It stands to reason, doesn’t it? If people are willing to steal the things they must be worth something. The metal content of a non-functional unit will be the same as a functional one.
So are the two or three non-working window units moldering in my basement worth money? A google search of scrap metal dealers in my area gives me only people who want me to pay them for the privilege of hauling them away…
Where do you get the idea people are stealing them for the metal content?
It’s hot out. They don’t have $100 to buy one at Sears. Yoink.
Your non-functioning air conditioners are not just worthless, they are worth negative money because of freon disposal fees.
Here in South Georgia, the local TV news frequently has stories about air conditioners being stolen for the metal content. The thieves take them to recycling places and get caught that way. Freon? What Freon? They separate the copper tubing from the rest of the A/C unit before they take it to the recyclers.
Weird, call some recycling places and ask what your units are worth. I bet they’re worth something.
Some of those same news articles indicate youths are huffing the freon.
Are those news stories talking about window air conditioners (like the OP has in his basement) or about central air conditioning units?
Both.
Isn’t that the cool thing to do these days?
Are you in or near Flint, Michigan?
AC units are being stolen at record rates there. Apparently AC guts contain copper and aluminum, and illegal scrappers are ripping them out of windows and from empty homes with abandon.
It’s specifically the copper tubing the thieves are after. They pull it from the AC units, then sell the copper to a scrap dealer/metal recycler.
Oh man, you CAN sell AC units to scrappers? I’ve got three in my basement right now. Free money plus I can huff the freon for free.
Our neighbor, a preacher, has had a new big outside unit (that cools the whole church) stolen. Twice in the past 3 months. Something worth 5k give or take destroyed so somebody could make a few hundred at best. Not only that, but a 10k loss for a small church is quite a hit. And ironically, even before this started the church refused to give the guy a raise so he could afford to get his own on its deathbed home AC unit replaced.
Absolutelyyes.
They pay pennies on the dollar:
Your air conditioner might net you $2.