Unused Furnace Removal

Pilot Light Sensors

• Before you dispose of your old gas furnace, you need to remove the pilot light sensor because it contains mercury, which is a toxic substance. To dispose of an old pilot light sensor, call your local town or city hall and ask when hazardous household wastes are collected. Many towns hold a hazardous waste collection day at least once a year. You can also go to Earth911.com and search for a hazardous waste recycling center near you.

Asbestos

• Old furnaces may also contain asbestos. Before you remove an octopus furnace, you’ll need to have a certified asbestos abatement contractor remove asbestos mud packing gaskets and insulating panels from the interior of the furnace. Homeowners aren’t legally permitted to do this themselves, and the furnace may need to be disassembled in order to remove these items. Furnaces may also contain asbestos wrap or asbestos tape on the outside seams.

Options

• If your unused furnace is in good condition, you can donate it to charity. Habitat for Humanity accepts furnaces that are less than five years old. Furnaces can also be sold for scrap metal, once the hazardous materials are removed. Another option is to call a junk dealer. Some may agree to just haul it away; others may offer you cash. Furnaces can also be recycled at certified appliance recycling facilities. Finally, if your old furnace is unused because you’re having a new one installed, you may be able to arrange for the installer to remove your old furnace when he puts the new one in.

Storage Tank

• Your responsibilities don’t end with the removal of your old furnace. If you had an oil furnace and you will no longer be using the storage tank, you must follow Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for abandoning a tank. These guidelines specify that as long as the tank hasn’t leaked, you can abandon it after ensuring that the tank and related piping are emptied of their contents and cleaned. The tank can then be removed and disposed of or, if it’s an underground tank, you can leave it in the ground and fill it in.