Need electrician reco

New A/C wall unit requires different outlet than the standard one installed in my apt. I bought the right voltage (220) but the prongs are like two horizontal lines with a grounder vs the outlet, which is two vertical lines with a grounder. I've been told to get the outlet switched out and need an electrician to do it and should be a quick job. I don't even know how much this should cost - first one said 100 then tripled to 300 so looking for a new one...all before the giant heat wave coming later this week. Help?

It may not be as simple as switching out the outlet.

Outlets have specific configurations, based on both the volts and the amperage that the line will carry and the circuit breaker that feeds it.

Here are some of the most common types:

Hopefully your line can carry the amp load your new A/C requires. If it can, the matter is as simple as having the electrician upgrade the plug and the circuit breaker that controls the line to a configuration that matches your A/C's needs.

If the line can not carry the load, you may need to return that A/C for a less powerful one ...because running a new line to your circuit box can be expensive.

Save the receipt for your A/C.

I found Altin (646-369-7594) through the Brownstoner forum and have been been extremely happy with him on several small jobs.

Based on your description, it sounds like you have a typical 15-amp outlet in place. If that's the case, you're not going to get away with just a new outlet. You would need to run a new line(s) from the breaker box. You know each one of those little switches in the box? Well, you need two of them working together to get the voltage and amperage required by your AC unit. As such, at the very least, you need a 4-conductor run between the outlet and the breaker (a normal 15-amp outlet uses a 3 conductor run) and it'll need to be a beefier gauge wire - most likely 10 gauge, depending on the amperage specs of the A/C unit.

If your breaker box is far away from the A/C unit, this could be a bit of work to fish or channel the wiring in the wall.

edited to add - IF I am correct on my above assumptions, I don't think that you're going to get out of this for under a few hundred dollars.

have your bldg handyman plug a tester in the socket. Are you sure it was 220? If it is the socket, 10 minutes w testing from an electrician. The new style plug will cost you 10-15 dollars at Home Depot or Lowes.Don't do it yourself..when it's done you will know you could .All voltages can be lethal..it's not that hot out take your time PM

You don't need four conductors for a 220 outlet, two hots and a ground makes three. Those little switches a called circuit breakers, you'll need a two pole with the proper amperage for the gauge of the wire, and let an electrician do it unless you're really handy, (like you've done this before).

No neutral? The NEC doesn't frown upon that?

Usually 220 lines already have the required outlet installed so that you don't plug a 115 volt appliance in by accident and blow it. I agree with the others on here and I'm sure if you test the outlet you'll find it's 115 volts if the outlet doesn't look like the one in the picture provided. If that's the case it could cost about $500 for a new wiring run from the breaker box to the outlet.

Art Cabrerra, Horzion Electric is good. I think he still advertises in teh Food Co-Op's news lettter.

Might be best to return the ac tho, as descriptions of the procedure above are pretty accurate.

now that its 95 outside I feel sorry for you. If you PM me I will test the outlet to see if it is 110 or 220.