Old Immersion Heater - Take to scrap dealer ?

Sezzler

Good Morning,

I'm due to get a new boiler fitted in my house, and as such the old immersion heater, cold water tank and assorted piping shall be removed.

Now, I'm thinking that the immersion tank will be worth a bit of money ? So is it worth telling the boiler installer that Ill keep the boiler and then take it down to the scrap dealer myself ?

Does anyone know the going rate for an old immersion tank ?

Is it worth me taking the cold water tank and pipes to the scrap dealer as well ?

Many thanks

Herzlos

All the metal parts will be worth something, particularly the copper (tank, pipes), so it'd be worth taking them to a scrap dealer. You won't make a fortune but you should get at least the petrol costs back.

It's probably also worth taking along any other scrap metal you've got lying around too.

legoman62

I would definitely take it to the scrap dealer.And any old pipe-work
You will probably get more money than the original price of the cylinder. It may be worth cutting it in two as they are usually full of shale and the dealer may deduct money off.
They are easy to cut.

Tippytoes

The last time I took rubbish to the council dump, Poles were taking all sorts out of the "metal" bin - presumably to sell on. I've got a couple of old radiators out in the shed. I suppose they may be worth something?

ROY47

check that the person who is fitting the boiler hasn't given a price for the work assuming THEY are having the boiler pipes etc. to sell to the scrap man

Ectophile

Copper is worth far more than steel. Take a look at http://www.letsrecycle.com/prices/metals

s_b

ROY47 wrote: »

check that the person who is fitting the boiler hasn't given a price for the work assuming THEY are having the boiler pipes etc. to sell to the scrap man

thats just tough if he has

OP make sure when you weigh the copper in its all clean ie no steel or anything non copper attached to it
might be an idea to ring the place you intend to weigh in at first so they dont rob you if you just turn up
i always ring for a spot price before i take anything

Sezzler

hi there,

thanks for all the advice.

On the quotation there is nothing stating that he gets the old tank etc.. but surely the tank etc is mine anyway to do as i want.

Ill have a look around for a local scrappy and give them a call

keystone

s_b wrote: »

thats just tough if he has

Thats one of the most ill-thought out pieces of advice I've ever seen on this forum.

Cheers

keystone

Sezzler wrote: »

On the quotation there is nothing stating that he gets the old tank etc.

Yes a lot of people assume that the customer would want them to remove all the old junk and don't necessarily itemise it in the quote. It is usually not worth a trip to the scrappy for a few bits and pieces. Most plumbers store it up and then take it down in one go.

Think of it this way (Far too simplistic but you'll get the drift):

Price to do job x = £ 150.
Calculated scrap value of arisings = £ 20
So price To Customer for Job = £ 130

So if you get to keep it, you pay him a higher price, you get the hassle of taking it down to the scrappy, you get £ 20 for it so you end up at the same net level of pound notes in your pocket than if he had taken it away in the first place.

Its really a no-brainer isn't it? Most people work like that. Yes there are the odd one or two who will still charge the £ 150 and trouser the £ 20 but very few and far between. Its a question of how much you trust him really.

but surely the tank etc is mine anyway to do as i want.

Indeed so and so will any old rubble bits of timber dirt etc that turns up as a result of the work. Should he leave that behind for you to dispose of too? The water that comes out of the tank when he empties will be yours too. What would you like him to do with that?

Cheers

legoman62

I think scrap copper is selling for around £5.00 a kilo. So a standard size 900mm by 450mm copper cylinder may be worth £50.00(ish)