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Can You Use an Extension Cord for a Dryer? (Quick Answers)

An extension cord comes in handy in many different situations. It is great at connecting electrical appliances to the main electricity line. But extension cords are not equally compatible with all electrical appliances. Today, we are going to discuss and find out whether one can use an extension cord for a dryer or not.

Using an extension cord for a dryer

It is not recommended by experts to use an extension cord for a dryer. However, one can still manage to do so by taking some precautions. Low gauge extension cord has to be used for the electric dryers and high gauge extension cord for the gas dryers.

Let’s look at some different types of dryer and see if you can use an extension cord for them.

Tumble dryer:

Tumble dryer is very popular among the users for many reasons. First of all, tumble dryer is incredibly good at drying clothes. The fast drying time of tumble dryers proves their ability. People face problems when it comes to drying their clothes after washing. Tumble dryer can be a great solution to this problem.

Along with the fast drying time, the amount of clothes a tumble dryer is able to dry at a time is also noteworthy. Additionally, a tumble dryer is also known for its tendency to save energy. But it does not mean it is safe to use an extension cord for a tumble dryer. Lots of precautions need to be taken in order to use an extension cord for the tumble dryer.

First of all, you will have to use a ten or twelve gauge extension cord for your tumble dryer. Because a ten or a twelve gauge extension cord is capable enough of handling the energy that runs through it. Another important thing to remember here is that the length of the cable attached to the extension cord has to be short in order to be used for a tumble dryer.

You can not use any extension cord you like for your tumble dryer. Because using a random extension cord without taking the risks into account can possibly cause fire related accidents. Incompetent extension cords will catch fire when they are attached to a tumble dryer. But a competent one will be able to supply electricity to the tumble dryer and help the tumble dryer to perform its actions.

Electric dryer:

An electric dryer does not take too much time to dry your laundry. But the important thing to remember here is that an electric dryer consumes a lot of energy in the form of electricity.

That is why it is not safe to plug an electric dryer into an extension cord. An electric dryer should be directly plugged into a two hundred and twenty volt outlet. Using an extension cord for an electric dryer is a risky practice. Many things can happen as a result of plugging an electric dryer into an extension cord.

First of all, an electric dryer plugged into an extension cord can cause the extension cord to overheat. The overheated extension cord can then start a fire which will be difficult to put out. That is why the cable of the extension cord you are going to usr for the electric dryer needs to be very thick.

Thin extension cord does not have any chance of standing up against the massive amount of electricity flowing through it to the electric dryer. You will also need to make sure that the length of the extension cord is not unnecessarily long.

The extension cord needs to be attached to a two hundred and twenty volt outlet. Otherwise, it will not be able to carry electricity to the electric dryer safely. The safety of you and your home must not be compromised while using an extension cord for a dryer.

Can you use a 220 extension cord for a dryer?

Whether you can use a 220v extension cord for a dryer depends on the type of the dryer. For example, a gas dryer does not require a 220v extension cord as it is not used to drawing up a lot of electricity. An 110v extension cord will be more than suitable for a gas dryer.

But a 220v extension cord is a must have item for an electric dryer. An electric dryer has to be connected to a 220v outlet. If the 220v outlet is too far from the electric outlet, then the best thing you can do is use a 220v extension cord between the outlet and the electric dryer.

What happens if you use an extension cord for a dryer?

There are a lot of things that can happen if you use an extension cord for a dryer. Let’s discuss in detail about some of the outcomes.

Overheating issue:

The first consequence of using am extension cord for a dryer is the overheating issue. It is no surprise that the extension cord might overheat after being connected to the dryer. The reason behind this is that a dryer is a high energy consuming electrical appliance. Extension cords are not designed to handle the high amount of electricity flowing through to a dryer.

If you use a high gauge extension cord for a dryer, then the electricity flowing through it will cause the extension cord’s cable to overheat due to its thinness. A thick extension cord must be used in this case.

Fire related accidents:

A incompatible extension cord might not stop at overheating. It can go on to cause fire related accidents when it is attached long enough to the dryer. Electric dryers are in more danger of creating fire related accidents than gas dryers. Because the amount of electricity flowing to the electric dryers is larger than that of the gas dryers.

Can run smoothly:

If you manage to use a compatible extension cord for your dryer, then the dryer will run smoothly without causing any problem. Most of the times, a twelve or a ten gauge extension cord goes well along with an electric dryer. On the other hand, a sixteen gauge extension cord is more than enough for a gas dryer. The length of the extension cord cable needs to be short as well for optimum result.

What extension cord do I need for the dryer?

What extension cord you need for the dryer depends on a lot of things. First of all, a gas dryer and an electric dryer will not need the same type of extension cord. You can get away with using a sixteen gauge extension cord for a gas dryer. But you can not use the same sixteen gauge extension cord for an electric dryer. The gauge size of the extension cord needed for an electric dryer has to be ten or twelve gauge.

Additionally, you will need to use an 110v extension cord for a gas dryer due to the lower amount of electricity drawn by the gas dryer. On the other hand, a 220v extension cord would be sufficient for an electric dryer as it is known for using a huge amount of electricity.

What gauge extension cord do I need for a dryer? How to measure?

Measuring the gauge of the extension cord needed for a dryer might seem like a difficult task if you have no prior experience regarding the matter. However, there are some steps and methods you can take to accomplish the task. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them.

The type of dryer:

The first thing you will need to consider while measuring the gauge of the extension cord is the type of dryer you are working with. A gas dryer will require a higher gauge extension cord. Higher gauge means thinner extension cord cable. But an electric dryer will require a lower gauge extension cord.

That is why experts suggest using a sixteen gauge extension cord for the gas dryers and a ten/a twelve gauge extension cord for the electric dryers.

Length of the extension cord cable:

The length of the extension cord cable can be used to measure the gauge needed for a dryer. A long extension cord cable would mean that the gauge will have to be high as well. Because short extension cord cable with low gauge is able to carry more electricity.

The type of outlet:

The type of outlet you are using for the extension cord will also determine its gauge size. An 110v wall outlet will be able to support a sixteen gauge extension cord more potently. On the other hand, a ten or a twelve gauge extension cord should be plugged into a 220v wall outlet.

Final Thoughts

It is believed by experts that a ten or a twelve gauge extension cord can be used for an electric dryer. But a sixteen gauge extension cord is suitable for a gas dryer. Extension cords with short cable are also preferable. Using a wrong extension cord for the dryer can cause overheating issue.