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A public resource guide
Free water heater removal in Chesapeake, VA
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Chesapeake, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Chesapeake
Home › By item › Water heater › Chesapeake
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Chesapeake, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Chesapeake
382-CITY
call by 5 p.m. the work day before, or request online by 11:59 p.m.
3 days
earliest set-out before your regular collection day, 3 feet from obstructions
No tires
state rules keep tires out of bulk; SPSA Tire Processing Facility in Suffolk instead
Every route for a water heater in Chesapeake, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Chesapeake guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Chesapeake, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Chesapeake scheduled bulk trash collection: water heaters
Free, with a step firstA drained water heater is a bulk appliance by request.
Who qualifies: Residents served by the City of Chesapeake Waste Management Division.
How to schedule: Request a pickup by calling 757-382-CITY (2489) by 5 p.m. the work day before your regular collection day, or use the online Bulk Trash Pickup Request by 11:59 p.m. the day before. Collection comes on your regular day. Free.
Limits: No published volume cap for household bulk. Bulk yard waste is limited to one 4 by 4 by 6 foot pile per week, kept separate from household items.
Set-out: As close to the curb or roadside as possible, 3 feet from mailboxes, poles, and carts, no earlier than 3 work days before your collection day. Refrigerator and freezer doors removed; all glass surfaces taped.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval 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 Chesapeake: 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 water heaters, 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 Chesapeake: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Chesapeake, Virginia has one of the more accessible bulk waste systems in Hampton Roads: free curbside bulk pickup is collected on the same day as regular garbage when scheduled in advance. Call (757) 382-CITY (2489) by 5 PM the workday before, or submit online by 11:59 PM the day before. The city discontinued curbside recycling in 2023 and now operates 8 drop-off locations across the city, most 24/7. The SPSA Chesapeake Transfer Station at 901 Hollowell Lane handles HHW on the first Wednesday of each month. Tires are not accepted in any city program due to Virginia DEQ regulations. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Chesapeake residents.
The Chesapeake rule for water heaters: A drained water heater is a bulk appliance by request.
Program basics: No published volume cap for household bulk. Bulk yard waste is limited to one 4 by 4 by 6 foot pile per week, kept separate from household items. As close to the curb or roadside as possible, 3 feet from mailboxes, poles, and carts, no earlier than 3 work days before your collection day. Refrigerator and freezer doors removed; all glass surfaces taped.
What the city will not take: Carpet, wood and fencing, construction and demolition debris, hazardous waste, and tires (SPSA stations cannot accept tires under state rules; use the SPSA Tire Processing Facility in Suffolk).
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Chesapeake Waste Management: Bulk Trash Collection, City of Chesapeake: Bulk Trash Collection FAQ. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why water heaters are different from ordinary bulk. The weight problem is entirely water. People try to tip a tank that has not fully drained and discover that 30 remaining gallons weigh 250 pounds. Sediment at the bottom can also clog the drain valve, leaving the tank heavier than it looks. Flushing with the cold supply on for a minute often clears it.
Three mistakes that get water heaters left at the curb:
Paid options come into play for basement tanks with difficult stairs, heat pump units, and situations where no replacement is being installed.
Self-haul to a transfer station or scrap yard
Free to $15A drained tank lies flat in a pickup bed or a large SUV. Scrap yards take them free; transfer stations may charge a small bulky item fee.
Strap it down. An empty tank rolls.
LoadUp paid water heater pickup
$80+For Chesapeake households needing same-week or in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (carpet, construction debris), or service before the next scheduled bulk request, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Hampton Roads area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your water heater. 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 water heater pickup in Chesapeake with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Chesapeake proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Chesapeake junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national water heater disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Chesapeake: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Chesapeake pick up water heaters for free?
Yes, drained, after requesting.
How much does paid water heater removal cost in Chesapeake?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single water heater pickup in Chesapeake starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Chesapeake households needing same-week or in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (carpet, construction debris), or service before the next scheduled bulk request, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Hampton Roads area for upfront-priced pickup.
How do I drain a water heater before disposal?
Turn off the gas or the breaker and shut the cold water supply. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve and run it to a floor drain or outside. Open a hot tap upstairs and the T&P valve to let air in. When the flow stops, open the cold supply briefly to flush sediment, then close it and let the tank finish draining. Expect 20 to 40 minutes for a 50 gallon tank.
Can a water heater go out with bulk trash?
In most cities, yes, as long as it is drained. Some cities treat it as an appliance with its own appointment. Check the local rule in the directory below.
Will a scrap yard pay for an old water heater?
Usually a few dollars for the steel, more for a tankless unit with a copper heat exchanger. Most yards require the tank to be fully drained and some ask that the drain valve be removed.
Is there anything hazardous in a water heater?
Standard gas and electric tanks contain no refrigerant or regulated materials. Heat pump water heaters contain refrigerant in the compressor and must be handled like a refrigerator. The glass lining and the magnesium or aluminum anode rod are inert.
Is this Chesapeake page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Chesapeake guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.