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Getting rid of some junk is easy. Small pieces of trash can go right into your city garbage bin or apartment dumpster. Even some larger items can still fit into the bin if you break them apart. But what do you do with large things such as old furniture or appliances? It’s not as easy as it is with smaller trash. You can’t just put them in your trash can—in fact, most old appliances are larger than your trash bin.
Even if you have a way of getting rid of an old appliance, you do have to ask yourself if you can do it safely. Being safe is a priority when trying to move something bulky and heavy like an old refrigerator or oven. If you’re preparing to get rid of an old appliance, here are a few tips for how to do so safely, including how to reach out to Junk King Dallas.
Safety Should Come Frist when Getting Rid of Old Appliances
The first thing to ask yourself is if you can safely get rid of the appliance without any help. In most cases, it’s going to take at least two people to get rid of a heavy appliance, maybe more if you have a lot of tight corners or stairs you have to traverse to get the appliance out. Getting appliances out by yourself is very likely going to end in you getting hurt. Even if you don’t fall, run into something, or get your fingers pinched, you’re going to put a lot of strain on your muscles. You can easily pull something or otherwise hurt yourself.
With two or more people, moving appliances is easier. You have someone to help carry the load, plus if you have a third person, they can help direct you and step in to provide a little extra help when you need it. However, even with more help, someone can get hurt. Slip and falls, bumps, bruises, and other injuries are common when trying to move heavy appliances.
Still, if you’re going to move appliances yourself, make certain you have at least one other person and that you’re both in good shape. Don’t risk trying to move a washing machine or chest freezer if you’ve injured your back or knees. You run the risk of aggravating the injury or causing additional injuries, and it’s not worth hurting yourself.
Get the Right Equipment
The second step to moving heavy, bulky appliances safely is to have the right equipment. While you might plan on simply picking up the appliance and moving it out, that’s rarely the best option. Using a dolly, moving straps, and other equipment will help keep you safe and make it easier to move the item. It’s easy to slip a dolly underneath a refrigerator or oven and roll it right out.
Don’t have a dolly? You may have a four-wheeled furniture mover that you can use. These items aren’t quite as easy as a dolly because you do have to lift up the appliance, but they can make it even easier to move the appliance out. You have to lean the dolly back and make certain you don’t drop it. When a four-wheeled roller, you don’t have to worry about that. Just roll the appliance right out.
Using a two-person moving strap system is another option. These straps fit around your shoulders and brace against your back. You and another person stand facing each other and put the harnesses on so you’re connected by a middle strap. That strap goes under the appliance. It might sound awkward, but it can help with some appliances. You wouldn’t want to use this with a refrigerator or large chest freezer, but they are useful for moving washing machines and dryers. However, they shouldn’t be used by those who have back injuries or aren’t in good physical shape.
Don’t forget basic safety gear, too. You may need gloves, a back brace, a knee brace, and a good pair of boots or shoes. It’s important that you don’t lose your grip or slip while trying to move an old appliance.
How Do You Get Rid of the Old Appliances Once They’re Out of Your House?
Getting the old appliance out of your house or apartment is just the first step. Next, you have to get rid of it. There are a few different options here. You could use the City of Dallas’s bulk trash program. You just need to get the junk to the curb. However, there are some downsides here. First of all, the city only picks up bulky waste once a month. Second, you can only put out a small about of stuff each time. If you’re getting rid of multiple appliances and other large trash, you may go over that limit. You may be billed extra on your water bill if you put out more than allowed.
There are also specific rules that apply to old appliances. You must remove the doors from refrigerators and similar items so kids or pets can’t be trapped inside. Second, you have to remove any refrigerant used in the appliance. This is not something you should attempt to do yourself. The chemical refrigerants used are greenhouse gases and need to be safely removed by a licensed professional. This is especially true of appliances manufactured decades ago. That old refrigerator you have in the garage that’s lasted for more than 30 years may contain some very hazardous chemicals you do not want to be exposed to.
The Next Step is Getting to the Landfill
Can’t wait until the next bulky trash day, or do you have too much to put out at once? In that case, you can either call Junk King Dallas or haul all your junk down to the landfill yourself. Unfortunately, this means you’ll need a truck or a trailer. You’ll also have to get all your old appliances up into the truck or onto the trailer. That’s a lot of work, and it presents a number of new opportunities for you to hurt yourself.
Hauling things to the dump also means you could damage your vehicle if you’re not careful. You could scratch the paint, bust a taillight, or damage the bed of the truck. Even if you get those old appliances loaded without any damage, you have to drive them to the landfill and pay the dumping fee. That’s a lot of work just to get rid of some trash.
Easier and Safer Options
Fortunately, there are a few easier and safer ways to get rid of your old appliances. If you just purchased a new appliance, the store you bought it from may offer free disposal of the old one. In that case, they will deliver your new appliance and haul off the old one. Some stores offer this at a small cost, so you may have to pay a little more.
If you’re getting rid of an old appliance without buying a new one, you won’t have this option at all. However, you may still be able to have the appliance picked up if it still works. There are some charities and other organizations that will pick up donations. You’ll need to look for a charity that picks up in your location and accepts appliances. Even if you find an organization that will take it, you may have to wait several days or weeks before they’re able to come get it.
Call Junk King Dallas
The absolute easiest and safely way to get rid of old appliances is to call Junk King Dallas. Our crew has years of experience in hauling away appliances, furniture, and much more. We can get rid of anything that isn’t classified as hazardous materials. Our crew will haul the old appliance out of your home, so you don’t have to worry about even getting it out to the curb. We also have all of the safety equipment and other tools needed to ensure that no one is injured and nothing is damaged.
We make the process of getting rid of old junk as simple as possible. All you have to do is give us a call and let us know what you need us to get rid of. We can often give you an estimate over the phone. If you don’t have time to talk, you can text us with information and photos about the appliances and other items you want hauled away. Again, we can usually provide a fairly accurate quote from this information.
Once we arrive on the day scheduled, we’ll do a full in-person quote to finalize the cost. If you accept, we’ll go to work right away. We’ll have all the junk out of your home and into our truck before you know it. It’s as easy as that!
Want to get your own free, no-obligation quote? Have questions about Junk King and our process? Give us a call today at 1-888-888-JUNK or text us at 1-737-888-5865. You can also book your junk pickup online and get $20 off.
