# Air conditioner thefts are in the news...so are my old, junk air conditioners now worth money? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753 "2011-08-06T18:01:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c67d28/32.png) [@Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_AL_Einstein)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/1 "2011-08-06T18:01:27Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/2 "2011-08-06T18:09:28Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/3 "2011-08-06T18:23:52Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/4 "2011-08-06T18:27:28Z")
Some of those same news articles indicate youths are huffing the freon. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/5 "2011-08-06T18:45:35Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > 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. Are those news stories talking about window air conditioners (like the OP has in his basement) or about [central air conditioning units?](http://www.whas11.com/news/local/124139719.html) ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/6 "2011-08-06T18:48:39Z")
Both. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/7 "2011-08-06T18:49:47Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > Some of those same news articles indicate youths are huffing the freon. Isn’t that the cool thing to do these days? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/8 "2011-08-06T18:52:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/9 "2011-08-06T19:16:36Z")
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. [News report on So. Carolina passing law prohibiting metal recyclers from buying copper to prevent thefts of AC units and other stuff.](http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0620/Air-conditioning-theft-South-Carolina-passes-new-law) ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/10 "2011-08-06T19:17:55Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/11 "2011-08-06T19:22:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/12 "2011-08-06T19:23:31Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > 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. Absolutely[yes.](http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/central_air_units_are_hot_afte.html) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-thefts-are-in-the-news-so-are-my-old-junk-air-conditioners-now-worth-money/591753/13 "2011-08-06T19:35:04Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > 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. They pay [pennies on the dollar](http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/grand-29295-suspects-theft.html): > [@](#): > > Two Apple Valley men were arrested for stealing $250,000 worth of metal from North West Pipe Company in Adelanto, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials said. > > … > > Deputies learned that the suspects had recycled the stolen property at a local recycling center in Hesperia for $720. Your air conditioner might net you $2.