Appliance Removal and Disposal in Metro Detroit

Appliance removal is the job that shows up on a schedule you didn't pick. The new fridge arrives Thursday. The delivery guys will haul the old one — for a fee, sometimes, if you asked in advance, which you didn't. Now there's a dead refrigerator in your garage and it's going to live there until somebody does something about it.

Here's how appliance disposal actually works in Metro Detroit, and why the fridge in particular is its own animal.

Why appliances aren't ordinary junk

Three reasons a washer isn't the same as a couch:

Weight. Appliances are dense, awkward, and have no good grip points. A full-size fridge or a front-load washer is a genuine two-person carry, and the stairs are where people get hurt.

Refrigerant. Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and water coolers contain refrigerant, which is regulated. It has to be recovered by someone certified before the unit gets scrapped — you can't legally just crush it. This is why a lot of places charge extra for a fridge or refuse it outright.

Metal value, sort of. Appliances are mostly steel, which has scrap value by weight. It's real, but it's low, and it doesn't come close to covering the labor of getting the thing out of a basement. More on that below.

What we take

Refrigerators and freezers, including chest freezers and mini fridges. Washers and dryers, top-load and front-load. Stoves, ovens, ranges, and cooktops. Dishwashers. Microwaves. Water heaters. Garbage disposals. Air conditioners — window units and central. Dehumidifiers and humidifiers. Trash compactors. Commercial kitchen equipment. Utility sinks and laundry tubs.

Working or dead. We don't need it to run.

Full details on our junk removal and hauling service.

Get it disconnected first — and know what you can't do yourself

Before we arrive, appliances need to be disconnected. Some of that is fine to do yourself. Some isn't.

Fine to handle yourself: unplugging, pulling a fridge or washer away from the wall, shutting a water valve, disconnecting a washer's supply hoses and drain line, taking the doors off a fridge that's sitting in a garage.

Get a licensed pro: anything hardwired, anything on a gas line, and water heaters. A gas stove or gas dryer needs the line properly shut and capped. A water heater needs to be drained and disconnected. Do not improvise on gas. Ever.

If it isn't disconnected when we get there, tell us on the phone and we'll plan the visit around it rather than showing up to a job we can't do.

The "shouldn't I scrap it myself?" question

Fair question, and worth the honest answer: appliances are mostly steel, and steel is the lowest-value common scrap metal. There's a bit of copper in a motor or compressor, which helps.

So the payout on a single appliance is small. Then subtract getting it out of the basement, into a vehicle it doesn't fit in, driving to a yard during their hours, and waiting in line. For one appliance, the math is bad.

Where it flips: if you've got a pile — several appliances, a bunch of copper pipe, aluminum siding, old radiators — a scrap run can be worth it. We wrote more on that in our honest breakdown of what junk is actually worth money.

For one dead dryer in a basement, just call us.

What appliance removal costs

Same three factors as anything else:

How many. One unit versus a kitchen's worth versus a rental building's worth.

Access. A fridge in an open garage is easy. A chest freezer in a basement with a narrow staircase and a low overhead pipe is real work. This is usually the biggest variable.

Whether it's refrigerant-containing. Fridges, freezers, and AC units require the certified recovery step described above, which is a cost in the disposal chain no matter who does it.

Call 248-210-6723, tell us the unit and where it sits, and you'll get a number before we start.

Kitchen remodels and rental turnovers

Two situations where appliances come out in bulk:

Kitchen remodel. The old appliances come out with the cabinets, counters, and flooring. If the demo hasn't happened yet, we can do the tear-out and the haul in one job. If it's a multi-day project, a dumpster with a loading crew on site is usually the better setup — appliances, cabinets, and debris all go in the same box as the work happens.

Rental turnover. Landlords and property managers across Oakland and Macomb County call us between tenants for exactly this: a dead stove, a broken washer, and whatever else got left behind. If you're running multiple units, say so — that's a different conversation than a one-time haul.

FAQ

Do you take refrigerators?

Yes, including units with refrigerant, which require proper certified recovery before scrapping.

Will you take an appliance that still works?

Yes. We don't need it broken. If it's genuinely functional and in good shape, tell us and we'll separate it for possible reuse.

Do I have to move it to the curb?

No. We take it from the basement, kitchen, or garage — wherever it is.

Can you disconnect my gas stove or water heater?

Gas lines should be handled by a licensed professional before we arrive. Tell us the situation when you book.

Will you take just one appliance?

Yes. Single-item pickup is normal.

Do you pay for scrap appliances?

No. We're a removal service, not a scrap buyer. If you've got enough metal to make a yard run worth it, we'll tell you straight.

What areas do you serve?

Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan — Detroit, Southfield, Oakland County, Macomb County, and Wayne County.

Get it out of the garage

That fridge isn't going to move itself, and it's been six weeks.

Call 248-210-6723 or book a pickup online. Need to send a photo of the setup first? Use our contact page.

ONE CALL. IT'S GONE.

Dead appliance in Warren, Berkley, or Ferndale? Your city page has the local rundown, and the rest of our coverage is here.