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A public resource guide
Free water heater removal in Providence, RI
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Providence, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Providence
Home › By item › Water heater › Providence
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Providence, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Providence
3
items per unit per scheduled bulky pickup, free, through the online form or 1-800-972-4545
24 hours
minimum notice before your collection day
Saturdays
free unbagged mattress drop-off at DPW, 700 Allens Ave
Every route for a water heater in Providence, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Providence guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Providence, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Providence bulky item pickup (Waste Management): water heaters
FreeA drained water heater is a large appliance for the scheduled pickup.
Who qualifies: Buildings of 6 or fewer units with City of Providence curbside collection.
How to schedule: Schedule online with the city's Request Bulky Item Pickup form or call Waste Management at 1-800-972-4545 at least 24 hours before your collection day. Free, up to 3 items per unit per scheduled pickup. Mattresses are handled separately: unbagged mattresses and box springs are accepted at DPW, 700 Allens Ave, on Saturdays.
Limits: 3 items per unit per pickup. Only scheduled items are collected.
Set-out: At the curb no earlier than the night before your scheduled pickup, clear of carts. Crews do not enter yards or buildings.
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 Providence: 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 Providence: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Providence runs a uniquely accessible bulk pickup system: FREE curbside bulk pickup with just 24-HOUR advance notice via Waste Management at 1-800-972-4545, up to 3 bulky items per collection day. The lead time is dramatically shorter than most major cities (Virginia Beach requires 2 weeks; San Francisco requires 2 weeks). Service is provided by Waste Management under contract with the City. Free curbside pickup of furniture, large appliances (refrigerators with Freon, washers, dryers), e-waste, and bulky waste, all at the same 3-items-per-day limit. One important fee exception: mattresses and box springs require a paid Waste Management appointment, OR Providence residents can drop off two items per resident per day FREE at the Mattress Drop-off Center on Saturdays 7 AM-12:45 PM (proof of Providence residency required). Yard waste is collected curbside on regular collection day from mid-April through mid-December, in open barrels or paper yard waste bags. Christmas trees picked up curbside during the second, third, and fourth full weeks of January. New 64-gallon trash carts arrive starting March 16, 2026, a major service change. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Providence rule for water heaters: A drained water heater is a large appliance for the scheduled pickup.
Program basics: 3 items per unit per pickup. Only scheduled items are collected. At the curb no earlier than the night before your scheduled pickup, clear of carts. Crews do not enter yards or buildings.
What the city will not take: Mattresses (DPW Saturday drop-off instead), construction debris, tires, and hazardous waste. Electronics go to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation's Eco-Depot and e-waste programs.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Providence DPW: Bulky Item and Large Appliance Disposal, City of Providence DPW: Bulky and Tricky Item Disposal (mattresses). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Providence. Providence residents have free hazardous waste disposal through the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation Eco-Depot program. The main location is at the Central Landfill in Johnston, with satellite locations held throughout Rhode Island during the year. Schedule by appointment at rirrc.org/ecodepot or 401-942-1430 x3241. Free for Rhode Island residents. Drop off paint, motor oil, pesticides, household cleaners, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, propane tanks. 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, most pharmacies for unused medications.
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 need same-day or in-home pickup, exceed the 3-item daily limit, can’t wait for a Saturday mattress drop-off, need construction debris removed, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp offers professional removal in Providence 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 Providence with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Providence proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Providence 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 Providence: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Providence pick up water heaters for free?
Yes, drained, with a scheduled pickup.
How much does paid water heater removal cost in Providence?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single water heater pickup in Providence 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 3-item daily limit, can’t wait for a Saturday mattress drop-off, need construction debris removed, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp offers professional removal in Providence 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 Providence page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Providence guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.