Dryer cord

[busterbrown16]

Does anyone have any thoughts on how difficult it is to switch out a dryer cord? I bought a house and the outlet for the dryer is different than the plug I have in my current dryer. I talked with a guy at Lowe's and he told me that it is easier to switch out the dryer cord and pointed out the cord that I would need (50-Amp Range Cord). Anyone have any good advice before I undertake this task? Has anyone ever done this before?

 

[HornBred]

I've done it despite my policy of not touching electricity. Here's what you need:

1 new dryer cord
1 phillips head screwdriver
5 minutes

Just remember to hook up your ground wire (the green one). Piece of cake.

 

[Sasquatch69]

What HornBred said, but I would also add that you need to make sure your dryer voltage and the plug voltage are identical. The dryer is probably 220VAC, so check the plug to be sure that matches. Last thing you want to do is burn up the dryer or catch the plug on fire.

 

[NickDanger]

On the DIY scale, I'd rate it at about a 1 with 10 being the hardest. It's not much more difficult than changing the batteries in a gameboy.

 

[ths71]

THE LINK

 

[busterbrown16]

I appreciate the responses. I was a little unsure because someone who has a lot more knowledge than me told me it was easier to replace the outlet then the cord, but when I went to replace the outlet it was WAY too complicated. Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[NickDanger]

I don't mean to sound condescending, but if you can't change the outlet, you can't change the cord either.

 

[busterbrown16]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion. People with a lot more knowledge than me said that replacing the outlet is much more complicated then replacing the cord.

I did not say I could not do it. I just took a look and it looked like something that could take quite a while to do, when there had to be easier options.

 

[NickDanger]

Sorry to be negative, but replacing an outlet involves the removal of three machine screws, the loosening and retightening of four and the replacement of said 3 machine screws. If that shook your confidence, you will probably be more challenged by the replacement of the cord which involves moving the dryer around. Probably removing part of the casing, but certainly the loosening of a clamp securing the cord, a metal cover housing the cord, 4 screws if not wirenuts, electrical tape perhaps, etc. It's a tad more complicated.

Hey, this stuff just doesn't interest everybody and not everybody has the confidence to do it. Without ever having met, I KNOW you can do it, but felt that if replacing the outlet seemed uncomfortable to you, then the cord would be uncomfortable as well. If not more so.

It's not a vote of "no confidence" in your ability. It's just that the cord isn't going to be remarkably easier. I didn't intend to be insulting. Like I said, not everybody enjoys or has the interest to do this stuff.

 

[busterbrown16]

I could be wrong, but that does not sound like all it takes to replace the outlet. The current outlet does not fit the cord for the dryer. At the very least, I know it would take shutting off the breaker and involve some reconnection of wires once I had removed the outlet that is on the wall right now.

 

[NickDanger]

When I said it involved loosening some screws, that was in reference to the 2 hot wires, the neutral and the ground wire screws that held the wires onto the outlet. The outlet itself is screwed into the box with two machine screws that will need to be removed and the outlet has a cover that needs to be removed. I misspoke in that it probably has 2 machine screws that hold the little plastic cover in place. A standard duplex receptable only has one.

There are outlets that have metal covers with the outlet attached to the metal cover so there is the distinct possibility that it would entail the removal of only 2, instead of four, machine screws.

Tripping the breaker is of course a given, but it's not a task that I would consider to be terribly complicated.

If you want to replace the outlet and want someone to walk you through it step by step, blow by blow, give us a time and I'm sure that there are plenty of compatriots that will be happy to do so online right here. I'd be happy to if I am around.

You CAN replace the outlet. You will need a regular and a phillips head screwdriver and you will probably be glad if you had a pair of needlenose pliers. Tell us when you plan to get started and I'm sure you can be guided through it.