[20anonymous08]

Hi all... well I just moved into a new house... come to find out the laundry room only has standard 110 outlets and a gas 'connector'. Problem is my 5 month old dryer has the 4 prong 220v plug. I am trying to see what is involved in getting it rewired for a 220v outlet. Does it need to have all new wiring and an outlet? Or a matter of changing out the outlet to a 220v.

Also, anyone have any thoughs or guess-timates of what it would cost to have the location rewired for a 220? Are gas dryers expensive? I mean I really want to stay away from having to buy a new gas operated dryer when I just bought this one not to long ago. But at the same time I am looking for the most cost effective way because we don't have a ton of money to spend. Thanks in advance for any and all info you can give me.

[Matt E]

Short answer is you need a new breaker and a new circuit run. Cost would depend on the length and difficult of the run from your electric panel to your dryer location, and it may well be cheaper to just buy a gas dryer, especially if you can sell your electric dryer used and recover some of the cost.

As an FYI, A dryer will run on a much higher amp circuit and need a thicker gauge wire run for it than say an air compressor running on 220. It is physically possible to use existing wiring (assuming it's all up to code) to turn a 110 circuit into a 220 circuit, but it's a bad idea in a remodel situation (you never know what else could be on that same circuit), and it would not be able to handle the current for an electric dryer regardless.

[stanfortyman]

The main problem is the existing circuit is likely a 20A wired with #12. It is also a 120v circuit.

An electric dryer requires a 120/240v circuit, it's not simply a "220" circuit. It also requires 30 amps wired with at least #10.

[donf]

The house is set for a gas dryer, not electric. Gas dryers use 120 VAC.

To rewire is a major undertaking. First, you will need two adjacent ports on your Circuit panel. You will need a 30 Amp (assuming that is what your dryer needs) circuit breaker that is a Dual Pole breaker, single throw. Next, you will need a (4) four wire #10/3 AWG cable** from your main panel to the outlet box for the dryer. You will need to size the box so that it is large enough to accept the connections to the 50 amp dryer receptacle. Then you will need a face plate to cover the receptacle and outlet box.

Finally, you should consider having the gas to the dryer capped off outside the laundry room.

Or you could just get a new gas dryer!

** Corrected brain lapse. Thanks Stan.

[stanfortyman]

You will need a 30 Amp (assuming that is what your dryer needs) circuit breaker that is a Dual Pole breaker, single throw. Next, you will need a (4) four wire #8 AWG cable from your main panel to the outlet box for the dryer. You will need to size the box so that it is large enough to accept the connections to the 50 amp dryer receptacle.

Don, you are correct that a typical electric dryer requires a 30A circuit. This would normally be wired with #10CU, 10/3NM is typical, and a 30A 4-wire dryer receptacle.