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A public resource guide
Free water heater removal in Phoenix, AZ
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Phoenix, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Phoenix
Home › By item › Water heater › Phoenix
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Phoenix, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Phoenix
4
bulk trash appointments per household each year
10 cu yd
maximum pile, about 17 by 4 by 4 feet
5:30 a.m.
pile must be in place by this time on your appointment day
Every route for a water heater in Phoenix, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Phoenix guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Phoenix, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
City of Phoenix appointment-based bulk trash: water heaters
Free, with a step firstA drained water heater is a heavy metal item, so it falls under the 20-pound, 4-foot metal exclusion rather than the bulk pile. Transfer stations and scrap yards take them.
Who qualifies: Homes with City of Phoenix solid waste service. Some neighborhoods and HOAs have community appointments already scheduled; the city posts that list.
How to schedule: Book an appointment first, online at phoenix.gov/bulktrash or by calling 602-262-6251, as late as 3 business days ahead and up to a year out. Set the pile out no more than 7 days before the date and have it in place by 5:30 a.m. that morning. Cancel at least 2 business days ahead and it will not count against you.
Limits: Four appointments per household per calendar year. One pile per residence, no more than 10 cubic yards (about 17 by 4 by 4 feet). No community piles; each household books its own.
Set-out: A single pile at the edge of your property parallel to the street, within 5 feet of the curb, at least 5 feet from walls, mailboxes, and other fixed objects, and never on a water meter or in the alley. Putting trash out more than 7 days before your appointment is a city ordinance violation.
City of Phoenix transfer stations: water heaters
Free within the monthly allowanceDrain it fully first.
Where: 27th Avenue Transfer Station (3060 S. 27th Ave) and North Gateway Transfer Station (30205 N. Black Canyon Hwy)
How it works: For city solid waste customers with ID and a city services bill. Residents can self-haul household bulk, and the city allows a free monthly allowance by weight; check current limits. Tires (limited per year, rims off) and one refrigerant appliance per year are accepted under separate rules on the transfer station and appliance recycling pages.
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 Phoenix: 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 Phoenix: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Phoenix transformed its bulk pickup system in September 2024, replacing the old quarterly schedule with an appointment-based model. Each household now gets up to 4 free bulk pickups per calendar year (each up to 10 cubic yards), scheduled online or by calling 602-262-6251. Combined with the 27th Avenue Transfer Station, the appliance recycling program, and free annual refrigerant appliance drop-off, Phoenix residents have solid options, if they plan ahead. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Phoenix rule for water heaters: A drained water heater is a heavy metal item, so it falls under the 20-pound, 4-foot metal exclusion rather than the bulk pile. Transfer stations and scrap yards take them.
Program basics: Four appointments per household per calendar year. One pile per residence, no more than 10 cubic yards (about 17 by 4 by 4 feet). No community piles; each household books its own. A single pile at the edge of your property parallel to the street, within 5 feet of the curb, at least 5 feet from walls, mailboxes, and other fixed objects, and never on a water meter or in the alley. Putting trash out more than 7 days before your appointment is a city ordinance violation.
What the city will not take: Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and other refrigerant appliances, tires of any size, household hazardous waste (paint, oil, antifreeze, batteries, pool chemicals), glass such as windows, mirrors, shower doors, and fluorescent tubes, bricks, concrete, dirt, rocks, asphalt and roofing, construction debris over 25 pounds or 4 feet, metal or car parts over 20 pounds or 4 feet, more than 2 pallets, Bagster bags, loose yard clippings, and ordinary household trash.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Phoenix Public Works: Bulk Trash (appointment-based), City of Phoenix: Appliance Recycling, City of Phoenix: Transfer Station Drop-off, City of Phoenix: Household Hazardous Waste Collection. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Phoenix. Phoenix hosts periodic Household Hazardous Waste collection events for residents. Check phoenix.gov for current dates and locations. Several retailers also offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications. Lead-acid batteries (car batteries) can be returned to AutoZone, O’Reilly, or any auto parts store for a small core refund. Putting hazardous waste in regular trash violates city ordinance and can result in fines.
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 households who can’t wait for an appointment slot, exceed the 10 cubic yard limit, need items the city won’t take, or have urgent timelines (move-outs, real estate closings), LoadUp offers professional removal in Phoenix with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Phoenix with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Phoenix proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Phoenix 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 Phoenix: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Phoenix pick up water heaters for free?
Not in the bulk pile. Drain it and take it to a transfer station or scrap yard.
How much does paid water heater removal cost in Phoenix?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single water heater pickup in Phoenix starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who can’t wait for an appointment slot, exceed the 10 cubic yard limit, need items the city won’t take, or have urgent timelines (move-outs, real estate closings), LoadUp offers professional removal in Phoenix with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Phoenix page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Phoenix guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.