Dehumidifiers are used to remove surplus humidity from the air, which reduces mold and mildew buildup in your house.
If you plan on replacing or discarding your old dehumidifier, then you should do so responsibly. They contain hazardous components, which can be harmful to the environment if disposed of improperly.
Let’s explore how to dispose of your old dehumidifier the right way!
How to Dispose of Your Old Dehumidifier
Here are some ways in which you can dispose of your old dehumidifier:
Recycle Your Dehumidifier
The best course of action is to recycle your dehumidifier. You will have to contact your local sanitation department to remove the hazardous parts of your dehumidifier before recycling it.
This way, you won’t cause any harm to the environment. When recycling a dehumidifier, the metal parts are removed and the rest of the appliance is sent to a landfill.
You will have to reach out to your local hazardous waste facility to figure out how to recycle your dehumidifier. You can also do some research and find a reputable recycling company that recycles dehumidifiers.
Make sure you select a company that adheres to environmentally friendly and safe recycling processes.
Call your chosen recycling company and arrange for the device to be picked up. You might have to pay for the service if you want your dehumidifier to be picked up from your location.
Take the required actions to ensure that the dehumidifier is ready to be recycled.
Unplug the device and drain the water before putting it up for recycling. This will ensure that it is easily and safely transported.
Some recycling companies require that a person aged 18 years or older should sign a release form for the object during pickup.
Also read: How to Get Rid of Old Dishwasher?
Sell the Dehumidifier
Another way to dispose of your old dehumidifier is to sell it (assuming it’s still in working condition).
You can do so by setting up a garage sale. It’s a great way to recycle an old appliance and make extra cash off it. You can also recycle other old appliances or other items around your house that you don’t use anymore.
Try to host your sale during a time of the year when humidity is at its peak. Naturally, more people will be interested in buying a working dehumidifier during this time.
You can also sell the dehumidifier at a flea market or a pawn shop. Additionally, you can comb your local newspaper to see if anyone is looking for appliances and then put an ad about selling your dehumidifier.
Alternatively, you can take the easier route and advertise your dehumidifier on the internet. Websites, such as Craigslist, will certainly help you reach out to a vast target market. It will also improve your chances of selling your dehumidifier.
Donate It to a Charitable Organization
If you don’t want to sell your dehumidifier, then you can donate it to a charity near you.
Search for a Salvation Army or Goodwill store near your location or check out other local thrift stores that donate their profits to charity.
If your locality has many such stores, then you can do your research and find a store that supports a cause you are passionate about. Donating your appliance will ensure that it is used for a good cause.
Give It Away to Family or Friends
You can also give your old dehumidifier to a family member or friend. Talk to your loved ones to find out if someone is interested in taking the appliance off your hands.
You can give the dehumidifier to a friend who suffers from humidity-related sinus headaches. You can also give it to a family member who has mold allergies.
Alternatively, you can give the device to someone who is dealing with pests in their home. This is because pests such as termites, ants, cockroaches, silverfish, centipedes, and other bugs are attracted to humidity.
They choose humid environments as their breeding sites. A dehumidifier will help your loved one get rid of the humidity and the pests.
Throw It Away
If your dehumidifier is no longer in working condition, then you should throw it away. If you plan on throwing away the dehumidifier, you should do it as responsibly as possible.
Contact your local municipality to figure out how to safely dispose of the dehumidifier without causing harm to the environment.
Dehumidifiers contain refrigerants that need to be removed by an expert before you can throw away the appliance.
You might have to contact your local sanitation department to remove the hazardous parts of your dehumidifier before throwing it out.
Depending on the policies of your local municipality, you might have to arrange a pickup time for your dehumidifier.
You might also have to pay a small fee for the pickup. Alternatively, you might have to drop the dehumidifier off at a dump site or transfer station.
Give It to an Electrical Appliance Store
You can look into bounty or rebate programs to get rid of your dehumidifier as well. You can reach out to your utility company to figure out if they have any such programs. S
Some programs require that your appliance must be in working condition. Meanwhile, some others only cover specific appliances with particular dimensions.
You can also contact a local electrical store to recycle your old dehumidifier. You can stop by at the store during their trading hours and talk to the in charge.
They will take your appliance or give you further information on their recycling program. You will find more luck in giving away your dehumidifier to stores that sell products of the same brand.
Why You Should Not Throw Your Dehumidifier in the Trash
Most dehumidifiers contain a chemical refrigerant known as hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HCFC. When released into the air, this chemical functions as a greenhouse gas. It can cause serious damage to our planet’s ozone layer.
Even those dehumidifiers that don’t contain HCFC contain hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant or HFC. This refrigerant also requires careful handling as it is a greenhouse gas. It can cause harm to the atmosphere as well.
This is why you must not throw your dehumidifier in the trash or dumpster. This improper disposal increases the likelihood of gas being released into the air.
You need to recycle the dehumidifier responsibly. By disposing of your old dehumidifier correctly, you will protect the environment from HCFC and HFC.
Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Dehumidifier
You must take good care of your dehumidifier to extend its life. If your dehumidifier lasts a long time, then you won’t have to worry about its disposal.
So, here are two tips that you can use to prolong the life of your dehumidifier.
Don’t Use the Device All Year Long
Humidity levels vary throughout the year. This means that you don’t need to run the dehumidifier the entire year. During colder months, the air inside your house is typically dry.
This means that a dehumidifier isn’t required to reduce the humidity level.
Dehumidifiers work best in warmer temperatures. Their efficiency decreases in colder temperatures. Most dehumidifiers should not be used in temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is because the moisture removed from the air might freeze when it condenses on the cooling coils. This will damage your dehumidifier.
When the temperature in the room where you run your dehumidifier reaches 65 degrees Fahrenheit, you should ideally unplug the unit.
This will protect it from being damaged. In humid, hot weather, you can use the dehumidifier, without causing any damage to it.
Maintain the Unit
Typically, dehumidifiers can last anywhere between 5 to 10 years. If you want to maximize the lifetime of your dehumidifier, you must take care to maintain it.
Make sure to change the air filters as regularly as possible. You must also clean the exhaust grills and condensing coils. Don’t forget to empty and clean the water bucket as well.
All of these steps will ensure that your dehumidifier remains in good condition as you pack it up for the winter season.
If your dehumidifier stops pulling water from the air or if it stops running for no reason, you must get it repaired right away. Alternatively, you might have to dispose of it and get a new one.
How to Dispose of the Gray Water Collected in Your Dehumidifier
Now that you know how to dispose of your old dehumidifier, you must learn how to responsibly recycle the water collected by your dehumidifier while it’s running.
Since the water passes through a filter and comes into contact with dust, dirt, and air particles, it’s deemed as gray water.
The good news is that you can easily recycle that water for an environment-friendly lifestyle.
You can use it to water your houseplants or your garden plants. Just don’t use it to water fruit-bearing plants. Otherwise, you won’t be able to eat the fruits or vegetables that grow on that plant.
You can add a dishwashing liquid or some bleach to the gray water and use the prepared mixture for cleaning purposes.
You can use it to clean some counters, mop your tile floor, rinse your sink, and even wash your car. You can also use gray water to flush the toilet.
This will save the clean water that you use every time you flush your toilet.
You can iron your clothes with the gray water as well. This particulate water is pretty clean in terms of chemical content. It won’t lead to any buildup on your iron.
This means, that you won’t have to worry about any stains appearing on your clothes while ironing them. You can fill your radiator with gray water as well. You can also use it to supplement the windshield wiper fluid.
Conclusion
There are plenty of ways in which you can dispose of your old dehumidifier. If it’s broken, you can contact your municipality to dispose of it properly.
If you simply want to upgrade to a better dehumidifier, you can sell the old one. You can also recycle it, donate it, or give it to family or friends.
Other articles you may also like:
