Wednesday, December 09, 2020

Follow Up To First World Problems: That Don't Look Good

When I unplugged the dryer there was a dried green substance around the plug and the wall. 


I don't think that's supposed to be there.

I've plugged the dryer back in and out a few times but still no activity at all.  Door switch seems to move freely.  I vacuumed out the lint from the dryer exhaust tube and it wasn't blocked anywhere I could see, but there was a fair bit of lint build up in there.

I fear this may get a tad expensive. 

Update Dec 14:  Turns out the green is some old paint, not corrosion.  But the problem was the wall receptacle had burned out.  My friend the electrician replaced both the receptacle and the dryer plug, and the dryer now works.    Yay.  Much rejoicing from the ladies of the house.

7 comments:

Stephen said...

Get an electrician, replace the dryer power cord and the outlet.

Likely that green stuff is corrosion on one of the two hot wires.

Unplug it and leave it unplugged until the electrician fixes it.

MrGarabaldi said...

Hey Aaron;

Looks like Corrosion, the interaction of dissimilar metal with an electric current. Like Stephen said" Get an electrician"

drjim said...

The green stuff on the cord is corrosion. It's caused by the crappy methods they use to assemble the cord. It also has a burnt spot on it, indicating it wasn't making good contact with the socket. See how the grey plastic around the burnt prong is discolored? That's from heat, caused by a bad connection.

You'll need a new cord on the dryer, and a new outlet installed in the wall.

B said...

Simple to replace the Dryer cord. Or chack it with an ohmmeter.
Make sure the breaker isn't popper also.

I would replace the cord no matter what. It ain't difficult. Nor is ist difficult to replace the socket.
Looking at the first picture, I don't think the issue is just corrosion though. The one prong looks like it has overheated.

Old NFO said...

Concur with ALL of the above! Do NOT use!

Aaron said...

All: Thanks, and its in a not to use state at the moment.

Breaker to the dryer is off just to be sure (it didn't pop). Have a friend who is an electrician due to come by at some point as I'm not comfortable playing with that kind of voltage myself (installing light fixtures is about my electrical limit).

I am, however, about to face a revolution from the female household residents who wish to have a functioning dryer and I'm rather outnumbered and surrounded.

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Have them use a public laundry once or twice so they will appreciate what you provide.