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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Salt Lake City, verified October 2026.
Checked against Salt Lake City
1 + 1
free Call 2 Haul pickups a year: one bulk waste, one green waste
8x4x4 ft
maximum pile, about a pickup-truck bed, mattresses set apart
If it plugs in
it qualifies: TVs, computers, and refrigerators are all accepted
Every route for a water heater in Salt Lake City, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Salt Lake City guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Salt Lake City, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Salt Lake City Call 2 Haul: water heaters
FreeHot water heaters are named. Drain first.
Who qualifies: Households with Salt Lake City residential curbside garbage service (you need your Public Utilities account number).
How to schedule: Schedule online at slc.gov/sustainability/call-2-haul or call 801-535-6999 (Monday to Friday, 8 to 5). Two scheduled pickups a year are included: one bulk waste pickup and one green waste pickup. Pickup lands on a scheduled day between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Limits: One bulk pickup and one green waste pickup per year. Pile about 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 4 feet high (a pickup-truck bed). Larger loads go to the Salt Lake Valley Landfill or a private hauler. Up to 4 automobile tires.
Set-out: At the curb on your scheduled date, 5 feet from hydrants, trees, poles, mailboxes, and walls, with 10 feet of open space on each side, mattresses set apart from the pile, breakables not stacked.
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 Salt Lake City: 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 Salt Lake City: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Salt Lake City operates one of the more resident-friendly bulk waste programs in the Mountain West. The free Call 2 Haul program gives every residential garbage customer two free scheduled bulk waste pickups per year, year-round on demand, with no zone rotation or appointment windows. The city also operates a mandatory 4-cart recycling and compost system with weekly collection. This guide covers every legitimate disposal option for Salt Lake City residents, including the program-specific details that distinguish SLC from surrounding cities (Salt Lake County, West Valley City, Murray, and Millcreek all have separate waste programs).
The Salt Lake City rule for water heaters: Hot water heaters are named. Drain first.
Program basics: One bulk pickup and one green waste pickup per year. Pile about 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 4 feet high (a pickup-truck bed). Larger loads go to the Salt Lake Valley Landfill or a private hauler. Up to 4 automobile tires. At the curb on your scheduled date, 5 feet from hydrants, trees, poles, mailboxes, and walls, with 10 feet of open space on each side, mattresses set apart from the pile, breakables not stacked.
What the city will not take: Construction debris, household hazardous waste, large truck tires, and city-owned tree trimmings. Call 2 Haul is not a pile program for unlimited waste.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Salt Lake City Sustainability: Call 2 Haul bulk waste collection, Salt Lake City: Bulk item collection (what Call 2 Haul accepts), Salt Lake City: Material set-out guidelines. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Salt Lake City. Household hazardous waste (paint, motor oil, batteries, chemicals, pesticides) is handled through Salt Lake County, not the City of Salt Lake City. Contact Salt Lake County Health Department at (385) 468-3862 for disposal locations and event schedules. Do not put HHW in Call 2 Haul, the garbage cart, or the recycling cart.
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 Salt Lake City households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have already used their Call 2 Haul allotment, are clearing a full room or property, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Salt Lake City area.
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 Salt Lake City with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Salt Lake City proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Salt Lake City pick up water heaters for free?
Yes, drained, with your Call 2 Haul pickup.
How much does paid water heater removal cost in Salt Lake City?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single water heater pickup in Salt Lake City starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Salt Lake City households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have already used their Call 2 Haul allotment, are clearing a full room or property, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Salt Lake City area.
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 Salt Lake City page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Salt Lake City guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.