How to Separate Copper From Aluminum in an Air Conditioner

Take the cover off from the air conditioner and remove as many of the parts that you can pry apart. Each air conditioner is different so some might have covers that screw on while others clip on. Metal salvage companies don't worry about the final looks of a piece of metal or how delicate of a job you do so feel free to saw and shred if you have to get a part disconnected.

Recognize what parts are made from which metals and separate them into separate piles according. The pipes that carry all the fluid are copper, along with the electrical wiring, while the cooling fins and heat exchanger are mostly aluminum. The compressor is mostly iron. Fittings are mostly brass, which has its own recycling value. Cleaning off the metal so that mixed metals are not together in the same piece raises the value of the metal.

Weigh the pieces in your hands for a quick judgment of what type of metal it is. Aluminum is lightweight and a magnet does not stick to it. Some steel inside the cover is coated with copper but weighs more than pure copper does. It may also attract a magnet. Stainless steel often does not attract magnets but is heavier than the other metals for its size.