Power, lint, and the vent
Unplug the dryer or have a qualified person disconnect a hard-wired unit before you move it. Pull the lint screen and bag the lint. Lint is a fire hazard in a truck bed and a nuisance at the bay. Disconnect the vent hose. The hose often contains a plug of lint and should be bagged, not left in the laundry room. If the dryer is gas-fired, stop and have a qualified person disconnect the gas. This article is about an electric dryer. Do not loosen a gas fitting yourself. Coil the cord and tape it to the cabinet so it cannot drag under a tire.
Where dryers are usually sorted
Dryers are appliances, and sites differ on whether they go with scrap metal, bulky trash, or a special appliance drop. Call and ask about an electric dryer with the cord still attached. A scrap yard may accept it if the drum is empty. A landfill may want it in the trash bay because the plastic console and insulation are mixed materials. Remove loose knobs only if they fall off in your hand. Do not strip the machine for copper in the parking lot. That work belongs at home or at a yard that asked you to do it.
Haul it as a box, not a projectile
Tape the door shut. The drum will bang if the machine tips, so keep it upright and strapped against the cab. A dryer is lighter than a washer but still tall enough to catch wind in an open bed. Cover or strap it. At the site, wait for the bay assignment. Slide it down a ramp or lift it with two people. Do not send it off the tailgate. If the attendant asks whether it is gas or electric, answer from the nameplate. A gas valve left on a unit changes how some sites handle it.
Before you go
- Unplug the dryer or have hard-wired power disconnected by a qualified person.
- Bag the lint and the vent hose, and tape the cord to the cabinet.
- Ask the site or a scrap yard whether electric dryers are accepted.
- Strap the door shut, haul it upright, and unload where directed.
Hauling a gas dryer after loosening the gas connector without a qualified person.
Questions people ask
Can the vent duct stay in the wall?
Yes. You are disposing of the appliance, not necessarily the house duct. Bag only the flexible hose you removed with the dryer unless you are remodeling the vent too.
Should I take the drum out?
No. Leave the cabinet intact unless a scrap yard specifically asked for a different preparation. A loose drum is harder to unload safely.
Search Dumpmapper by ZIP code or city, then call the site before you load the truck. Hours and accepted materials change.