Water Heater and Furnace Removal in Toledo

Published 2026-10-16 · iHaul Junk Removal Toledo

Old water heaters and furnaces are among the heaviest and most awkward items to remove from a home. A standard 40 to 50 gallon water heater weighs 120 to 150 pounds empty (and 400 to 500 pounds full). A gas furnace weighs 120 to 250 pounds depending on size and whether it has a cast iron heat exchanger. Both are connected to utility lines (gas, electric, water, or all three) that must be properly disconnected before removal, and both may contain materials that require specific disposal handling.

Water heater removal

Before disconnecting: what type do you have?

  • Gas water heater: Connected to a gas supply line, a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, and a flue vent (exhaust pipe to the chimney or roof). Has a gas control valve and pilot light or electronic ignition
  • Electric water heater: Connected to a dedicated electrical circuit (usually 240V/30A), a cold water inlet, and a hot water outlet. No gas line or flue vent
  • Tankless water heater: Smaller and lighter (25 to 40 pounds) but may be gas or electric with the same utility connections as tank models. Wall-mounted — removal is simpler once disconnected

Disconnection steps

  1. Turn off the energy source. For gas: turn the gas control valve on the water heater to Off, then shut off the gas supply valve on the gas line leading to the heater (the valve handle should be perpendicular to the pipe). For electric: turn off the dedicated breaker in the electrical panel (usually labeled Water Heater, 30A or 40A)
  2. Turn off the water supply. Close the cold water inlet valve above or beside the water heater. If there is no dedicated shutoff valve, close the main water shutoff for the house
  3. Drain the tank. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Run the hose to a floor drain, sump pit, or outside. Open the drain valve and open a hot water faucet somewhere in the house (this lets air into the system so the tank drains freely). A 40-gallon tank takes 20 to 40 minutes to drain by gravity. The water may be rusty or contain sediment — this is normal, especially in older heaters
  4. Disconnect the water lines. Use two wrenches — one to hold the fitting on the water heater and one to turn the supply line connection. Flexible supply lines disconnect at their compression or threaded fittings. Copper pipe connections may need to be cut with a tube cutter if there are no union fittings
  5. Disconnect the gas line (gas models). Use a wrench to disconnect the gas supply line from the gas control valve on the heater. If the connection is a flexible gas connector (corrugated stainless steel), disconnect it at the fitting. If the gas pipe is rigid (black iron pipe), disconnect at the nearest union fitting. Cap the open gas line immediately after disconnection with a pipe cap and pipe thread sealant to prevent gas leaks. Turn the gas back on only after confirming the cap is sealed — apply soapy water to the cap and check for bubbles
  6. Disconnect the flue vent (gas models). The flue pipe connects to the top of the water heater with sheet metal screws or a friction fit. Remove the screws and lift the vent pipe off the heater. Leave the remaining vent pipe intact if a new gas heater will use it
  7. Disconnect electrical (electric models). With the breaker confirmed off, remove the cover plate on the top of the water heater to access the wire connections. Disconnect the wires from the terminal block. Cap the exposed wire ends with wire nuts for safety until a new heater is connected or an electrician closes out the circuit
  8. Remove the heater. A drained water heater is still heavy (120 to 150 pounds) and top-heavy. Tilt it onto a hand truck or appliance dolly and strap it in place. Navigate stairs carefully — the weight and height make it unwieldy on stairways. Basement water heaters require two people for stair removal

Sediment and tank condition

Old water heaters, especially those that were never flushed during their lifetime, may contain 10 to 30 pounds of calcium and mineral sediment at the bottom of the tank. This sediment makes the heater heavier than expected and may clog the drain valve during draining. If the drain valve clogs, remove it entirely with a wrench and let the water and sediment flow out through the larger opening (be prepared for a gush of sediment-laden water).

Furnace removal

Types of furnaces

  • Gas furnace (forced air): Connected to a gas supply, electrical power (120V for the blower and controls), supply and return ductwork, a condensate drain (high-efficiency models), and a flue vent
  • Electric furnace: Connected to electrical power (240V), supply and return ductwork. No gas or flue connections
  • Oil furnace: Connected to an oil supply line from the oil tank, electrical power, ductwork, and a flue vent. Oil furnaces require additional steps for oil line disconnection and any remaining oil in the line

Disconnection steps

  1. Turn off the gas supply. Shut off the gas valve on the supply line leading to the furnace. For oil furnaces, shut off the oil supply valve at the tank
  2. Turn off the electrical supply. Turn off the furnace's dedicated breaker and the disconnect switch (usually a small switch box mounted on or near the furnace). Verify power is off with a voltage tester before touching any wiring
  3. Disconnect the thermostat wires. Low-voltage thermostat wires connect to the furnace's control board. Label or photograph the wire connections before disconnecting — this makes connecting the new furnace easier. Thermostat wire is not dangerous (24V) but disconnect power first regardless
  4. Disconnect the gas line. Same procedure as the water heater — disconnect at a union fitting or flexible connector, cap the open pipe immediately
  5. Disconnect the flue vent. Remove the flue pipe from the furnace. High-efficiency furnaces have PVC exhaust pipes rather than metal flue pipes — disconnect at the first joint
  6. Disconnect the condensate line (high-efficiency models). High-efficiency (condensing) furnaces produce liquid condensate that drains through a small PVC pipe. Disconnect or cut this pipe
  7. Disconnect the ductwork. Supply plenum (the large duct on top of the furnace) and return plenum (the large duct on the bottom or side) connect to the furnace with sheet metal screws, duct tape, or mechanical fasteners. Remove the fasteners and pull the plenums away from the furnace. If the ductwork is being reused with a new furnace, leave it in place and only disconnect the immediate connection to the old furnace
  8. Remove the furnace. A furnace is heavy and bulky. Use an appliance dolly, strap the furnace to it, and wheel it out. Basement furnaces require navigating stairs — remove the blower assembly and other accessible components first to reduce weight if needed

Disposal

  • Scrap metal: Both water heaters and furnaces are primarily steel and have scrap value. A water heater produces 40 to 80 pounds of scrap steel. A furnace produces 80 to 150 pounds. Scrap yards accept both. Some scrap yards will pick up large appliances for free because the scrap value covers their time
  • Copper: Water heaters contain copper tubing in the heat exchanger. Furnaces contain copper tubing in the evaporator coil (if there is an integrated AC coil) and copper wiring. Separating copper before scrapping increases the payout — copper is worth significantly more per pound than steel
  • Refrigerant (if AC coil is attached): If the furnace has an AC evaporator coil mounted on it, the coil contains refrigerant that must be recovered by a licensed HVAC technician before disposal. Releasing refrigerant into the atmosphere is illegal under the Clean Air Act. The HVAC technician recovers the refrigerant before the coil is removed
  • Oil tanks (oil furnaces): If the oil furnace removal also involves removing the oil storage tank, the tank must be drained of remaining oil, cleaned, and disposed of according to local environmental regulations. Underground oil tanks have additional requirements for soil testing

Water heater and furnace removal in Toledo

iHaul Junk Removal handles water heater and furnace removal throughout Toledo — disconnecting, draining, hauling, and proper disposal. We separate metal for recycling and handle the heavy lifting out of basements and utility rooms.

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