Disassembling the refrigerator for copper: from the compressor to the evaporator

Disassembling an old refrigerator into non-ferrous metals is a task that requires not only physical effort, but also knowledge of the equipment. Copper tubes, compressor windings and heat exchangers can bring significant profits when delivered to scrap collection points, but improper dismantling can result in injury, freon leakage, or fines for violating environmental standards. In this article we will analyze legal methods of disposal, describe in detail step-by-step disassembly different types of refrigerators (from Soviet "ZIL" to modern No Frost), and also reveal secrets of extracting copper without loss.

It is important to understand: a refrigerator is not just a pile of metal. A refrigerant circulates in its system (most often R134a or R600a), which, if handled incorrectly, can explode or poison the air. In addition, some models use ammonia evaporators —their disassembly requires special care. Before you take up the wire cutters and wrenches, familiarize yourself with current requirements for the disposal of refrigeration equipment equipment in your region —in 2026, unauthorized dismantling without a certified specialist may result in a fine of up to 50,000 rubles.

If you decide to disassemble it yourself, prepare thoroughly: from tools to protective equipment. On average, you can extract from one refrigerator from 1.5 to 4 kg of copper (depending on the model and year of manufacture), and its market price ranges from 600 to 900 rubles per kilogram. But don’t forget: scrap collection points often lower the price for “dirty” copper (with solder or paint), so the cleanliness of the recovered parts directly affects your profit.

1. Preparing for disassembly: tools and safety measures

Before you begin dismantling, make sure that the refrigerator completely disconnected from the network at least 24 hours in advance. This is necessary to discharge capacitors in electronic boards (in models with a display or system No Frost). Also required:

• 🔧 Tools: pipe cutter, grinder with cutting disc for metal, set of wrenches (8–19 mm), screwdrivers (Phillips and flat), wire cutters, pliers, hacksaw.
• 🛡️ Protective equipment: respirator (from dust and possible freon vapors), rubber-coated gloves, safety glasses, long-sleeved workwear.
• 🧴 Additionally: soap solution (to check for freon leaks), marker, rags, plastic containers for collecting oil and refrigerant.

Pay special attention room ventilation. If disassembly takes place in a garage or basement, open all doors and windows - freon vapor is heavier than air and can accumulate below. Do not smoke near the refrigerator: some refrigerants (for example, R290 propane) are explosive.

⚠️ Attention: In refrigerators manufactured before 2000, refrigerant R12is often used, which destroys the ozone layer. Its leakage is punishable under Article 8.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (“Failure to comply with environmental requirements”). Before starting work, contact the local Ministry of Emergency Situations or the environmental inspectorate to clarify the disposal rules.

If you are not confident in your abilities, consider taking the refrigerator to certified recycling point. Many companies (for example, "EcoService" or "UtilVtorResurs"offer free removal of equipment with subsequent issuance of a recycling certificate. In this case, you will not receive money for copper, but will avoid risks and fines.

2. Where is copper hidden in the refrigerator: diagrams and photos

Copper parts are concentrated in three key components of the refrigerator:

1. Compressor — the “heart” of the system. Contains a winding of copper wire (up to 1.5 kg in older models) and tubes for freon circulation.
2. Condenser —grid on the back wall (in modern models it can be hidden under a plastic case). It consists of copper tubes with aluminum fins.
3. Evaporator —located inside the chamber (behind the plastic panel). In models No Frost the evaporator is often aluminum, but the supply tubes are copper.

Below is a table with the approximate copper content in different types of refrigerators:

In refrigerators No Frost copper is often hidden under a layer of thermal insulation or plastic. For example, in models Samsung RB-30 the capacitor is integrated into the side walls, and access to it is possible only after removing the inner lining. In old "ZIL" copper, on the contrary, lies almost on the surface - just unscrew the back cover.

How to distinguish a copper tube from an aluminum one?

Copper tubes have a reddish tint, are not magnetic and do not break when bent (unlike aluminum). Copper is also heavier: a tube with a diameter of 6 mm weighs about 150 g per meter, and aluminum - 3 times less.

3. Step-by-step disassembly: from the compressor to the evaporator

Let's start with the most valuable unit - compressor. It is located at the bottom of the refrigerator and is attached to the frame using spring shock absorbers. Procedure:

1. Disconnect start relay (black box on the compressor) - it is secured with latches or one bolt.
2. Have a bite with a pipe cutter suction and discharge tubes (6-10 mm thick) at a distance of 10-15 cm from the compressor. Do not use an angle grinder - sparks can ignite the residue oil!
3. Unscrew the 4 bolts securing the compressor to the frame. In some models (for example Indesit TLA 16), the bolts may be hidden under a plastic cover.
4. Remove the compressor and drain the oil into a prepared container. The oil can be taken along with the crowbar or used to lubricate tools.

Now let's move on to condenser. In older refrigerators it is located at the back and is a coil made of copper tube with aluminum fins. To remove it:

Disconnect the refrigerator from the mains for at least 12 hours|

Unscrew the screws securing the rear panel|

Carefully bend the aluminum ribs with pliers|

Cut the tubes with a pipe cutter in 2-3 places for easy removal|

Clean the copper from solder and paint with sandpaper -->

The most difficult stage is extracting copper from evaporator. In models with a drip system, the evaporator is located on the rear wall of the chamber and is covered with a plastic panel. B No Frost he is hidden behind the freezer. To access:

1. Remove all shelves and drawers.
2. Remove the internal lining (it is attached to plastic clips or screws under the decorative plugs).
3. Having found the evaporator, cut through the supply tubes. Be careful - freon may remain in them!
4. If the evaporator is aluminum, separate the copper tubes (they are usually soldered to the collector).

⚠️ Attention: In refrigerators No Frost the evaporator is often covered with a layer of ice even after being turned off. Before disassembling, allow the equipment to thaw for at least 48 hours, otherwise you risk damaging the tubes due to mechanical impact.

4. Copper processing: cleaning, cutting, sorting

The extracted copper must be prepared for delivery. Scrap collection points divide non-ferrous metal into several categories:

• 🔹 Pure copper (tubes without paint and solder) - the most expensive.
• 🔹 Copper with solder (with traces of soldering) - the price is 10–15% lower.
• 🔹 Copper scrap with coating (painted or varnished tubes) - discount up to 30%.
• 🔹 Radiators (capacitors with aluminum fins) - accepted at the price of aluminum or as mixed scrap.

For maximum profit:

1. Remove solder with a soldering iron or grinder (but do not overheat the copper - it may oxidize).
2. Clean the paint from the tubes with a solvent (White spirit) or sandpaper.
3. Cut the long tubes into pieces of 30–50 cm - this makes them easier to transport and weigh.
4. Sort the copper by purity: separately clean tubes, separately with solder, radiators separately.

Modern collection points are often used X-ray fluorescence analyzers to determine the composition of the metal. If more than 2% impurities (lead, tin) are found in your copper, the price will automatically decrease. Therefore, thorough cleaning is the key to good earnings.

5. Legal nuances: how not to run into a fine

In 2026, the disassembly of refrigerators is regulated by several regulations:

• 📜 Federal Law No. 89-FZ ("On production and consumption waste") - obliges the delivery of refrigerators only to licensed recycling points.
• 📜 Government Decree No. 1043 —establishes the rules for handling ozone-depleting substances (including freon).
• 📜 Regional acts —in some regions (for example, Moscow) there are additional requirements for the transportation of household appliances.

To avoid problems:

1. Before disassembling conclude an agreement with a scrap collection point for recycling the refrigerator. The document must indicate that you are handing over the equipment “for disassembly with extraction of non-ferrous metals.”
2. If you plan to hand over only copper and throw away the rest of the parts, get it recycling act from a licensed company. This will save you from the claims of environmentalists.
3. Transport copper and the remains of the refrigerator separately. There should be no mixing of scrap metal and household waste in the car.

⚠️ Attention: If you hand over copper from 10 or more refrigerators, collection points are required to request from you documents on the origin of the metal (checks, contracts). In the absence of papers, scrap may be confiscated as possible stolen property.

In some regions they are valid recycling subsidy programs. For example, in St. Petersburg, when you return an old refrigerator to special points, you can get a discount of up to 10,000 rubles on the purchase of new equipment. Check the current conditions on the website of the local housing and communal services department.

6. How much can you earn: copper prices in 2026

The cost of scrap copper depends on several factors:

• 💰 Metal purity - clean tubes without solder are 20-30% more expensive.
• 💰 Volume of delivery - wholesale quantities (from 50 kg) are accepted at increased rates.
• 💰 Region —in industrial cities (Ekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk) prices are higher than in rural areas.
• 💰 Seasonality —in autumn and winter, the demand for copper falls, and in the spring (before the construction season) it grows.

Current prices for copper at receiving points (as of March 2026):

For comparison: in 2026, the average price for pure copper was 650–750 rubles per kg. The growth is associated with an increase in demand for non-ferrous metals in the electrical industry. However, experts predict a price correction in the second half of 2026 due to the introduction of new scrap processing facilities in China.

In addition to copper, other valuable materials can be extracted from the refrigerator:

• 🔋 Aluminum (condenser fins, baskets) - 80–120 rubles/kg.
• ⚙️ Steel (body, shelves) - 15–30 rubles/kg.
• 🖥️ Electronics (control boards) - up to 500 rubles per piece (depending on the model).

7. Alternative methods for extracting copper: when disassembling is impractical

Disassembling the refrigerator is not always justified. In some cases it is more profitable:

1. Sell the entire refrigerator for spare parts. On Avito or Yula working compressors from old "Saratov" or "Donbass" are sold for 1,500–3,000 rubles, and evaporators - for 800–1,200 rubles.
2. Recycle the refrigerator with payment of compensation. Some companies (for example, "EkoLom") offer up to 1,000 rubles for equipment, even if it does not work.
3. Use copper for household needs. For example, from tubes you can make homemade heat exchangers for a sauna stove or coils for an induction heater.

If the refrigerator was released before 1990, disassembly may be dangerous due to:

• 🔥 Use of ammonia refrigerants (explosive in contact with air).
• ☢️ Application asbestos seals in doors (carcinogen).
• ⚡ Increased risk corrosion tubes (may burst during dismantling).

In such cases, it is better to turn to professionals. For example, a company "UtilService" offers a service "disassembly for key" —for 1,500–2,500 rubles they will dismantle the refrigerator, remove the copper and take away the remains for disposal.

8. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced “lomoviki” make mistakes that lead to loss of time or money. The most common:

1. Attempting to cut the tubes with a grinder — this leads to copper melting and weight loss. Use only a pipe cutter!
2. Ignoring freon residues —if you do not bleed off the gas before cutting, the tubes may “shoot out” fragments.
3. Mixing copper with other metals —reception points only pay for pure metal.
4. Disassembly without a respirator —dust from thermal insulation (fiberglass) is dangerous for the lungs.
5. Storing copper in a damp room —it oxidizes and the price drops.

Another typical problem is inability to distinguish copper from brass. Brass parts (for example, fittings in some Lieberts) are similar in appearance to copper, but weigh less and have a yellowish tint. Brass is accepted at a price of 300–400 rubles/kg, which is 2 times cheaper.

How to check copper for authenticity?

Apply a drop of vinegar to the tube. If after 5 minutes a green coating appears, it is copper. Brass and other alloys do not oxidize so quickly.

If you disassemble the refrigerator No Frost, be prepared for the fact that some of the tubes may be aluminum (especially in models Samsung and LG after 2015). To avoid mistakes, use a magnet test: copper is not magnetic, aluminum is not either, but aluminum tubes are usually thinner (3–4 mm) and softer.

⚠️ Attention: In refrigerators Bosch i Siemens s system VitaFresh part of the evaporator can be made of stainless steel. It can easily be confused with aluminum, but steel is magnetic and weighs significantly more.

Finally, do not forget about logistics. If you don't have a car, transporting 50kg of copper on public transport can cost more than the copper itself. Many collection points offer a home delivery service, but charge a commission of 10–15% of the cost of scrap.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to disassemble a refrigerator outside in winter?

Technically possible, but not recommended. At temperatures below -10°C, copper becomes brittle and the tubes may burst when cut. In addition, freon in the refrigerator at sub-zero temperatures turns into liquid, which increases the risk of leakage during dismantling. Optimal temperature for disassembly: +10°C to +25°C.

Which refrigerator is more profitable to disassemble: Soviet or modern?

In terms of the amount of copper, Soviet models are more profitable (ZIL, Minsk, Biryusa) - they contain up to 3.8 kg of copper versus 1.2–1.8 kg in modern ones. However, disassembling Soviet refrigerators is more difficult due to corrosion of the bolts and the use of ammonia refrigerants. If you do not have experience, it is better to start with refrigerators from 1990–2005 (Atlant, Stinol) - they contain enough copper and are easier to dismantle.

What to do if gas comes out of it when cutting a tube?

Stop work immediately, open the windows and leave the room for 30–60 minutes. Freon is heavier than air, so do not bend over the tube. If the gas has a strong odor (reminiscent of garlic or rotten eggs), this may be ammonia - in this case, call the Ministry of Emergency Situations. After airing, rinse the tube with soapy water to neutralize any remaining refrigerant.

How long does it take to disassemble one refrigerator?

The time depends on the model and your experience:

• Soviet single-chamber (ZIL-63) - 1.5–2 hours.
• Two-chamber 1990–2005 (Atlant) - 2.5–3.5 hours.
• No Frost (Samsung, LG) - 4-6 hours (due to the difficulty of access to the evaporator).
• Side-by-Side (Bosch, Liebert) - 5-8 hours (requiring dismantling of electronics).

When disassembling a batch of 5-10 refrigerators, the time for one is reduced by 20-30% due to acquired skills.

Is it possible to return the refrigerator without disassembling and get money for the copper?

Yes, some scrap collection points offer the service “disassembly on site” - they will remove the copper themselves and pay you for it, but at a reduced price (minus 30–50% for the work). An alternative is to hand over the refrigerator to companies that recycle household appliances (for example "EcoService"). They will pay a fixed amount (usually 500–1,500 rubles) for the equipment, and extract the copper and sell it themselves. This is less profitable, but safe and legal.