How much copper is in a washing machine

Each washing machine has an approximate service life. With intensive, everyday use of the washing machine, the operating period will be about 8 years, with less frequent and gentle use - 15 years. In addition, every year more and more functional and modern washing machines are produced, so even with normal operation, sometimes you want to replace the machine.

What to do with an old machine that has become unnecessary as a result of breakdown or obsolescence? You can simply move the device to a landfill, but this option is not suitable for business users. The unit can be disassembled, some parts can be left, some can be sold, and the rest can be turned over for metal. Let's figure out how much copper can be detected in a washing machine.

Looking for copper in an old machine

First of all, I would like to clarify that the machine contains little copper. Therefore, before you start disassembling the device, compare the cost of personal time and the amount of potential earnings. Firms that buy non-ferrous and ferrous metals offer about $3 per kilogram of copper. Inside the electric motor you can find from 0.7 kg to 1.2 kg of copper wire, that is, disassembling the motor will save you about $2-4. In addition to the engine, you can find copper in cables and microcircuits, but there is very little of it in these elements.

If you look closely, you can find particles of gold in the parts of the washing machine, but they are so small that it is impossible to extract the precious metal at home.When you roughly understand how much revenue you can get from handing over copper wire, you should decide whether it is profitable to disassemble the automatic machine or whether it is preferable to hand over it entirely.

What is the most profitable way to sell inoperative equipment?

The ideal solution would be to sell the washing machine not for scrap, but to sell its individual parts. This option is suitable if you have a fairly running model of the unit, and the main elements of the system remain intact: the drain pump, motor, main control module and others. You can remove the components yourself and resell them to craftsmen involved in the repair and restoration of SMAs..

If you don’t have time to bother with disassembling, you can use the services of special companies that buy and remove washing machines. Depending on the model and condition of your car, resellers can offer you $5 or more. The advantages of this method of marketing washing equipment are obvious:

• reselling the washing machine for spare parts will be more profitable than selling it for metal;
• personal time and effort are saved, since the main work is transferred to someone else’s shoulders;
• You won’t have to drag the machine across the floors yourself – the resellers called will do everything themselves.

Thus, instead of searching long and hard for copper in the engine, you can simply sell the machine in parts. Perhaps this method will have even greater profitability.

Alternative uses for an old typewriter

We suggest considering all possible ways to get rid of equipment that has become unnecessary. There are quite a lot of them. Some sales options allow the owner to receive income, while others, on the contrary, involve additional costs. How can you “free yourself” from a machine gun.

• Dispose of the unit according to all rules.Household appliances are transported to a separate landfill; before this, the devices are finely crushed using a special apparatus. This method is unprofitable, since you will have to pay about $20 for the services of the carrier and the procedure for recycling the washing machine.
• Place a sale ad on a classifieds website or in a newspaper. This method is applicable if the machine is functioning properly. Having offered the unit for little money, about $10, you can be sure that many people will respond and want to buy it.
• Take it to a hardware store. Many large sellers from time to time carry out an interesting promotion “We exchange old equipment for new ones.” By handing over your unwanted washing machine to the store, you will get a good discount on new equipment. This method can be the most profitable of all.

The most economical and savvy owners can transform the washing machine into necessary and useful things in the household. You can give a “second life” to a machine drum by using it to build a filter for water purification, a barbecue grill, a barbecue oven, or a small concrete mixer. The electric motor can be used for homemade wind generator, lawn mowers, wood splitters, grain crushers and more.

To disassemble an automatic washing machine and build useful devices from the parts, you will need to have some free time. In addition, you need to have “golden hands”, because reviving parts will not be easy. However, you should not underestimate the potential of SMA components either.

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