Kitchen Remodel Appliance Removal in Boise: When to Clear Out

It's easy to end up with a brand new refrigerator sitting in the garage, still in its plastic wrap and parked next to the lawn mower, while the old one keeps humming away in the kitchen. The delivery truck beats everyone to the punch, and the new fridge just sits out there until there's room for it.

That's the timing problem we run into most with appliance removal in Boise during a kitchen remodel. Nobody plans the order. So here's how we'd plan it if it were our own kitchen.

The order nobody tells you about

Most people put their energy into picking cabinets, counters and new appliances. Makes sense. That's the fun part.

What gets skipped is the boring question of when the old stuff leaves. It matters more than you'd think, because a kitchen only has so much floor.

The order that usually works goes like this. The old appliances come out first, then your contractor does demo and cabinets.

The new appliances show up last, after the counters are set and the floors are done. Why wait? Because new appliances get scratched and dented sitting in a work zone, and a stainless fridge door looks a lot less shiny after three weeks next to a tile saw.

When to book kitchen appliance removal in Boise

Short answer: a few days before your contractor starts demo. Not the morning of, and not three weeks ahead.

Book too early and you're living without a fridge or stove longer than you need to. Book too late and the remodel crew ends up working around a range sitting in the middle of the floor. Some will move it for you, but most would rather not.

We start with a free on-site estimate. We look at what's going, how it gets out of the house and whether anything needs disconnecting.

So what does it cost? That depends on how many appliances there are and how much work it takes to get them out, and you get a firm price at the estimate before anything is touched. Then we pick a day that lines up with your contractor's schedule.

The removal itself goes fast. How long a full kitchen takes, say a fridge, range, dishwasher and an over-the-range microwave, depends on how they're hooked up and how clear the path out of the house is.

We can sometimes do same-day pickup. For a remodel, though, it's smarter to lock in a date so you, your contractor and our crew are all on the same page.

Tip: Ask your contractor what day demo starts, then book your appliance pickup one or two days before that. Empty the fridge and freezer the night before so they can drain and dry out. Otherwise you'll get a puddle on the floor the second they're tipped onto a dolly.

What has to happen before anything comes out

This is where a kitchen is different from hauling one old washer out of a garage. Almost everything in there is hooked up to something.

The fridge might have an ice maker line. The dishwasher is tied into the water supply and the drain, and it's usually screwed to the underside of the counter. An over-the-range microwave is bolted to a wall bracket and the cabinet above it.

Then there's the range. An electric one is just a big plug.

Gas is different. That line has to be shut off and capped properly, and we'll talk it through with you at the estimate. If it needs a licensed pro, we'll tell you straight. Nobody should guess on a gas line.

Older homes come with their own surprises. In Boise's North End and some of the older neighborhoods in Caldwell, it's not unusual to find shutoff valves that won't budge and dishwashers that were installed before the flooring went in, so they're basically trapped.

Better to find that out at the estimate than on remodel day.

Living without a kitchen for a while

Once the old appliances are gone, you'll be cooking somewhere else for a bit. How long is up to your contractor, not us.

Some people keep the old fridge running in the garage until the new one is hooked up, then have us come back for it. That's a solid plan, especially in July when a cooler full of melted ice gets old fast.

We're happy to do it that way. Just know a second trip can cost a little more than one, since our price is based on the work involved.

A camp kitchen in the laundry room with a toaster oven and a microwave can get you through the first few days just fine. The longer it stretches, the more you'll be sick of sandwiches, so build that into your timeline.

Where old appliances go after a Boise removal

People ask us this one a lot. Is it all headed to the Ada County landfill?

Usually not. A fridge or range pulled out during a remodel is often in decent shape, since people tend to upgrade for looks rather than because something broke.

Those can often be donated to someone who needs them. Worn-out units get recycled for the metal, and fridges and freezers get their refrigerant handled the right way first.

Honestly, it's one of the better parts of this job. The range we pull out of your kitchen in Nampa might be cooking dinner for a family in Kuna next month.

The bottom line

Don't let the old appliances be an afterthought. Get them out a day or two before demo and sort out the gas and water hookups ahead of time. The new stuff can wait until the dust settles.

Whoever handles it, getting the timing right will save you a lot of headaches.

If you're remodeling a kitchen anywhere in the Treasure Valley and want a firm price on clearing out the old appliances, give us a call at (208) 279-8636. We'll come take a look, no pressure.