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A public resource guide
Free water heater removal in Tulsa, OK
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Tulsa, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Tulsa
Home › By item › Water heater › Tulsa
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Tulsa, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Tulsa
$20
per 8 cubic yards of bulky waste since October 1, 2026, billed to your utility account
3 days
minimum notice before your regular collection day
4 + 4
TVs or monitors and tires (no rims) per pickup, in separate piles
Every route for a water heater in Tulsa, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Tulsa guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Tulsa, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Tulsa bulky waste pickup: water heaters
City pickup, $20 per 8 cubic yardsHot water tanks are named as accepted. Drain first.
Who qualifies: Residential utility customers with City of Tulsa refuse service.
How to schedule: Schedule online at cityoftulsa.org/bulkywaste, through 311, or by email to Tulsa311@cityoftulsa.org at least 3 days before your regular collection day. Pickup comes on your regular day. The fee is $20 per 8 cubic yards (raised from $10 on October 1, 2026), billed to your utility account.
Limits: 8 cubic yards per fee (one cubic yard is about a washing machine). Up to 4 TVs or monitors and up to 4 tires without rims per pickup. Glass must be boxed. Small DIY remodel debris must be containerized under 1 cubic yard.
Set-out: At the curb on your regular collection day after scheduling. Keep electronics, appliances, and tires in separate piles from the rest; two different trucks collect them.
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 Tulsa: 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 Tulsa: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Tulsa, Oklahoma provides bulky waste collection through a fee-based appointment system, making it one of a smaller group of major U.S. cities that charge for this service. The $10 fee for up to 8 cubic yards is modest compared to paid hauler rates but adds a cost barrier relative to cities with fully free bulk pickup. Tulsa also has a distinct “orange refuse sticker” system for small overflow items. This guide covers every disposal option for Tulsa residents, including donation programs (Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, DAV, Goodwill), Oklahoma-specific rules, and paid options when city service doesn’t fit.
The Tulsa rule for water heaters: Hot water tanks are named as accepted. Drain first.
Program basics: 8 cubic yards per fee (one cubic yard is about a washing machine). Up to 4 TVs or monitors and up to 4 tires without rims per pickup. Glass must be boxed. Small DIY remodel debris must be containerized under 1 cubic yard. At the curb on your regular collection day after scheduling. Keep electronics, appliances, and tires in separate piles from the rest; two different trucks collect them.
What the city will not take: Auto parts, batteries, liquids, hazardous materials, explosives, and loose glass. The Household Pollutant Collection Facility handles hazardous waste free.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Tulsa: Schedule a Bulky Waste Pick Up, City of Tulsa Refuse and Recycling: residential 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 Tulsa households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have items the city won’t accept, are clearing more than 8 cubic yards, or want full-service hauling without scheduling 3 days in advance, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Tulsa 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 Tulsa with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Tulsa proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Tulsa 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 Tulsa: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Tulsa pick up water heaters for free?
Yes, drained, for the $20 fee.
How much does paid water heater removal cost in Tulsa?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single water heater pickup in Tulsa starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Tulsa households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have items the city won’t accept, are clearing more than 8 cubic yards, or want full-service hauling without scheduling 3 days in advance, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Tulsa 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 Tulsa page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Tulsa guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.