your utility bill. You typically just haul the unit to the curb on the assigned day. Wait times commonly run two to eight weeks, so book it before the tank turns your garage into storage.
3. Donate to Charity
If you swapped out a heater that still works during a remodel, a functioning unit can find a second home. Be realistic, though. Most Habitat for Humanity ReStores do not accept used water heaters, and the locations that do usually require the unit to be in complete working order and under about 15 years old, while some take only new-in-the-box units. Call your local ReStore or another charity before you load it up, and ask for a receipt for the tax deduction if they take it.
4. Scrap It Yourself
If you want to squeeze out the most cash, strip the valuable metals off the unit before hauling it to the yard. The effort pays: scrap copper runs about $1.50 to $2.50 per pound while plain steel fetches only around $0.05 to $0.08 per pound, so the non-ferrous metal is where the real money hides.
- Test with a magnet: If it sticks, that piece is steel (ferrous). If it does not, the metal is likely copper or brass (non-ferrous), which is worth far more.
- Harvest the copper: Cut off any copper piping and pull the internal heating elements if they are copper.
- Grab the brass: Remove the drain valve and any brass fittings.
- Gas valves: On gas units, the control valve often holds aluminum and mixed metals a yard will buy.
5. Junk Removal Services
If you lack a truck or the muscle to move the tank, hire a service like 1-800-GOT-JUNK or a local hauler. They come inside, carry the unit out, and handle the recycling for you. Expect to pay roughly $85 to $270 for a straightforward removal, and more if the tank sits in a tight basement or up a flight of stairs. It costs money, but it is the most convenient route.
6. Online Marketplaces
List the unit on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or OfferUp. If it works, price it low; if it is dead, list it as “Free Scrap Metal.” Scrappers constantly patrol these sites for free appliances to grab.
Reinvent Your Old Water Heater
If you enjoy a DIY project, that steel tank is a blank slate. Here are a few creative ways to reuse it.
1. Build a Smoker or Grill
The thick steel walls of a water heater hold heat well, which makes this a classic welding project.
Clean the tank thoroughly (make sure no glass-lining insulation remains) and cut it to size. Mount it horizontally for an offset smoker or stand it upright for a drum smoker, then add hinges, a grate, and a chimney. Done right, it outlasts most cheap store-bought smokers.
2. Create a Solar Water Heater
If the tank itself does not leak, strip the insulation and paint it matte black to soak up heat, then set it inside a glazed box to trap solar energy. This “batch heater” pre-warms water before it reaches your main system, trimming your water-heating bill.
3. Make a Garden Planter
Cut the tank in half lengthwise or crosswise for industrial-style planters. They are deep enough for root vegetables or a small tree. Paint them to match your patio or let them rust for a rustic look, and drill drainage holes in the bottom before you fill them.
