By Gabriel Torres, Discard Junk Removal
Getting rid of an appliance in Sacramento, at a glance
STRAIGHT ANSWERS IN 10 SECONDS
- Buying a new one?
- Most retailers offer to take the old unit on delivery, sometimes for a fee, but they usually take only what’s already disconnected and waiting.
- Free city pickup
- City of Sacramento residential customers get two free Appliance and E-waste Pickup appointments a year, up to two large appliances each, and it runs year-round.
- Handle refrigerant right
- Fridges, freezers and AC units hold refrigerant that has to be handled by certified technicians. Gas dryers and water heaters need the line shut and capped first.
- If you want it done for you
- We disconnect gas and electric units and carry them out. Single appliances start at $74. You pay after the job, fuel is included, and there are no travel surcharges.
- How fast
- Same-day pickup is often available. We’re open 24 hours, 7 days a week, so an early call helps.
- Reviews
- ★ on Google across 506+ reviews.
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Old appliances are heavy, awkward and often still connected to water, gas or power, and some of them contain refrigerant that has to be handled by certified technicians. That makes them one of the trickier things to get rid of. In the Sacramento area you have a few good options, from free city pickup to store haul-away to hiring a crew. Here’s how each one works in 2026.
The short version: buying a new appliance? Ask the store to take the old one on delivery. Live in the city of Sacramento and can get it to the end of your driveway? Book a free appliance pickup. Need it disconnected and carried out, or have more than two? That’s when a crew makes sense.
Option 1: Store haul-away with a new appliance
Most appliance retailers offer to take the old unit when they deliver a new one, sometimes for a fee. The delivery crew usually only takes what’s already disconnected and waiting, and may not remove it from a basement, an upstairs laundry room or a tight closet. Ask what’s included when you order, and whether they’ll disconnect a gas dryer or a water heater, because many delivery crews won’t.
Option 2: City of Sacramento appliance and e-waste pickup
Appliances aren’t accepted in the city’s regular Household Junk Pickup anymore. Instead, City of Sacramento residential customers get two free Appliance and E-waste Pickup appointments per calendar year, and this program runs year-round, not just February through October.
| Rule | What the city requires |
|---|---|
| Per appointment | Up to two large appliances. No commercial appliances. |
| Accepted | Refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, stoves and ovens, dishwashers, microwaves, water heaters, air conditioners, furnaces, dehumidifiers, trash compactors and electric ceiling fans. |
| Placement | On your property at the end of the driveway, visible and easy to reach, with about two feet of clearance around each appliance. |
| Timing | Out no earlier than 24 hours before the appointment and by 6:00 a.m. on the day. |
| Canceling | By 5:00 p.m. two business days before, or the appointment may count as used. |
| Minimum | At least 10 pounds per pickup. |
You request an appointment through Sac311, online or in the Sac311 app, and should list exactly what you’re putting out. The catch is the work before pickup day: unhooking the appliance, getting it out of the house and down to the end of the driveway. See our guide to City of Sacramento junk pickup for how this fits with the city’s other programs.
Getting an appliance ready to move
Whoever picks it up, the appliance needs to be disconnected and prepared. If you’re doing it yourself:
- Refrigerators and freezers: empty them, unplug them a day ahead to defrost, and dry them out. If there’s an ice maker, shut the water valve and disconnect the line.
- Washers: shut both water valves, disconnect the fill hoses and pull the drain hose. Expect some water in the drum.
- Electric dryers: unplug and pull the vent duct off.
- Gas dryers and gas stoves: close the gas valve behind the appliance, disconnect the flex line and cap it. If you’re not comfortable doing that, don’t guess; have someone who does it regularly handle it.
- Water heaters: turn off the gas or the breaker, shut the cold-water inlet, and drain the tank before moving it. A full tank weighs hundreds of pounds.
- Dishwashers: shut off the water under the sink and turn off the power before disconnecting.
If you smell gas at any point, stop, leave the house and call your gas company.
Option 3: Have it removed
If you’d rather not deal with valves, hoses and dollies, a junk removal crew is the simplest option. We disconnect washers and dryers, including gas dryers, gas stoves, and gas and electric water heaters, then carry the appliance out from wherever it sits: the kitchen, an upstairs laundry room, the garage or the backyard. Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners go to a facility that handles the refrigerant to EPA rules, and the metal is recycled. A single appliance starts at $74; several appliances, or appliances with other junk, are priced by truck space. See appliance removal in Sacramento, plus refrigerator removal, washer and dryer removal and water heater removal.
Some recent appliance jobs from our records, labeled with the customer’s city:
- Sacramento, June: a two-door refrigerator disconnected from its power and water and hauled.
- Sacramento, June: two dryers, a washer, a TV, a heater and two fans.
- Dixon, May: a washer, a dryer and a chest freezer.
- Carmichael, August: a single garage freezer.
- Folsom, September: a 40-gallon water heater.
- Sacramento, September: a refrigerator, a separate freezer and bags of clothes.
Remodels, moves and several appliances at once
Kitchen remodels usually mean the fridge, range, dishwasher and microwave all leave on the same day, which is more than one city appointment can take. Rental turnovers and estate cleanouts often include a garage freezer, a washer and dryer and an old water heater too. When that happens, it’s usually simpler to clear everything in one visit, with every unit disconnected, carried out and priced together by truck space.
If you live outside the City of Sacramento, in unincorporated Sacramento County, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova or elsewhere, your city or county hauler runs its own appliance and bulky pickup program, each with its own limits. Check those rules first; our local pages for each city list what we’ve confirmed.
Where old appliances end up
Appliances are mostly steel, copper and aluminum, so nearly all of an appliance can be recycled. Before a fridge, freezer or air conditioner is shredded, the refrigerant and compressor oil have to be recovered by certified technicians. Other hazardous parts, like mercury switches in older units, are removed too. Washers, dryers, stoves and water heaters go straight to metal recycling. Working appliances in good condition can sometimes be donated, but many charities no longer accept large appliances, so call first.
Comparing your options
| Option | Cost | Who disconnects and moves it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store haul-away | Free or a fee | Usually you; the crew takes it from the door | Anyone buying a new appliance |
| City appliance pickup | Free, twice a year | You, to the end of the driveway | City residents with up to two appliances |
| Scrap it yourself | Often free for metal | You, plus a truck | Washers, dryers and stoves, not fridges |
| Junk removal crew | From $74 | We do | Gas appliances, stairs, several units or a deadline |
A few safety notes
- Never lay a fridge on its door or strap across the door handle; the door can pop open or the hinges can bend.
- Take doors off any fridge or freezer that will sit outside, even for a day. Children can get trapped inside.
- Front-loading washers are heavy because of the counterweight inside. Use an appliance dolly and two people.
- Don’t cut refrigerant lines to make a fridge lighter. Releasing refrigerant is illegal, and it can burn your skin.
“Gabriel and his team were so nice and respectful. He was able to help me same day for a great price. I would definitely recommend to a friend!”
Nicole C., Google review
Frequently asked questions
Yes. City residential customers get two free Appliance and E-waste Pickup appointments a year, year-round. Each appointment takes up to two large appliances, placed at the end of your driveway by 6:00 a.m. Commercial appliances aren’t accepted.
No. Appliances and electronics aren’t accepted in the city’s Household Junk Pickup anymore. They need their own appliance and e-waste appointment.
For city pickup, yes. The appliance has to be out at the end of the driveway, so it has to be unplugged, unhooked and moved. Gas appliances should be shut off and capped before anyone moves them. If you hire us, we handle the disconnect.
Refrigerant has to be recovered by certified technicians before a fridge, freezer or air conditioner is scrapped. We take every refrigerant-bearing appliance to a facility that handles it to EPA rules.
With us, a single appliance starts at $74, disconnected and carried out. Several appliances, or appliances with other junk, are priced by how much space they take in the truck.
Metal recyclers may take appliances without refrigerant, like washers, dryers, stoves and water heaters. Fridges, freezers and AC units need the refrigerant recovered first, so ask the recycler before you bring one in.
Want it disconnected and gone? Call Discard Junk Removal at (916) 866-1152, or see appliance removal. We answer 24/7.
