Appliance Removal in Gaston County

What appliance removal covers

This job covers the heavy metal boxes in a home: refrigerators, chest and upright freezers, washers, dryers, stoves and ranges, dishwashers, microwaves, water heaters, window AC units and dehumidifiers. They are dense, awkward and often wedged into a closet or a basement corner. Most of the price is the lift and the carry, not the disposal.

A little prep helps no matter who does the hauling. Empty and wipe out a fridge or freezer, and unplug it a day early so it can defrost. Have the water and gas lines shut off and disconnected, and drain a water heater if you can. Leave sealed refrigerant lines alone.

Refrigerant and other fees to ask about

Fridges, freezers, window AC units and dehumidifiers hold refrigerant, and some haulers charge to handle it. Published Charlotte-area price sheets show the spread: one company folds it into the item price, while a Gastonia company adds $40 per appliance. National cost guides list $50 to $150. Ask whether your quote already counts it.

Access matters as much as weight. A fridge in the garage is a different job from a washer on the second floor. Ask about stairs, ask whether a two-person lift costs extra, and get the price before anything is loaded.

Published single-item prices for a washer or dryer ran $128 to $135 in October 2026, and a water heater $131 to $140. Those sit close to what the same companies list for a couch. Expect to pay for the labor, even though the metal itself is recyclable.

When the free route works

County convenience sites at Tryon, Riverbend, Crowders Creek and Hardin take large appliances free from residents, as long as they arrive emptied and cleaned. Working units can go to the Habitat ReStore in Gastonia if they meet its age limits, such as refrigerators and washers 15 years old or newer and ranges under 10 years old. It does not take dishwashers.

Towns help too. Gastonia picks up appliances for $25 each when you call Customer Care, and collects them within 72 hours. Mount Holly sells a $25 sticker, and Stanley bills $10 per white good during its pickup weeks. Bessemer City's bulk service takes no appliances. The Gastonia page and the disposal guide have the full rules.

Companies that list appliance removal

These 15 companies list this work on their own sites. Check your town page to see which ones say they serve you.

Appliance Removal questions

How much does it cost to get rid of an old refrigerator?

Published prices from Charlotte-area companies (October 2026) run $135 to $183 for a refrigerator, depending on its size and whether refrigerant handling is included. That is a published range, not a quote from any company. If you can move it yourself, the county convenience sites take emptied, cleaned appliances free from residents, and Gastonia collects them at the curb for $25.

Do I have to empty and clean the fridge first?

For the county route, yes. Convenience sites only accept appliances that are emptied and cleaned. Expect a hauler to want an empty unit as well, so clear the shelves, unplug it a day ahead to defrost, and keep a towel underneath for meltwater. A clean unit is also easier to donate if it still runs.

Can a working washer or fridge be donated?

Sometimes. The Habitat ReStore in Gastonia takes working washers and refrigerators 15 years old or newer, ranges under 10 years, and microwaves and water heaters 5 years or newer. It also lists dryers and A/C units. It does not take dishwashers or anything that no longer works, and it may refuse items outside its criteria.

Who disconnects a water heater or gas dryer?

Plan on handling it, or hiring it out, before pickup day. Ask the hauler what it expects; a drained tank with the water and gas already shut off is the usual starting point. A plumber or gas technician can do the disconnect if you are unsure. A full tank is extremely heavy, and a live gas line is a hazard for everyone.