Disposing and Recycling HVAC Tools & Supplies

To put in a brand new HVAC system, your outdated one needs to be eliminated. In different information, water is moist.

We get a number of questions on this stage of the method, although. What do you do with eliminated gear? The place does it go? Does any of it get reused?

These all have concrete solutions, however many owners aren’t conscious of them. Moreover, there are proper and incorrect methods to deal with the removing and disposal of kit. The truth is, there are federally regulated legal guidelines surrounding correct disposal methods.

Figuring out what they’re might help you to carry your HVAC companion accountable, and to really feel higher about how your outdated gear is being dealt with.

Eradicating HVAC Tools

To first be certain we’re on the identical web page, it’s vital to know what we’re not speaking about in relation to gear removing.

Some elements of your HVAC system gained’t must be eliminated when a brand new air conditioner, furnace, or warmth pump is put in. These may embrace (however aren’t restricted to) your ductwork, electrical wiring, gasoline strains or different gas strains, chimney flue or different air flow, pads and helps, and varied indoor air high quality merchandise like dehumidifiers.

To be clear, with a purpose to preserve an environment friendly system, typically modifications or replacements are warranted for these as effectively. However that gained’t be the case for a lot of new installations.

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So once we discuss disposal, we’re normally speaking about the primary heating and/or cooling unit.

The protected removing of those models is a part of any commonplace set up process. All the pieces can be disconnected from the prevailing gear, it’ll then be hauled off, and the realm can be cleaned and ready for the incoming HVAC gear.

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Disposing and Recycling

Whereas we will’t communicate for each firm right here, some practices can be widespread to loads of HVAC firms.

At any time when we take away outdated gear, it will get put into a big scrap space in our warehouse. As soon as this space is full, we ship it in bulk to a neighborhood recycling plant.

Whereas we’re not eradicating every particular person half, and as a substitute are taking it in full to the recycling plant, any doubtlessly hazardous materials is eliminated earlier than removing. Usually, this solely applies to refrigerants in air-con models, whereas the metallic elements and inner wiring are in a position to be recycled.

Some might know which you could get cash for donating scrap on this method. That is true, and the quantity of scrap that an HVAC firm is ready to donate on this method may be important.

Some firms will merely pocket this cash. Whereas there’s nothing unlawful in doing this, it may go away a nasty style in some householders’ mouths understanding that the corporate they’re paying for a brand new set up can also be profiting off of their outdated gear.

We’ll discuss extra about this shortly, however there are different methods to make use of this cash that keep away from this disagreeable realization.

Refrigerant Elimination

Refrigerant is flamable and harmful to deal with if it’s not performed correctly. The Environmental Safety Company (EPA) requires licensure merely to deal with air conditioner refrigerants.

It’s additionally unlawful to vent refrigerant into the ambiance. It’s dangerous to the setting and doubtlessly to these close by.

Generally we’ll get requested about reusing refrigerant in a brand new system. That is by no means advisable, for a couple of causes:

1. Higher to begin contemporary with correctly pressurized refrigerant on your new system, which can guarantee its effectivity and security.
2. Totally different methods will typically use completely different refrigerants. Assuming that one may be substituted for an additional is harmful.
3. Many present methods use R22 refrigerant, which has been banned by the EPA to be used in new methods. In case your present system has R22, it’s “grandfathered” beneath the legislation and allowable as long as you’ve your outdated system. However something new that will get put in should use a extra environment friendly refrigerant as a consequence of environmental requirements.

RELATED: The R22 Ban: How It Impacts You

The official time period is to “get well” the refrigerant right into a contemporary tank. We’ll do that till a tank is full with a selected sort of refrigerant, then give it to a recycling heart that’s prepped to deal with refrigerants, to be disposed of safely.

What this comes right down to is that this: a licensed HVAC technician ought to safely safe your present refrigerant after which get rid of it by the right recycling facilities. To do anything is each unlawful and irresponsible.

What HVAC Tools Can Be Reused?

We talked about some ancillary gadgets above, however I wish to be clear in stating what we will undoubtedly reuse out of your present system.

Indoor Air High quality (IAQ) Merchandise

Humidifiers, dehumidifiers, UV lights, and different air purifiers can all be faraway from the present system and reused within the subsequent. These merchandise have a lifespan as effectively, nevertheless it doesn’t at all times match up with the lifespan of your furnace or air conditioner.

That stated, as a result of it can save you on labor prices throughout set up once you pair gear collectively, should you suppose this stuff may want alternative, it’s good to speak to your HVAC companion to evaluate your choices and take a look at pricing.

RELATED: IAQ and You: Indoor Air High quality HVAC Merchandise

What About Reusing Furnace Filters?

This one is extra situational. A brand new furnace set up ought to usually include a brand new filter. At Fireplace & Ice, we embrace it at no further cost as a part of the set up course of. Nonetheless, perhaps you simply bought a pleasant, new filter and don’t want to switch it for some time. So long as it’s appropriate with the brand new system, it may be used.

Some houses even have washable filters. Once more pending dimension compatibility, there’s no challenge with reusing these within the new furnace.

RELATED: How, Why and When to Change Your Furnace Filter

Different HVAC Tools

Usually, we’ll take what we have to take away, however go away every little thing else. For instance, ductwork typically must be modified. When this occurs, we’ll scrap the older ductwork similar to we might with an outdated furnace or air conditioner. Nonetheless, different occasions no modification must occur and the prevailing ductwork is ample.

One other instance is the indoor evaporator coil. That is a part of the air-con system however is housed contained in the furnace cupboard. It’s because your heating and cooling methods share some features, just like the operation of the blower motor.

So when a brand new furnace is put in, however not a brand new air conditioner, the evaporator coil can be transferred and stay in your house.

Nonetheless, it is a good instance of when an HVAC firm can go above and past what’s required of them. On this case, it is smart to scrub the evaporator coil earlier than reinstalling it. This may improve the effectivity of your air-con system even whereas it’s the furnace that’s being changed.

Different small examples like this exist, however the common precept is identical. There’s no must scrap helpful or mandatory elements, simply because it’s the proper factor to do to scrap gear that’s on the finish of its run.

What Can’t Be Recycled

Some elements will must be thrown away however are unable to be recycled. That is unlucky, however doesn’t characterize a majority of the system’s supplies. These supplies embrace:

• Plastic parts, that are usually fairly small
• Capacitors and a few electrical wiring
• Flex duct, a sort of ductwork that bends extra simply than another varieties

Giving Again – Columbus Charity Assist

It will be straightforward to take recycled supplies, get a bit of money for them with every donation, and name it a day. At Fireplace & Ice, although, we actively search for methods to do what’s proper for the shopper and our neighborhood.

We don’t hold the cash we obtain for scrap donations. We make investments it again into the neighborhood, within the type of native charities that match our values.

Two latest organizations which were the beneficiaries of those efforts are The James Most cancers Hospital on the campus of Ohio State College and the Disabled American Veterans group, which has chapters all through Ohio.

It’s a small token of our appreciation for the work they do and the way they strengthen our neighborhood, and likewise means we’re not profiting off of scrap steel and different reusable supplies from our buyer’s methods.

Exchange & Take away

To be able to get rid of outdated gear, it’s important to set up new gear. Now that you recognize one of the best practices for protected and moral disposal of kit, we hope you’re able to take the following step with Fireplace & Ice.

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Verify our service space under to be sure to’re in our space. Then full the free estimate kind or give us a name. We’d like to stroll you thru your choices for the model new system of your desires!