Washer and Dryer Disposal Options in Polk County, FL

A dead washer gets lived with. It's heavy, it's in a closet framed too tight for it, and there's still water in the drum. A dryer at least is light. Here's how to get either one out of a Polk County house: what to disconnect, where the metal goes, what the county charges if you haul it, and what I charge if you don't.

How do I disconnect a washer before it goes?

Five steps, and you can do all of them without tools except maybe pliers.

1. Shut both water valves behind the washer, hot and cold. Turn them clockwise until they stop. If they haven't been turned in ten years and won't budge, leave them and tell me.
2. Pull the fill hoses off the back of the washer, not off the wall. Have a towel. There's always a cup of water in each hose.
3. Unhook the drain hose from the standpipe or the sink. More water.
4. Run a spin cycle if the machine will still do one, so the drum is empty. If it died mid-load, the crew bails it in the driveway.
5. Unplug it.

How do I disconnect a dryer?

Electric: unplug it and pull the vent hose off the back. That's it. Gas: the gas valve behind the dryer has to be closed first, by you or a plumber. My crew will disconnect the flex line once the valve is off, but nobody on my truck touches a live gas valve, and I'd rather you didn't either if you're not sure which way is off. Once it's closed, cap it or have the plumber cap it before the next dryer goes in.

What about a stacked washer and dryer?

Stacked units come out one of two ways. If it's two machines on a stacking kit, the crew splits them and carries each one. If it's a one-piece laundry tower, it comes out whole, which usually means a door off its hinges and two people on the stairs. Either way it's one pickup. Upstairs laundry closets are the normal case in the newer Davenport and Haines City subdivisions, and stairs are already in the price.

Where does an old washer and dryer end up?

Scrap metal. A washer is a steel cabinet, a motor and a concrete counterweight; a dryer is a steel drum and a heating element. Both go to the scrap yard when the facility takes them, which means a rusted-out machine and a nearly new one that just quit are the same trip. There's no refrigerant in either, so none of the fridge rules apply.

Can I take a washer or dryer to the county myself?

Yes, and washers are easier than fridges on this point because none of the nearby sites refuse them. What the pages say:

The catch is the same one every time. You have to get the washer out of the closet, down the stairs and into a truck bed, then unload it on the other end. That's the job, not the dump fee.

What does Big Rob's charge?

From $125 for one washer or one dryer. For the pair, send a photo and I'll tell you the number before anyone lifts; it's either a single-item job or a quarter trailer at $225, and I'll say which. A washer, a dryer and the old fridge from the garage together is a quarter trailer. The price includes the disconnect of the simple parts, the carry from wherever it sits, and the drive to the scrap yard.

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What Big Rob's does here

The washer and dryer removal page has the disconnect rules in one place, and appliance removal covers the stove, dishwasher and water heater that often go on the same trip. Same day most days in Davenport, Haines City and Kissimmee, and on the next run for Lake Alfred and Auburndale.

Shut the valves, text a photo to (863) 225-2147, and the laundry room is empty by dinner.