Whether it’s a seized screw compressor in a plant room or a pile of old fridge compressors in an engineer’s van, broken compressors are often treated as waste. They shouldn’t be. Most of them are worth money.
This guide explains why compressors have scrap value, what affects the price, and what you need to do before scrapping refrigeration and air conditioning units.
Why compressors are worth more than general scrap
A compressor is mostly metal. The body and casing are usually steel or cast iron, and the electric motor inside contains copper windings. Copper is one of the most valuable common scrap metals, so a compressor is worth more per kilo than mixed steel.
Some compressors also contain aluminium parts, and larger industrial units can have reusable components, such as motors, controllers and airends, that are worth more than their weight in metal.
Types of scrap compressor
| Type | Where they come from | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hermetic compressors | Domestic and commercial fridges, small AC units | Sealed units; small but plentiful |
| Semi-hermetic compressors | Cold rooms, commercial refrigeration | Larger and heavier, with more copper |
| Scroll and rotary compressors | Air conditioning and heat pumps | Common in HVAC replacements |
| Industrial air compressors | Factories and workshops | May have parts value as well as scrap |
| Diesel compressors | Construction and plant hire | Engine and airend may be reusable |
What affects scrap compressor prices?
- Metal prices: copper and steel prices change daily, so scrap compressor prices do too.
- Size and weight: a domestic fridge compressor weighs only a few kilos, while large semi-hermetic units can weigh well over 100kg.
- Quantity: a bulk load is more cost-effective to collect and process than a single small unit.
- Oil and refrigerant: properly drained and degassed compressors are easier to process and usually worth more.
- Reusable parts: if anything can be reused, the compressor may be worth more than scrap.
Because prices move so often, any figure you see online may already be out of date. The best way to get an accurate price is to send a buyer the type, quantity and photos.
Refrigeration and AC compressors: the refrigerant rules
Refrigeration and air conditioning compressors can contain refrigerant gases, often called F-gases, along with compressor oil. In the UK, refrigerant must be recovered by an F-gas certified engineer before equipment is scrapped. Deliberately releasing refrigerant into the atmosphere is illegal.
If you’re an HVAC or refrigeration engineer, recovering refrigerant is normally part of replacing a compressor. If you’re a business with old equipment, use a certified engineer before arranging collection. Reputable scrap buyers will ask for confirmation that units have been degassed.
Scrap or sell: how to tell
Not every broken compressor is scrap. An industrial air compressor with one fault, such as a failed motor or a controller issue, may be worth repairing and reselling. That’s usually worth far more than its metal value. Our guide to what a used air compressor is worth explains how working and repairable units are valued.
As a rule of thumb: if it’s an industrial unit from a known brand and the fault is limited, ask for a resale price first. If it’s a small sealed fridge or AC compressor, it will almost always be priced as scrap.
How to get the best price for scrap compressors
- Collect them together: a bulk load is worth more than odd units.
- Keep them separate from mixed scrap, so they’re priced as compressors, not general steel.
- Make sure refrigerant has been recovered and keep the paperwork.
- Drain oil safely if you can dispose of it properly, or tell the buyer it’s still in.
- Ask about regular collections if you replace compressors often.
You can sell your scrap compressors to us, from a single industrial unit to regular bulk loads.
Frequently asked questions
Are old fridge compressors worth anything?
Yes. Fridge compressors contain copper windings and steel, so they have scrap value, especially in bulk. The refrigerant must be recovered by a certified engineer first.
Why do scrap compressor prices change?
Because they follow metal prices, particularly copper and steel, which move with global markets every day.
Can I cut open a compressor to get the copper out?
It isn’t recommended. Compressors can contain oil and refrigerant under pressure, and cutting them open is dangerous. Selling them whole is safer and usually simpler.
Do you need paperwork to scrap AC compressors?
Reputable buyers will want confirmation that the refrigerant has been recovered by an F-gas certified engineer. Keep the engineer’s records with the units.
Get a price for your scrap compressors
Tell us what you have and how many. Find out more about how we buy scrap compressors, or see all the compressors we buy on our sell your compressor homepage.
Selling a working diesel unit as well? Read what affects the price of a diesel compressor.