[This article was originally published in April 2017 and has been updated and revised for a more comprehensive view on water heater recycling.]

So, your old water heater has finally stopped heating water. When you replace it with a new unit, what are you going to do with it?

If you're lucky, the company that installs your new unit might take it for you. If not, or you choose to install it yourself, recycling your old water heater is your best option.

Oh, The Joy of a Hot Shower or Bath

Almost everyone loves the convenience of having hot water on demand.

And there's probably few other things in a household as distressing as realizing that your hot water isn't working, or that your hot water heater has sprung a leak.

In fact, some of the most common causes of water heater failure are:

• Rust
• Old age
• Mineral build-up

And once it's been determined that an old unit is beyond repairing, disposing of a hot water heater is never an easy job. They tend to be large, bulky, and very awkward to manage when moving them.  

Your old and unwanted water heater, like most other appliances, can weigh a ton. Actually, traditional tank-style water heaters weigh an average of 150 pounds without water, but they vary according to their size. On average, tank-style water heaters weigh just over two and half pounds for every gallon of capacity.

Which simply means that they also very difficult to carry.

Taking your old appliance to a recycling center for an old hot water tanks may not be an option for you as you would need a truck to do it. And, even if you do have a truck,  just hefting it up into your truck bed can be an invitation for a sprained back - or worse. 

And the last thing you want to do is to take your old water heater to the local landfill. That's because almost all of the materials and components of your old water tank can be recycled  - and this is always a far better option.

Water Heaters: Out with the Old and In with the New

Everybody wants to have consistent and reliable hot water, especially in a home with a large number of people. As many homeowners discover, however, this is not always possible with an aging and outdated hot water tank. And it is guaranteed that it will stop working at some point, which then means a new water heater will no longer be an option.

And, if you replace your old water heater with a new and more efficient model such as a tankless on-demand unit, you can reduce your gas or electric consumption by 20 percent or more. If your water heater also provides radiant heating, it’s even more important to replace or upgrade your old one.

On average, the life expectancy of a typical tank water heater is about eight to twelve years. This can be affected by factors such as the location and design of the appliance, the quality of installation, maintenance, and water quality.

So, if it's old but still works, when should you consider replacing your water heater?

If your water heater is more than 10 years old, if it leaks around the base of the tank or at the top, or is working erratically, it's probably a good time for replacement.

At some point you will need a new water heater anyway — and you will also need a reliable, professional junk removal service to haul away the old one!

With that in mind, we created this informative and handy illustrated checklist to help your prepare for a seamless hot water heater disposal experience.

Old Water Heater Disposal Doesn't Have to Mean Going to a Landfill

Whether you install a new tankless or regular water heater system, call Junk King and we’ll remove that old water heater system for you.

Junk King's water heater disposal and recycling services is your safe, eco-friendly option to take care of an appliance like this. We have the expertise and equipment to remove all types of big, bulky, and old appliances.

Junk King Makes Appliance Disposal Eco-Friendly

Being environmentally-friendly take center stage at Junk King.

In fact, we’re the greenest appliance removal service in the nation, and we want to keep it that way! Which is why we recycle or donate as much of the junk we take as possible using our own recycling facilities or other local drop-off centers.

For water heaters and other junk appliance pick-up, our team will disassemble the parts or take the equipment to an industrial recycling processor for safe, clean, energy-efficient repurposing. Junk King's recycling process will save your old appliance from going to landfill and help reduce emissions.

You need experienced professionals if you want a great customer service experience and a smooth pick-up, with no strings attached. Junk King provides friendly, helpful service from the moment you schedule your appointment and get an estimate.

We give you a courtesy call 15 to 30 minutes before we show up to confirm your appointment. And you always receive free, no-obligation estimate before we begin junk removal. And there's never any hidden fees!

Schedule Your Water Heater Disposal and Recycling Today!

Experience and professionalism matter when it comes to appliance haul away. Our trained staff will safely disconnect and remove your water heater from the site and carefully carry it out to our junk removal truck. It’s a difficult task that requires strength, skill, experience, and the right equipment to make sure everything goes quickly and smoothly.

Ready to choose safe, efficient junk removal and environmentally friendly appliance pick-up and recycling?

Book online today or call 1.888.888.JUNK (5865) to get started so you can enjoy your new, more efficient water heater even sooner!