Scrap buyers, Delhi NCR
Key points
- ACs are bought per unit, not per kilo — the copper coil drives the price.
- A non-working unit is worth nearly the same as a working one of the same tonnage.
- Refrigerant must be recovered, not vented. Ask any buyer how they handle the gas.
- Uninstallation should be free when the buyer is purchasing the unit.
An air conditioner is, from a scrap point of view, four things: a copper heat exchanger, an aluminium fin block, a compressor, and a sheet-metal shell. The copper is worth most of the money and it does not correlate neatly with how big the box looks, which is why ACs are priced per unit rather than by weight.
Why per unit and not per kilo
Two 1.5-ton units of the same age can differ by several kilos in shell weight while holding almost identical copper. Weight-based pricing would pay more for the heavier shell — which is the cheapest part of the machine. Per-unit pricing, based on tonnage and type, tracks the actual recoverable value far more closely.
It also means the condition of the casing barely matters. A rusted, dented window unit and a clean one of the same tonnage are usually within a few hundred rupees of each other.
What units typically fetch
| Type | Typical weight | Indicative value |
|---|---|---|
| Window AC, 1–1.5 ton | 35–48 kg | ₹2,400 – 3,600 |
| Split AC, 1–2 ton (both units + piping) | 40–60 kg | ₹2,600 – 4,200 |
| Split AC, outdoor unit only | 28–40 kg | ₹1,800 – 2,700 |
| Cassette / ductable, 2 ton up | 60–120 kg | ₹3,800 – 9,500 |
| Refrigerator / deep freezer | 30–90 kg | ₹900 – 3,200 |
Keeping the copper interconnecting piping with a split unit matters — it is several metres of copper tube and it materially affects the figure. Do not let an installer keep it as a matter of course.
Working versus dead
People are often surprised that a completely dead AC is worth close to a working one. The reason is that scrap value is about materials, and a seized compressor still contains the same copper windings.
Where it changes is resale. A working unit of a recent model from a recognised brand may have genuine second-hand value well above scrap — sometimes double. Any buyer worth using will tell you when that is the case rather than quietly buying a serviceable machine at scrap price.
The refrigerant question
R22, R32 and R410A must be recovered into cylinders using a recovery machine, not vented into the air. R22 in particular is an ozone-depleting substance regulated under India's Ozone Depleting Substances Rules, and releasing it is an offence.
Beyond the legal position, venting simply wastes something that has value. Asking a prospective buyer how they handle the gas is a good proxy question — the answer tells you quickly whether you are dealing with an operation that follows any rules at all.
Selling several units at once
Hotels, offices, hospitals and buildings replacing an entire floor's cooling generate dozens of units in one go, and the buy-back is worth real money against the new installation cost.
Two things help. First, coordinate the removal with the new installation so old units come out as new ones go in, rather than stacking dead machines in a corridor for a month. Second, get the buy-back quoted before you sign the installation contract — some HVAC contractors will offer to "dispose of" the old units as part of their scope, which means they are taking the buy-back value and you are not seeing it.
Questions
Will you buy an AC that does not cool?
Yes, and the price is close to a working unit of the same tonnage. Scrap value comes from the copper coil, compressor and metal, not from performance. A seized unit is still worth calling about.
Do I need to remove the AC myself before selling?
No. Any buyer purchasing the unit should uninstall it free — recovering the gas, taking down the bracket and leaving the wall tidy. If someone quotes a removal charge on top of buying your unit, that is worth questioning.
Is the copper piping included in a split AC price?
It should be, and it matters — several metres of copper tube is a meaningful part of the value. Make sure the piping is part of what you are selling rather than being kept by whoever does the removal.
What about a central AC plant or chiller?
Those are quoted after a site survey rather than from a list, because access, rigging and crane requirements vary enormously. They are dismantling projects with a buy-back attached rather than simple pickups, and the values involved are substantially higher.
