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Message
Clothes Dryer on 208 volts
Posted on 2/15/26 at 9:54 am
Posted on 2/15/26 at 9:54 am
Using a clothes dryer in a commercial building operating on 208 volts. It's a residential dryer capable of running on 240 or 208 volts. When the dryer was purchased, had no idea that commercial buildings often only have 208 volts.
Construction GC is saying clothes are taking forever to dry because 208 volt is only providing about 75% of the heat that would be generated at 240 volts. Suggested we either deal with long dry times, buy a dryer designed for 208 volt or change the heating element to 208 volt. After a quick search, 208 volt dryers are twice the price of basic residential dryers.
The business requires cleaning/drying towels. With dry times of about 2 hours, the dryer is pretty much running all day. The same load of towels dries in 45 mins at home.
Anyone have experience changing a heating element?...bit of a rabbit hole of online discussions about the topic.
Construction GC is saying clothes are taking forever to dry because 208 volt is only providing about 75% of the heat that would be generated at 240 volts. Suggested we either deal with long dry times, buy a dryer designed for 208 volt or change the heating element to 208 volt. After a quick search, 208 volt dryers are twice the price of basic residential dryers.
The business requires cleaning/drying towels. With dry times of about 2 hours, the dryer is pretty much running all day. The same load of towels dries in 45 mins at home.
Anyone have experience changing a heating element?...bit of a rabbit hole of online discussions about the topic.
7
Posted on 2/15/26 at 10:08 am to PerplenGold
You don’t have nat gas available? Most commercial dryers are nat gas
Posted on 2/15/26 at 11:46 am to PerplenGold
talk to your electrician
Posted on 2/15/26 at 2:13 pm to PerplenGold
Changing out a heating element in a dryer is pretty simple for anyone with basic mechanical skills. You should be able to DIY, but if not, it would pay for itself pretty quickly even if you have to hire someone when you consider the electricity cost savings from running that thing all day every day.
Posted on 2/15/26 at 2:52 pm to PerplenGold
quote:.
Suggested we either deal with long dry times, buy a dryer designed for 208 volt or change the heating element to 208 volt
I've done this for electric water heaters that were on 3-phase power in residential situations. Definitely far cheaper than buying a 208V water heater. Keep in mind, 208V elements draw more current to get back to the same power.
This post was edited on 2/15/26 at 2:53 pm
Posted on 2/15/26 at 4:58 pm to PerplenGold
So your running on 3 phase power at 208v? Yeah 240v elements are 25% less powerful on 3 phase.
You can buy 208 element. That range from easy to change (whirlpool, Samsung, lg) to You'll curse a lot but it's still doable (GE/ Frigidare).
You can buy 208 element. That range from easy to change (whirlpool, Samsung, lg) to You'll curse a lot but it's still doable (GE/ Frigidare).
Posted on 2/15/26 at 5:14 pm to baldona
quote:
You don’t have nat gas available? Most commercial dryers are nat gas
Correct, and natural gas dries a load of clothes twice as fast as electric.
Posted on 2/17/26 at 6:21 pm to Napoleon
quote:
You'll curse a lot but it's still doable (GE/ Frigidare).
It’s a GE.
No nat gas that I know of. Will ask.
Thanks, all.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 2:53 pm to Napoleon
quote:
So your running on 3 phase power at 208v?
Interesting, shows my electrical knowledge. My office is 3 phase, I didn't realize it was 208V.
OP it looks like they sell "Heat pump" 208V dryers also, I am clueless but I would think buying a dryer built for that would be the best. While most laundry mats are gas dryers, I assume you could find some commercial electric machines. You maybe able to find one used for a very good deal since the market for them would likely be fairly small.
The reason I suggested Nat Gas is if its a commercial building its usually going to be available since any kitchen or commercial equipment with dryers, burners, etc. is much more efficient with gas.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 7:43 pm to PerplenGold
One solution would be a buck-boost transformer, but a 208V in, 240V 6kVA unit was the cost of two new dryers, so never mind.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 8:07 am to PerplenGold
quote:
Using a clothes dryer in a commercial building operating on 208 volts. It's a residential dryer capable of running on 240 or 208 volts. When the dryer was purchased, had no idea that commercial buildings often only have 208 volts.
Typically commercial buildings are 3-Phase. 208V, 3-Phase is more appealing than 240V 3-Phase. This is due to the stinger leg you encounter with 240V, 3-Phase applications.
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