Do I need to empty and defrost the freezer before pickup?

Yes. Take the food out and unplug it the day before, with towels or a pan underneath, so the ice melts and drains. A full freezer is heavier and messier to tip onto a dolly, and meltwater running out of a chest freezer in a hallway is a slip hazard for the crew.

Can a hauler take a refrigerator that still works?

Yes, and a working unit may be resold or donated rather than scrapped, so ask where it will go. The EPA points out that old refrigerators use a lot of electricity near the end of their life and suggests recycling them instead of putting them back into service.

What happens to an old refrigerator after it's hauled away?

According to the EPA, recyclers recover the refrigerant and compressor oil, take out hazardous parts, then shred the cabinet. The metal gets separated and recycled, and most glass, plastic and foam goes to a landfill. At a landfill, refrigerated appliances are set aside until a technician recovers the refrigerant.

Refrigerator Removal in Clarksville, TN

Typical cost: Angi puts one refrigerator at $50 to $150 to remove; Thumbtack's national average is $117 to $285.
Freon surcharge: cost guides list $35 to $60, or $50 to $150, per refrigerant appliance on top of the pickup.
Freezers: a standalone chest or upright freezer runs $100 to $200 in Angi's table.
On-site time: one unit on a ground floor usually takes 20 to 60 minutes.

Clarksville Junk Haulers forwards your call to a local hauler who can dolly out a refrigerator, freezer or window unit and take it somewhere the refrigerant gets recovered. Size, stairs and whether the doors have to come off are what move the price. A French door model in a basement costs more than a top-freezer standing in the garage.

Refrigerator and Freezer Types a Hauler Takes

Old almond top-freezer refrigerator strapped upright to a gray appliance dolly in a kitchen with its doors taped shut

Top-Freezer and Bottom-Freezer Refrigerators

The standard kitchen fridge is the lightest full-size model and rolls out upright on an appliance dolly, doors taped shut. Age matters more than style. The EPA says older units used CFC and HCFC refrigerants and foam, and some hold mercury switches, contaminated oils or PCBs, all of which must come out before disposal.

French Door and Side-by-Side Refrigerators

Thumbtack calls French door and side-by-side models much heavier and harder to move than a basic unit, and that shows up as labor on the quote. They're wide, so the doors may have to come off at a tight opening, and Thumbtack notes that doing that before the crew arrives can cut labor time. Shut off and disconnect the ice maker's water line, or ask whether the hauler will.

White chest freezer with its lid propped open, unplugged and drained, sitting on a garage floor beside storage shelves

Chest Freezers and Upright Freezers

Chest freezers tend to live in the garage or basement and haven't moved since delivery day. They're low and long and go out flat or on their side, so measure the door. Upright freezers handle like a refrigerator. Both count as refrigerant appliances, so the same surcharge applies.

Mini Fridges and Wine Coolers

Dorm fridges, bar fridges and wine coolers are one-person lifts that still hold refrigerant. The EPA calls appliances with five pounds or less of refrigerant small appliances: whoever recovers it doesn't need Section 608 certification, but it still has to be recovered. Ask whether the hauler adds its Freon surcharge for a unit this small before you book.

Window Air Conditioners and Dehumidifiers

The EPA counts window AC units and dehumidifiers among the refrigerated appliances with special disposal rules. Angi puts window AC removal at $50 to $90. The EPA notes that some newer refrigerated appliances use R-290, which is propane, instead of a fluorinated refrigerant, so mention the model if you know it.

Gloved hands carrying two taped moving boxes toward a white trailer loaded with old furniture

Why Clarksville homeowners call Clarksville Junk Haulers

Your request goes to one local hauler, not a call list
Ask for the all-in price before anything is loaded
Free to call; you pay only the hauler, for the job you agree to
Tell us about stairs, heavy items or a deadline up front

Section 608 and the Bi-County Freon Fee

Section 608 of the Clean Air Act covers household refrigerators, freezers and window units thrown out with refrigerant still inside. The final stop, usually a scrap recycler or the landfill, must make sure it's recovered. If a unit arrives already emptied, that stop has to keep a signed statement with the name and address of whoever recovered the refrigerant and the date. The EPA doesn't accept a sticker instead.

In Montgomery County, the local stop is Bi-County Solid Waste. It charges $10 per Freon appliance, cash or check only, and takes them only at the main landfill at 3212 Dover Road. The main landfill is open Monday to Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A hauler's Freon surcharge covers that fee and the handling. The EPA warns that appliances left at the curb may be landfilled unsafely, so ask whether your fridge goes to a scrap yard or to Dover Road.

Cheaper Ways Out for an Old Fridge

Retailer haul-away
If you're buying a new fridge, Thumbtack notes that retailers may take the old one for a small fee, or for free with a new purchase.
Utility rebate or bounty
The EPA suggests checking with your electric utility for an appliance turn-in program first. Some require a working unit of a certain age or size.

See appliance removal for washers, dryers, stoves and water heaters.