Did you buy an old house that you plan on gutting down to the studs, and you aren't sure what to do with all the debris? Before you throw all of the items from the inside of the house in the dumpster, consider taking as much as you can to the scrap metal yard. Not only is this going to save you money because you won't have to pay to haul as many loads to the local dump, but there is some money to be made when you scrap all the old metal from the house. Here are a few main items that are worth the time to scrap.
Aluminum Windows and Siding
You may be ready to get rid of the outdated aluminum siding and windows on the home, but these are items that could be incredibly valuable if taken to the scrap metal yard. Aluminum is a product that is easy to haul to the recycling bin and removing the siding and windows shouldn't be difficult. Check to see if there are any aluminum exterior doors or garage doors as well.
Wiring and Plumbing with Copper
Are there old copper pipes that need to be removed as you change appliances and plumbing fixtures? Copper plumping is recyclable and valuable, along with copper coated wiring. If you are going to remove the wiring you may want to have a professional electrician do the work, and they can tell you what wiring is valuable and worth making the effort to recycle.
Old Ducts and Appliances
Are you tossing the old hot water heater, boiler, furnace, or other appliances that were in the house when you purchased it? You may have to dig around inside these appliances, but they could have copper, aluminum, and steel internal components that are valuable. Ductwork throughout the house that is being torn out and replaced should also be scrapped.
If you aren't sure what all can go to the salvage yard and you want to make sure that you don't waste any time pulling out metal or hauling it, get a list of acceptable items before you go. You may even want to look at the prices of metal, since this can fluctuate on a regular basis. If you are going to take out a majority of the materials in the old house you purchased, make sure that you get money back for the items that can be recycled.
Share