Why Appliance Removal Is Harder Than It Looks
Getting rid of an old appliance sounds simple. It almost never is. Retailers only take your old unit if you're buying a replacement from them — and only from accessible locations. Donation centers reject non-working appliances. The county bulk pickup won't take fridges or AC units because of the refrigerant inside. And even if you figure out the logistics, you still have a 300-pound refrigerator that needs to come up from the basement.
DMV Go Junk removes any appliance from any location — basement, first floor, second floor, garage, or back of a closet. We carry everything out ourselves, handle all the logistics, and dispose of everything properly. Freon recovery on fridges and AC units is included in the price — no surprise fees at the end.
⚠️ Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units contain refrigerant (freon) that must be recovered by a certified technician under federal EPA law before disposal. Retailers and haulers who skip this step are violating federal law. Our price includes certified freon recovery.
Appliance Removal Pricing
Every appliance is priced flat rate — not by the hour. The price includes carrying from wherever it is in the home, loading, hauling, and proper disposal. Stairs add $50 per flight.
| Appliance | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microwave (any type) | $99 | Countertop or over-range |
| Dishwasher | $99 | We disconnect and remove |
| Stove / Oven / Range | $125 | Gas must be disconnected first |
| Water Heater | $125 | Gas must be disconnected first |
| Washer | $125 | Any brand, any size |
| Dryer | $125 | Any brand, any size |
| Washer + Dryer (set) | $175 | Both together, same trip |
| Refrigerator / Freezer (standard) | $150 | Freon recovery included |
| French door / side-by-side fridge | $175–$199 | Freon recovery included |
| Window / portable AC unit | $150 | Freon recovery included |
| Chest freezer | $150 | Freon recovery included |
Stair Surcharge
| Location | Surcharge |
|---|---|
| Ground floor / first floor | No extra charge |
| Basement carry up to first floor | +$50 |
| Second floor carry down | +$50 |
| Third floor and above | +$75 |
💡 Have multiple appliances? A washer, dryer, and fridge together often works out cheaper as a load job. Text photos and we'll give you the best number — item-by-item or load, whichever is lower.
Freon Recovery — What It Means and Why It Matters
Refrigerators, chest freezers, and air conditioning units contain refrigerant — commonly called freon. Under the federal Clean Air Act (Section 608), refrigerant must be recovered by a certified technician before the appliance can be disposed of. This applies to anyone removing the appliance — homeowners, retailers, haulers, and junk removal companies.
In practice, many companies skip this step or are not certified to perform it. This is illegal under federal law and contributes to ozone layer damage and greenhouse gas emissions. We take this seriously.
What We Do
Freon recovery is included in our price for every refrigerator, freezer, and AC unit we remove. We use certified equipment and licensed technicians. The refrigerant is properly captured and disposed of according to EPA regulations. There is no separate freon fee added on top of our quoted price.
Why This Matters to You
When you book appliance removal, you want to know it's being handled legally. If a hauler offers to remove your fridge for $50 and doesn't mention freon recovery, they're either skipping it or doing it without certification. Both are federal violations. Our price includes full compliance — you don't have to worry about it.
✅ Freon recovery is included in our quoted price for all fridges, freezers, and AC units. No surprise charges. EPA-compliant. Licensed and certified.
Gas Appliances — What You Need to Know
We remove gas stoves, gas dryers, and gas water heaters — but the gas line must be disconnected and capped before we arrive. We do not touch active gas lines under any circumstances.
What This Means Practically
For a gas stove or dryer, you need a licensed plumber or HVAC technician to disconnect and cap the gas line before we come. This is a quick job for a professional — typically 30 minutes — and usually costs $75–$150 for the service call. Once the line is capped and confirmed, we take the appliance.
If you're not sure whether your appliance is gas or electric, look at the back: gas appliances have a flexible metal hose connected to a wall fitting. Electric appliances have a standard power cord.
💡 Never try to disconnect a gas line yourself. If you smell gas after disconnection, leave immediately and call your gas company. Gas work requires a licensed technician in Virginia.
What We Take — and What We Don't
✅ We Take
- Refrigerator — any size or style
- Chest freezer / upright freezer
- Washer — front load or top load
- Dryer — electric or gas (gas disconnected first)
- Stove / oven / range
- Dishwasher
- Microwave — countertop or built-in
- Water heater — gas disconnected first
- Window AC unit
- Portable AC unit
- Dehumidifier
- Garbage disposal unit
- Trash compactor
- Wine cooler / beverage fridge
- Kegerator
❌ We Don't Take
- Gas appliances with active gas line
- Commercial kitchen equipment (industrial grade)
- Appliances with unusual hazardous contamination
- Central HVAC units (requires specialist)
We take almost all residential appliances. Text a photo if you're unsure and we'll confirm before booking.
Will the Retailer Take My Old Appliance?
Major retailers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, and Costco offer appliance haul-away when delivering a new unit. Here's what the fine print actually says:
- Only the one appliance being replaced — they won't take a second fridge or a washer if you're buying a dryer
- Only if accessible — basement location, tight stairway, or difficult access often leads to refusal
- Condition restrictions — some retailers won't take severely damaged or very old appliances
- Scheduling limitations — you have to wait for the delivery date, no same-day option
- Additional fees — most retailers charge $25–$50 for haul-away on top of delivery
If the retailer declines or you have additional appliances to remove, we're available same-day. No restrictions on age, condition, quantity, or floor.
💡 Scheduling a renovation or kitchen upgrade? Book us at the same time as your delivery. We can come the day before to remove old appliances so the space is clear for the new delivery.
What Happens to Your Appliances After Removal
We're transparent about where your appliances go:
Working Appliances
Appliances in working condition — especially washers, dryers, and stoves — may go to Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Herndon or Fairfax. These are sold at reduced prices to people in need. If you want us to try to donate before disposing, tell us when you book.
Non-Working Metal Appliances
Stoves, washers, and dryers that aren't working go to Potomac Metals in Sterling, VA for scrap metal recycling. These are steel-heavy appliances — the metal is recovered and recycled. This keeps them out of the landfill and offsets our disposal costs, which is reflected in our competitive pricing.
Fridges and AC Units
After certified freon recovery, the refrigerator or AC unit goes to a licensed appliance recycler. The compressor, copper lines, and metal body are recovered. The refrigerant is properly captured and disposed of per EPA regulations.
✅ We never dump appliances illegally. Every unit is handled through a certified disposal chain — donation, scrap, or licensed recycling. No exceptions.
What Customers Say
"Matt came out same day and removed our old washer and dryer. Quick, professional, exactly the price he quoted. The carry down the basement stairs was no problem for him. Highly recommend for appliance removal in Northern Virginia."
"Finally got rid of that old fridge that's been sitting in the garage for two years. Matt showed up on time, moved it out without any damage, and the price was fair. Will use again."
"We had a full kitchen worth of old appliances to clear out before a renovation. Matt priced the whole job as a load which saved us money. Done in under two hours. Great service."
Appliance Removal Across Northern Virginia
Herndon & Reston
Home base. Same-day available daily. Townhouse washer/dryer basement carries and fridge swaps are the most common jobs here.
Fairfax & Burke
Large colonials with basement laundry rooms. Basement washer, dryer, and water heater carries are common. Good access throughout.
McLean & Great Falls
Large homes with full kitchen renovations — multiple appliances in one trip. Estate cleanouts with garage fridges and basement freezers.
Arlington & Alexandria
Condo and apartment appliance swaps. Building elevator coordination for large appliances. Single-unit jobs most common.
Vienna & Annandale
Mid-century homes with older appliances — 1990s washers, ancient chest freezers in the garage. Same-day available.
Bethesda & Potomac MD
Maryland service, same pricing. Large home renovations and estate cleanouts. Same-day available most days.
Common Questions
Microwave/dishwasher $99. Stove/water heater $125. Washer or dryer $125 each, set $175. Standard fridge/freezer $150 (freon included). French door/side-by-side $175–$199. AC $150. Stairs: +$50 per flight.
Yes — freon recovery is included in our price for all fridges, freezers, and AC units. No separate fee. EPA-compliant, certified recovery. Required by federal law.
Yes — basement carry adds $50. We've done hundreds of basement washer/dryer and water heater removes. We use proper equipment and take care of the walls and floors.
We disconnect electric appliances ourselves. Gas appliances must have the gas line disconnected and capped by a licensed technician before we arrive. We do not touch active gas lines.
Yes — same-day appliance removal is available when you call before noon. We're based in Herndon and cover all of Northern Virginia — Fairfax, Reston, McLean, Vienna, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Annandale, Arlington, Alexandria — as well as DC and Maryland. Text photos to (703) 828-7824 and we'll confirm availability and give you a quote in minutes.
Retailers take only the one appliance being replaced, only from accessible locations, and often with restrictions. If they decline or you have multiple units, we're available same-day with no restrictions.
Related Services
Ready to Remove That Appliance?
Same-day available · Freon recovery included · Any floor · Northern Virginia, DC & Maryland
Call (703) 828-7824