Average Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance) Price

Market baseline. Local prices last verified on 3/22/2026.
$0.24/ lb +$0.03 (20%)
Use this as a baseline for negotiations. Always call local yards to confirm their rate for your load size.GT = Gross Ton (2240 lbs)
Avg: $0.24
Lowest price $0.18
Highest price$0.18Who pays the most? ⟶

National high for this grade: $0.30 / lb.

How to read scrap yard offers in Chicago Heights

The min/max range reflects a blended index (local + national data). Your local high may be lower.

  • Low (around $0.18): Floor price, typically for small loads.
  • Mid ($0.24): A fair deal for standard quantities.
  • High ($0.18+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
52-week price range
Over the past year, prices ranged from $0.19 to $2.99.
Apr '25Jul '25Oct '25Jan '26Today
Market response to COMEX pricing
Current spread vs. exchange (today): ~95.8% (-$5.51 / lb). Typical spread for this grade: 39%–97%
✓ Scrap yards are offering fair market rates
Market snapshot
Stable market. Prices have held steady over the past 6 months.
Pricing verified from 1 live board rates in this area.

Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance) price reference for Chicago Heights, Illinois

Scrap yards in Chicago Heights, Illinois don't always update their prices in real time. To give you a reliable current value, we use the U.S. national average ($0.25 / lb). The secondary metals market tracks exchange moves consistently across the country. Use this national figure as your benchmark when negotiating with local yards. Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance) prices across the U.S. →

Top Yards Buying Sealed Unit Compressors in Chicago Heights, IL

These are scrap yards in Chicago Heights, Illinois that recently updated Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance) prices in our database. Call them to lock in a quote. If your city isn't listed, use the National Index above as a bargaining reference with your nearest buyer.

💼 Scrap yard owners: Post your buy prices and get more customers
By price
By date
Updated 18 days ago

Big Daddy Scrap

Listed as: Compressors
551 E Lincoln Hwy, Chicago Heights, IL 60411 Get Directions
$0.18 / lb

Don't see your scrap yard in Chicago Heights, Illinois? List it for free.

Hundreds of sellers in your area search for current scrap prices every day. Post your buy prices and start getting calls.

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Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance) vs. Other Electric Motors Scrap Prices in Chicago Heights, Illinois

See the exact price difference between Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance) and similar grades like Automotive Alternators or Copper Transformers. Compare the current rates per pound below to ensure you get the maximum payout for your sorted scrap.

Current price Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance)
Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance) Based on 1 scrap yard
Avg price:$0.24 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Automotive Alternators Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.46 / lb
Trend (90d): +15.0%
Price analytics
Copper Transformers Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.41 / lb
Trend (6m): -5.6%
Price analytics
Automotive Starters Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.39 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Automotive AC Compressors Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.28 / lb
Trend (90d): +5.5%
Price analytics
Copper Electric Motors Based on 1 scrap yard
Avg price:$0.20 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Light Ballasts & Power Supplies Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.19 / lb
Trend (6m): +9.4%
Price analytics
Scrap Engines & Transmissions Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.15 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Aluminum & Dirty Motors Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.14 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Aluminum & Steel Transformers Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.12 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics

Price Trends: Appliance Compressors

This chart shows where the market is headed. If the line is climbing, prices are rising — you might get a better deal in a few days. If it's dropping, don't wait: sell today before yards lower their buy prices further.

Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)

Avg scrap yard price

$0.24
Scrap metal dealers
Price gap: −$5.51 / lb
vs. exchange

Today's world market price (COMEX)

$5.75 / lb
✓ For 99.9% pure refined metal
💡 Why is the scrap yard price lower than the exchange? The COMEX price is the global benchmark for 99.99% pure refined metal traded in large institutional contracts. The gap between COMEX and what you pocket is the yard's margin — it covers sorting, cleaning, transport to the mill, and protects them against sudden price drops.

Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History

Analyst take: This month's average spread between scrap yard prices and the world market for Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance) is 96.8%. That's in line with the typical range for this grade (94%–100%). Local yards are offering fair market rates. Check offers in your area ↑
PeriodWorld price (per lb)Scrap yard price (per lb)Spread vs. exchange
April 2026 (current)$5.6231 / lb$0.18 / lb−$5.44 (96.8%)
March 2026$5.6775 / lb$2.59 / lb−$3.09 (54.4%)
February 2026$5.8801 / lb$3.53 / lb−$2.35 (40%)
January 2026$5.8949 / lb$3.54 / lb−$2.35 (39.9%)
December 2025$5.4977 / lb$3.30 / lb−$2.20 (40%)
November 2025$5.0640 / lb$3.04 / lb−$2.02 (40%)
October 2025$5.0502 / lb$3.03 / lb−$2.02 (40%)
September 2025$4.6624 / lb$2.80 / lb−$1.86 (39.9%)
August 2025$4.4780 / lb$2.69 / lb−$1.79 (39.9%)
July 2025$5.4826 / lb$3.29 / lb−$2.19 (40%)
June 2025$4.8832 / lb$2.93 / lb−$1.95 (40%)
May 2025$4.6862 / lb$2.81 / lb−$1.88 (40%)
April 2025$4.6543 / lb$2.79 / lb−$1.86 (40.1%)
March 2025$4.9195 / lb$2.95 / lb−$1.97 (40%)
February 2025$4.5581 / lb$2.74 / lb−$1.82 (39.9%)
January 2025$4.2698 / lb$2.56 / lb−$1.71 (40%)
December 2024$4.1579 / lb$2.50 / lb−$1.66 (39.9%)
November 2024$4.1994 / lb$2.52 / lb−$1.68 (40%)
October 2024$4.4318 / lb$2.66 / lb−$1.77 (40%)
September 2024$4.2927 / lb$2.58 / lb−$1.71 (39.9%)
August 2024$4.1218 / lb$2.47 / lb−$1.65 (40.1%)
July 2024$4.3752 / lb$2.63 / lb−$1.75 (39.9%)
June 2024$4.4911 / lb$2.70 / lb−$1.79 (39.9%)
May 2024$4.7547 / lb$2.85 / lb−$1.90 (40.1%)
April 2024$4.3637 / lb$2.62 / lb−$1.74 (40%)
March 2024$3.9836 / lb$2.39 / lb−$1.59 (40%)
February 2024$3.8018 / lb$2.28 / lb−$1.52 (40%)
January 2024$3.8113 / lb$2.29 / lb−$1.52 (39.9%)
December 2023$3.8712 / lb$2.32 / lb−$1.55 (40.1%)
November 2023$3.7208 / lb$2.23 / lb−$1.49 (40.1%)
October 2023$3.6093 / lb$2.17 / lb−$1.44 (39.9%)
September 2023$3.7598 / lb$2.26 / lb−$1.50 (39.9%)
August 2023$3.7761 / lb$2.27 / lb−$1.51 (39.9%)
July 2023$3.8455 / lb$2.31 / lb−$1.54 (39.9%)
June 2023$3.8050 / lb$2.28 / lb−$1.53 (40.1%)
May 2023$3.7515 / lb$2.25 / lb−$1.50 (40%)
April 2023$4.0074 / lb$1.81 / lb−$2.20 (54.8%)
March 2023$4.0282 / lb$2.42 / lb−$1.61 (39.9%)
February 2023$4.0648 / lb$2.44 / lb−$1.62 (40%)
January 2023$4.1151 / lb$2.47 / lb−$1.65 (40%)
December 2022$3.8207 / lb$2.29 / lb−$1.53 (40.1%)
November 2022$3.6740 / lb$2.20 / lb−$1.47 (40.1%)
October 2022$3.4304 / lb$2.06 / lb−$1.37 (39.9%)
September 2022$3.4553 / lb$2.07 / lb−$1.39 (40.1%)
August 2022$3.6165 / lb$2.17 / lb−$1.45 (40%)
July 2022$3.4195 / lb$2.05 / lb−$1.37 (40%)
June 2022$4.1187 / lb$2.47 / lb−$1.65 (40%)
May 2022$4.2573 / lb$2.55 / lb−$1.71 (40.1%)
April 2022$4.6495 / lb$2.79 / lb−$1.86 (40%)
March 2022$4.7077 / lb$2.83 / lb−$1.88 (39.9%)
February 2022$4.5023 / lb$2.70 / lb−$1.80 (40%)
January 2022$4.4320 / lb$2.56 / lb−$1.87 (42.2%)

Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance) Scrap Price History — Daily Data

A day-by-day market snapshot in exact numbers. Every day we aggregate buy prices from local scrap yards, recording the average, low, and high. Use this table to track real price movement over recent days.

DateAvg price (per lb)ChangeRange (Low/High)
$0.18 / lb+$0.03$0.18 – $0.20
4/27/2023 $0.15 / lb— no change$0.15 – $0.15

Maximizing Your Payout on Sealed Unit Compressors

If you are tearing down old refrigerators, freezers, or window AC units, you are going to end up with Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance). These heavy, black steel domes house an electric motor and copper windings inside, making them a dense, high-weight item that yards love to buy. Our data shows that buyers nationwide are currently offering anywhere from $0.20 for standard loads up to $0.30 per pound for clean, sorted pallets. Because a single appliance compressor can easily weigh between 20 and 50 pounds, a quick residential clean-out can yield serious scale weight in a hurry.

The Sorting Guide: Don\'t Get Downgraded

The scale master is moving fast, and if your load isn\'t separated correctly, you are going to leave money on the table. A common rookie mistake is letting the yard toss your compressors in with Aluminum & Steel Transformers or Aluminum & Dirty Motors. If you let them lump your sealed units into a lower-tier transformer category, expect to take a hit of roughly $0.13 per pound. Keep your appliance units strictly separated from other motor scrap, including Automotive AC Compressors, which often fetch a different price entirely (currently trading between $0.25 to $0.32/lb).

Yard Pro Tip: Never waste your time trying to cut open a Sealed Unit Compressor with an angle grinder to get to the copper windings inside. The external steel casing is incredibly thick, heavily welded, and will quickly eat through multiple cutting discs. You will spend more money on ruined blades and wasted hours than the extracted copper is worth. Sell the unit whole and let the buyer\'s industrial shredder do the heavy lifting.

Proper Prep for the Yard

Scrap yards in Chicago Heights have strict rules about environmental hazards. Appliance compressors must have their Freon properly evacuated by a certified HVAC technician before you rip them out of the unit. Furthermore, yards hate massive oil slicks on their concrete. If your compressor has had its lines cut, ensure it isn\'t actively leaking oil all over your truck bed or the yard\'s scale. Wipe them down and plug the holes if necessary. A leaking compressor is a fast track to a rejected load.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current average price for Appliance Compressors?

Right now, the national average is sitting at $0.25 per pound. Because these units contain a mix of copper and heavy steel, their value fluctuates based on base metals traded on the COMEX. You can generally expect yard prices to be about 95.8% below the spot market rate.

Do I need to remove the rubber mounting feet?

While some yards will take them as-is, the best practice is to pop off the rubber mounting grommets and steel brackets if they come off easily. Excessive non-metal attachments can give a picky buyer an excuse to dock your gross weight.

Will yards buy a compressor if the copper lines are cut flush?

Yes, buyers will still take the unit. However, leaving an inch or two of the copper line attached is fine and actually adds a tiny bit of high-value weight to your overall payload.