Junk Removal Boise: Washer and Dryer Household Junk Haul Away

The new washer and dryer show up Thursday. The old pair is still in the laundry room, still hooked up, and you're wondering how much of the prep for junk removal in Boise is on you.

It's less than most people think. A few things are worth doing before the crew gets there, though. One or two you shouldn't touch at all.

Here's how it goes, from the shutoff valves to the truck.

Getting ready for household junk haul away

Start with the washer. Behind it you'll find two water supply valves, one hot and one cold. Turn both clockwise until they stop.

That's the big one. With the valves off, the hoses can come off without water going everywhere.

Next, deal with the water that's still inside. Even after a full cycle, a washer holds some in the drum, the pump and the drain hose. Run a short spin cycle with nothing in it and most of that comes out.

Then pull the drain hose out of the standpipe or utility sink and let it empty into a bucket. A hose that looks empty usually isn't.

If you're comfortable with it, unscrew the supply hoses from the valves and drop the ends in the bucket too. If you'd rather not, just mention it when you book. The main thing is that the water's off.

Gas dryers are a different story

An electric dryer is simple. Unplug it, slide it out a bit, and loosen the vent hose from the wall.

A gas dryer has a gas line running to it, and that line has to be shut off and capped the right way. Don't loosen a gas fitting yourself unless you really know what you're doing.

The usual route is to have whoever installs your new dryer handle the swap. A licensed plumber can do it too, and your gas utility may be able to help. Once the line's capped, the old dryer is just a heavy metal box, and hauling it is the easy part.

Not sure which one you have? Look behind it. A gas dryer has a metal line with a valve on it, plus a regular household plug for the drum and controls. An electric dryer has a big, thick cord and no gas line at all.

Heads up: Once the dryer's pulled away from the wall, check the vent hose and the duct opening for lint. A clogged vent is a fire risk for the new dryer too, and it's a lot easier to clean while everything's already moved.

Where the laundry room is changes the job

A side-by-side pair in a garage out in Kuna or Star is about as easy as appliance removal gets. Short walk, flat floor, straight to the truck.

A lot of older homes in Boise's North End and up on the Bench are a different deal. Laundry tends to be in the basement, often down narrow stairs with a turn at the bottom. A washer is heavy and awkward on stairs like that, so it takes more hands and more care.

Plenty of newer houses around Meridian's Ten Mile corridor and in Eagle put the laundry room upstairs. Getting a washer down a carpeted staircase without dinging walls or the banister takes time and padding.

Stacked units add a step, since the dryer has to come off before either one moves.

None of that rules the job out. It just changes how long it takes and how many people it needs, and that's what shows up in the price.

How Boise junk removal is priced for appliances

We price by how much space the load takes in the truck and the work it takes to get it there. A washer and dryer don't take up much room, so access and whatever else rides along tend to matter more.

So it's worth a quick look around before you book. An old water heater in the garage, a dead microwave in the pantry, a pile of broken laundry baskets? Putting them on the same trip usually makes more sense than calling for a second one later.

You get a free on-site estimate and a firm price before anything moves. No hidden fees, and you can pay with cash, card or Venmo.

Yes, we'd like your business. But honestly, if the store delivering your new pair will haul the old ones off, that might be all you need. Ask them first.

Where old washers and dryers go after junk removal in Boise

A washer and dryer that still work can often go to a donation center or a family that could use them. If yours still run, tell us when you book so we can try to keep them out of the landfill.

Dead ones are mostly steel, and steel recycles. That's usually a better home for them than a hole in the ground.

Hauling one yourself? The appliance rules at the Ada County landfill and at Canyon County's sites for Nampa and Caldwell aren't always the same. Check their current rules and fees before you load up so you don't get turned around at the gate.

One more thing for winter. If the old washer is going to sit in an unheated garage before pickup, drain it all the way. Water left in the pump can freeze on a cold Treasure Valley night and crack it, and you'll find the puddle when it thaws.

Before the new pair shows up

Shut off the water, drain what you can, leave gas lines to a pro, and clear a path from the laundry room to the door. That's most of it.

If you want us to take the old washer and dryer, or anything else that's been piling up, give us a call at (208) 248-3629. We'll come take a look and give you a price before we touch anything.