That old tank in the garage is taking up space, and you are wondering whether it’s worth hauling to the scrapyard. Because residential pros are constantly balancing disposal costs, material resale and client expectations, knowing exactly how much you can get for a scrap water heater can protect margins and even win repeat business. CountBricks helps contractors do the math in seconds, but understanding the variables behind that number gives you a competitive edge.
Across most U.S. regions, a standard 40- to 60-gallon electric or gas water heater typically brings $15–$40 at the scrap yard. Larger commercial-grade units can reach $50+. Steel market fluctuations and local yard policies cause weekly swings, so never assume last month’s rate. Instead, open CountBricks.com/services on your phone, dictate “scrap water heater value in [your ZIP],” and our real-time pricing engine will populate today’s ferrous metals index right into your estimate.
1. Metal Composition
2. Unit Weight
3. Current Ferrous/Non-Ferrous Market
4. Level of Prep Work (stripped or intact)
5. Scrap Yard Rules
• Outer Shell – Low-grade steel is the heaviest component, averaging 80-120 lb on a residential tank.
• Copper Lines – High-value but minimal weight unless you remove and separate them.
• Brass Fittings – Worth 10-15× more per pound than steel, yet often overlooked.
• Insulation & Residual Water – Add useless weight; yards may deduct for it.
CountBricks field data shows that removing copper and brass can increase payouts by 30-50 percent, but only when labor time costs less than $25/hr. For time-pressed remodelers, leaving the unit intact and focusing on core demolition tasks offers a better profit-per-hour. Use CountBricks.com/consultation to see time-and-material comparisons in a side-by-side dashboard before you commit crew hours.
Many municipalities charge $25–$50 for curbside appliance pickup. If your local scrap yard pays $25 for an intact heater and you already have a truck on site, choosing scrap turns a potential cost center into breakeven or net positive cash flow. CountBricks estimates automatically factor in mileage, dump fees and labor so you quote accurately and transparently.
1. Shut off gas/electric and water supply. Confirm with a meter.
2. Drain the tank fully to avoid extra weight and splash hazards.
3. Disconnect supply, vent and T&P lines.
4. Cap gas lines or terminate electrics per code.
5. Dolly the unit to your vehicle, securing with straps.
6. File a quick voice note in the CountBricks mobile app—“Heater removed, weight approx. 110 lb”—to auto-populate your invoice.
• Bring photo ID; many yards refuse first-time sellers without it.
• Strip copper only if you have a clean bin ready—mixed metals yield downgraded pricing.
• Keep the manufacturer’s label; some yards confirm tank capacity before weighing.
• Arrive early Monday or Friday when yards reset market rates.
• Record scale tickets in CountBricks so future estimates auto-suggest expected value.
Residential clients increasingly ask where their waste ends up. Highlighting that 90 percent of a water heater is recyclable positions you as a sustainability-minded contractor. CountBricks printable quote templates include an “Eco-Credit” line item that shows both disposal method and CO₂ offset so homeowners see added value.
During a whole-home renovation, CountBricks partner Crestline Homes replaced two 50-gallon heaters. Using CountBricks real-time pricing, Crestline projected $68 in scrap returns. Actual scale tickets came in at $72.50, a 6.6 percent overage the team applied toward upgraded shower fixtures. The homeowner loved the tangible recycling credit, and Crestline boosted its Net Promoter Score by five points.
Because water heater removal typically appears under “demolition and haul-off,” line-item clarity matters. Inside CountBricks, toggle “Apply salvage credit” to automatically deduct projected scrap proceeds from the client’s final invoice or redirect them to contractor savings. This simple transparency eliminates disputes over debris charges.
• Tight Urban Jobs – Parking tickets can wipe out scrap gains.
• Heavily Corroded Units – Yards sometimes reject leaks that contaminate scales.
• Same-Day Swap-Outs – If you’re on a fixed-fee water heater install, paying a disposal service may be faster and cheaper.
Do gas and electric heaters pay differently?
No—yards care about metal weight, not fuel type, although older gas units often weigh more due to thicker shells.
How do I find today’s steel price?
Open CountBricks.com/services, click “Material Index,” or ask via the mobile voice assistant during your site walkthrough.
Will removing the anode rod add value?
Only if it’s magnesium or aluminum in large quantity; most residential rods are light, so effort rarely justifies payout.
So, how much can you get for a scrap water heater? With steel hovering between $0.06 and $0.10 per pound, count on $15–$40 for a standard residential tank, plus a few extra dollars if you separate copper and brass. Use CountBricks to capture live metal prices, auto-apply credits, and create professional quotes that impress clients and protect profits.
Ready to streamline your next demolition? Visit CountBricks.com/consultation and speak the words “water heater removal” to generate a full scope, labor breakdown and scrap allowance in under two minutes.
One of the most overlooked profit centers in residential remodeling is recyclable debris. CountBricks makes it simple to monetize scrap water heaters while keeping paperwork clean.
• Voice Capture – During your site walkthrough, say “Add 50-gallon scrap heater, estimate weight 110 pounds.” The AI auto-generates a demolition line and tags it “salvageable.”
• Live Pricing Feed – Our backend pulls today’s regional ferrous index every hour. If steel jumps overnight, your draft estimate refreshes automatically—no manual recalculations.
• Client Transparency – When you share the CountBricks.com/portfolio link, clients see a clear line item: “Water Heater Scrap Credit – est. −$28.” That small negative figure reassures homeowners they aren’t paying hidden dump fees.
• Accounting Export – On project closeout, upload the scrapyard scale ticket through the mobile app. The exact value overrides the estimate and syncs to QuickBooks, locking in your actual margin.
A three-bath renovation in Birmingham generated two scrap heaters, 14 copper valves and 30 feet of unused ½-inch pipe. CountBricks projected $102 in total salvage. The contractor invested 25 minutes stripping fittings and netted $118—an hourly rate of $38 for work normally ignored. Multiply that by a dozen projects a year and you’re looking at an extra $4,500 in profit.
• Keep a labeled “High-Value Scrap” bin in the trailer. Copper and brass go straight in—no sorting later.
• Schedule dumps on the same day as material pickups to avoid deadhead miles.
• If your yard offers roll-off swaps, negotiate a flat rate that factors in expected scrap returns; CountBricks can model the breakeven point.
Manual tracking invites missed credits and inconsistent pricing. CountBricks eliminates guesswork, updates markets automatically and embeds material intelligence right where you need it—in the estimate. That means stronger bids, healthier margins and clients who praise your transparency.
Start turning metal waste into measurable profit. Visit CountBricks.com/services to activate salvage tracking on your next residential project.
