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Why You Should Recycle Your Air Conditioner

When it comes to recycling, you probably don't think abut recycling your air conditioning unit. During the heat wave that is sweeping the country, more and more people are relying on their air conditioner to keep them cool. As they continually run the systems, many air conditioners are breaking, requiring homeowners to purchase new units. When you go to install the new unit, you want to make sure that your old unit is not tossed in the trash. This is because the AC unit has harmful components inside of it that can damage the ozone. Instead, you want to take your air conditioning unit to your local recycling station to see if they will take it. Some will even give you money for recycling your unit. 

Harmful to the Environment

Your air conditioning unit contains metal, plastic, and refrigerant in it that could damage the ozone if it is left in the landfill. In order to protect the environment, you want to make sure it is disposed of properly. There are gases located in both old units and new units that can deplete the ozone. Old units have a gas called chlorofluorocarbons, while new units contain hydrofluorcarbons. It is important to remove the gases from these units. When you take them to the recycling company, they will suck the gases out. The refrigerant left in the units can be recycled or burned to avoid ozone exposure. 

Less Efficiency

In some states, you can get money for recycling your old units like an air conditioning unit. One reason for this is because older units are not as efficient as the newer ones. Not only can you get cash for turning in your old appliance, but you can save money on your energy bill because you are using less energy to run it. Both you and the utility company will benefit when you buy a newer unit. 

Get Some Cash

There are plenty of recycling companies that will pay you for your old unit. Recycling metal can be a great way to add a little cash to your pocket. Before you strip the unit of its metal, you want to make sure that the money is going to be worth it. Scrap metal rates can change daily based on the economy and demand. If you are going to spend time stripping it, you want to make sure it is worth the effort. Some recycling companies will do the work for you. For more information, visit sites like http://www.puremetalrecycling.com/.


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