Home › By item › Dishwasher › Knoxville

A public resource guide

Free dishwasher removal in Knoxville, TN

Every free and paid way to get rid of a dishwasher in Knoxville, verified October 2026.

Pile of dumped furniture and household items outside an apartment building Checked against City of Knoxville

5

bulky items per week; place a bulky alert with 311 before set-out

2 days

allow up to two business days after your alert for the bulky truck

Tag or haul

refrigerators need a technician's drain tag, or take them to the Solid Waste Facility

Every route for a dishwasher in Knoxville, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Knoxville guide covers every other item.

Free dishwasher removal in Knoxville

Here is how each route works in Knoxville, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.

Knoxville weekly bulky waste collection: dishwashers

Free

Dishwashers are bulky appliances. Uninstall first.

Who qualifies: Households with City of Knoxville curbside garbage service.

How to schedule: No appointment required, but the city asks you to place a bulky alert by calling 311 before you set items out. Up to 5 bulky items per week. The bulky truck is separate from the garbage truck and may take up to two business days after your alert.

Limits: 5 bulky items per week. Carpet rolled, tied, and cut to 6 feet or less. Tires only with rims removed. Refrigerant appliances only if drained and tagged by certified personnel.

Set-out: At the curb away from carts, mailboxes, and cars, with brush in a completely separate pile. Items mixed with brush or garbage are not collected.

Read the full Knoxville city services guide ›

Donation pickup in Knoxville (usable dishwashers)

Free

Knoxville’s donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program-specific rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.

Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don’t work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call before scheduling if you’re unsure, pickups that find unacceptable items will leave them behind.

See the Knoxville donation section ›

Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)

Free

Freemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.

Status in Knoxville: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.

How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering dishwashers, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.

If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Knoxville: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.

For partners ›

How Knoxville handles dishwashers

Knoxville runs one of the most accessible bulky waste systems in the South: FREE WEEKLY bulky waste pickup with NO appointment needed, up to 5 bulky items per week placed next to your trash cart by 7 AM on your service day. Just place items at the curb. The City’s automated trash collection system (since January 2017) handles the regular trash; the bulky truck makes a separate pass within 2 business days after you place a "bulky alert". Service is paid for through City taxes, NO monthly bill, NO sign-up needed. Eligibility extends to single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and quad-plexes located on a single parcel within City limits. Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units require certified personnel to drain coolant first, OR self-haul to the Solid Waste Facility where staff handle drainage. Critical warning: more than 5 bulky items at once = Codes Enforcement Violation, NONE of the items collected. Stagger across weeks. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.

The Knoxville rule for dishwashers: Dishwashers are bulky appliances. Uninstall first.

Program basics: 5 bulky items per week. Carpet rolled, tied, and cut to 6 feet or less. Tires only with rims removed. Refrigerant appliances only if drained and tagged by certified personnel. At the curb away from carts, mailboxes, and cars, with brush in a completely separate pile. Items mixed with brush or garbage are not collected.

What the city will not take: Refrigerant appliances without a technician's tag (take them to the Solid Waste Facility, where staff drain them), auto parts, tires on rims, construction debris, electronics, and hazardous waste.

How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Knoxville Waste and Resources Management: Bulky Waste, City of Knoxville: Bulky Waste Collection guidelines. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.

Why dishwashers are different from ordinary bulk. Dishwashers are usually replaced as part of a kitchen project, which means the old one often ends up sitting in a garage because nobody planned its exit. Because they are lighter than other appliances, two people can carry one to the curb, but the uninstall involves three connections (power, water, drain) and any of them done wrong can flood a cabinet.

Prep checklist before pickup day in Knoxville

  • Turn off the breaker and verify with a tester.
  • Shut the hot water stop under the sink and disconnect the supply line over a bowl.
  • Disconnect the drain hose at the disposal or air gap and drain it into a bucket.
  • Remove the kick plate, open the junction box, and disconnect wiring, or unplug the cord.
  • Remove the mounting screws under the counter and slide the unit out onto a towel.

Three mistakes that get dishwashers left at the curb:

  • Don't pull a dishwasher without killing the breaker. Many are hardwired, and the junction box is behind the kick plate at floor level.
  • Don't yank the drain hose. It connects to the garbage disposal or an air gap under the sink; disconnect it there and drain it into a bucket.
  • Don't leave the mounting screws in the counter. They can crack a laminate top when the new unit slides in.

Paid options are rarely needed for a dishwasher alone, but they make sense when it is part of a larger kitchen cleanout or when nobody is available to carry it.

Self-haul to a transfer station

Free to $20

A dishwasher fits in most SUVs with the seats down. County transfer stations accept it as an appliance or bulky item, sometimes with a small fee.

Lay a tarp down. Even a drained dishwasher drips from the sump for a day.

LoadUp paid dishwasher pickup

$80+

For households who need same-day or in-home pickup, exceed the 5-item weekly limit, live in 5+ unit apartment buildings without City service, have construction debris (NOT eligible for City service), or want full-service hauling without managing prepaid stickers and dropping-off, LoadUp offers professional removal in Knoxville with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal. LoadUp’s headquarters is in Atlanta, Knoxville is part of our home market.

What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your dishwasher. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.

Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.

If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.

Book dishwasher pickup in Knoxville with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.

Dishwasher rules in nearby cities

Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Knoxville proper, start with the guide for your own city:

Closest category in the Chattanooga table: Free Bulk Trash pickup. Donation if working.
Closest category in the Memphis table: Accepted at Outside-the-Cart pickup. If working: donation pickup (Habitat ReStore takes appliances). Otherwise bulk…
Closest category in the Nashville table: Convenience Center (1st bulk item free, fees for additional). If working: donation pickup. Otherwise paid haul.

Related guides: the complete Knoxville junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national dishwasher disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.

Other free removal guides for Knoxville: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.

Common questions about dishwasher removal in Knoxville

Does Knoxville pick up dishwashers for free?

Yes, uninstalled, as a bulky item.

Where can I donate a dishwasher in Knoxville?

Knoxville’s donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program-specific rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.

How much does paid dishwasher removal cost in Knoxville?

Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single dishwasher pickup in Knoxville starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-day or in-home pickup, exceed the 5-item weekly limit, live in 5+ unit apartment buildings without City service, have construction debris (NOT eligible for City service), or want full-service hauling without managing prepaid stickers and dropping-off, LoadUp offers professional removal in Knoxville with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal. LoadUp’s headquarters is in Atlanta, Knoxville is part of our home market.

Can a dishwasher go out with bulk trash?

In most cities, yes. Dishwashers are usually treated as a standard large item or a non-refrigerant appliance. Confirm the local rule in the directory below and whether a separate appliance appointment is required.

Does a dishwasher contain refrigerant or anything hazardous?

No. Dishwashers have no refrigerant and no regulated components. Some older models have a small mercury-free float switch and a capacitor; both are routine for recyclers.

How do I disconnect a built-in dishwasher?

Turn off the breaker and confirm power is off. Shut the hot water stop under the sink and disconnect the supply line. Disconnect the drain hose at the disposal or air gap. Remove the kick plate, open the junction box, and disconnect the wires (or unplug it if corded). Remove the two mounting screws under the counter and slide the unit out onto a towel.

How much does a dishwasher weigh?

Most 24-inch built-ins weigh 60 to 90 pounds. Stainless-tub models are at the upper end. Portable units with a wood top run 90 to 120 pounds.

Is this Knoxville page maintained?

Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Knoxville guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.

Fund a free pickup in Knoxville

Help cover someone else’s haul.

Most LoadUp customers fund Freemoval pickups by rounding up at checkout. If you’re not booking a paid pickup yourself but want to help, you can contribute directly, pooled with other donations to fund subsidized pickups in Knoxville at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer.

Choose a custom amount→

Freemoval is a social impact program of LoadUp Technologies, LLC. Contributions are not tax-deductible. 100% of contributions fund pickups at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer. No separate fundraising overhead is deducted from donations.