Will the store take my old appliance when I buy a new one?

Often, yes, as long as you set it up when you buy. Haul-away is a common add-on to appliance delivery, but it is rarely automatic. Whether the store takes your old unit, and what it charges, depends on the store, how you place the order, what kind of appliance it is, and whether it can be disconnected safely on delivery day.

How store haul-away usually works

ENERGY STAR says many appliance retailers will pick up and recycle your old refrigerator when you buy a new one.^[1] Fairfax County's trash pages make the same point: many appliance dealers include haul-away service with the delivery of a new item.^[3] The EPA adds that some retailers let you drop an old appliance off at the store at no charge, and some give small vouchers or discounts in return.^[2]

The details differ even between big chains. When we checked on October 27, 2026:

• Costco. Costco lists haul-away as included on select appliances bought online.^[4]
• IKEA. IKEA offers appliance removal for $30 when you buy a similar product in a store with in-home delivery, in select markets, and not with online purchases.^[5] It says removal may not happen on the same date or at the same time as the delivery, and asks you to prepare the old items before the crew comes.^[5]

So the order type matters. A deal that includes haul-away online may not include it in the store, and the other way around. Local appliance dealers set their own terms, and some will take an old unit only when they deliver its replacement.

Questions to ask before you pay

• Is haul-away offered for this item, at my ZIP code, on this kind of order?
• Is it included, or what is the fee, and does it appear on my receipt?
• Does the old appliance have to be the same type as the new one?
• Does the crew disconnect the old unit, or must it be unhooked and pulled out before they arrive?
• What will the crew refuse to take: a unit with food inside, a stacked washer and dryer, a built-in model?
• Where does the old appliance go, and who recovers the refrigerant?

That last question has a real answer. Federal rules make the final disposer, such as a scrap recycler or landfill, responsible for recovering the refrigerant from household refrigerators, freezers and window air conditioners.^[12] A store with a recycling program should be able to tell you where its old units go.

Gas appliances are different

A delivery crew that happily unplugs a refrigerator may not touch a gas range or dryer, and you should not ask it to. The CPSC warns that moving a gas appliance even slightly can cause an older, weakened gas connector to fail completely, possibly resulting in a deadly fire or explosion.^[6] It also says connectors should always be replaced whenever the appliance is replaced or moved from its location.^[6] Columbia Gas of Virginia says a qualified professional should do all work on natural gas lines and equipment inside the home, and should install natural gas appliances.^[7] Book that visit before delivery day. Who can hook up a gas dryer or range in Virginia covers who is licensed to do it, and what installing a gas range involves explains the visit.

While it waits

Plan for the old unit to sit for a while if removal does not happen with the delivery. Virginia law makes it unlawful to discard or leave a refrigerator or other airtight container with more than two cubic feet of interior space anywhere without first removing the doors or hinges, unless it is crated, strapped or locked so a child cannot get in.^[8] Strap the doors shut or take them off, and keep it out of the weather.

If the store will not take it

If the store will not take it, the EPA suggests checking with your electric utility for a rebate or turn-in program, and with your locality for bulk pickup or drop-off.^[2] Local fees are usually small. With fees that took effect July 1, 2026, Chesterfield County's convenience centers charge county residents $15 per item for appliances with Freon and $10 per item for washers, dryers, stoves and other appliances without it.^[11] How much appliance removal costs in Virginia lists more local fees, and how to get rid of an old refrigerator in Virginia walks through a refrigerator from start to finish.

A working appliance can also be donated. Habitat for Humanity ReStores accept new and gently used appliances, and most offer pickup of large items, including appliances.^[9] Salvation Army thrift stores generally accept gently used appliances that still work and are not built in, such as washers, dryers and air conditioners, but not appliances with mechanical problems, missing cords or rust, and no gas appliances at all.^[10] It asks donors to call 800-SA-TRUCK to check what their local store takes.^[10]

Stop and call a pro if

• The old appliance runs on gas. If you ever smell gas, the CPSC says to leave the house immediately and call your gas supplier or 911 from a neighbor's house.^[6]
• It is hard-wired rather than plugged in, as some cooktops, wall ovens and dishwashers are.
• A water shut-off valve behind a washer, refrigerator or dishwasher will not close or is leaking.
• It is built into cabinetry or stacked, or the route out needs a door or railing taken off.

Getting it hauled through Loclis

Browse more junk removal and moving answers, see appliance and mattress removal businesses, or find junk removal and moving businesses around Blacksburg. If the store will not take your old appliance, describe the job on Loclis and compare quotes from local haulers.