How do I verify an aluminium radiator's copper content isn't being under-assessed by the buyer?
Short answer: Ask for the radiator to be weighed and assessed in front of you, since most radiators mix aluminium fins/tanks with copper tubing (or vice versa) and the split materially changes the blended price. If a buyer won't show you how they're estimating the copper-to-aluminium ratio, ask for it to be dismantled and weighed as two separate piles instead of accepting one blended guess.
Skip the phone calls. List your aluminium scrap once and let verified buyers on ScrapTrade come to you with real offers.
List Free →Why radiators are priced as a mix, not one metal
Automotive and HVAC radiators can be all-aluminium (most modern cars), copper/brass (older vehicles), or a mixed construction — aluminium core with copper or brass end tanks. The value swings enormously depending on which type you actually have, since copper is worth several times more than aluminium by weight.
The dismantling option
The only way to get full, accurate value is to strip the radiator into its separate metal piles yourself, or have the buyer do it in front of you and weigh each pile separately. A blended guess from an intact radiator almost always favours the buyer, since it is harder for you to dispute a single combined number after the fact.
What to ask before accepting a blended price
Ask what percentage split they are assuming, and whether they will show you a test — a magnet check for steel end tanks, visual identification for copper versus aluminium tube — to justify it. A vague answer is a sign the estimate is conservative in the buyer’s favour.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
For higher-value mixed items like radiators, listing on ScrapTrade with a photo showing the core and end tank construction lets buyers who specialise in radiator breakdown bid a fairer split price, rather than a single generalist yard’s blended guess.
Ready to sell or source aluminium scrap without the guesswork? ScrapTrade connects verified buyers and sellers with escrow-protected payments and transparent weighing.
List or Find Aluminium Scrap on ScrapTrade →