gas vs electric dryer?

11 years ago

We're building a new house and I've got natural gas service. I'm wondering which is going to give me better drying performance, gas or electric? I can set it up either way. I'm looking for a front-loader setup.

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Comments (5)

georgect
11 years ago
Gas saves you money in the long run and is a "softer" heat.
Both pretty much dry at the same rate.
If you have a gas outlet, go with gas. It does have to be connected by some one that knows what they're doing.

This post was edited by georgect on Fri, Jan 18, 13 at 13:09
herring_maven
11 years ago
If you already have a gas connection, and no investment in an electric dryer to amortize, then the operating cost savings of a gas dryer compared to the energy bill of drying with electric heat will pay back the purchase price of the new dryer fairly quickly.

Pretty much all consumer clothes dryers are front-loading. If you do not keep your laundry room floor clean enough to eat off of, be wise and get a dryer that has a "hamper" door (that is, the door hinges are at the bottom instead of on one side) to catch the wet clothes that inevitably get dropped sometimes as you transfer items from washer to dryer.
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Technically an electric heater model delivers a "dry" heat versus a gas or propane heated model. The reason is the combustion process of a natural gas or propane model gives off H2O (water) as a byproduct, the thing you are trying to evaporate from the clothes load, and has a discernible difference on drying time required ( like 2 to 3 percent, literally seconds over the length of a drying cycle). That said, with the crash of natural gas prices due to the huge supplies now being tapped in North Dakota and Canada, natural gas is almost always the best for overall operating costs. It's hard to tell if this will be a long term trend or not, as big power plants are switching over to natural gas, replacing coal fired plants and causing the realy retirement of several nuclear plants. With rising demand, price is sure to follow eventually. Reliability has always been slightly in favor of electric, there are just more parts to go wrong (igniters, flame sensors, contaminants in gas, pressure changes, etc). Overall, the gas firing technology is as good as its ever been. It should be better than a 20 year old machine. Steve
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JC, I don't think of it as a downgrade, actually. Like everything else involving my old (1860) house, the answer is complicated. The washer and dryer are presently situated in the basement, a.k.a. the dungeon (dirt floor). I'm thinking at some point it would be better for me not to have to navigate those stairs so often, so we're planning ahead by making the dryer usable on the first floor, where there is no gas line. We had an electric dryer on the first floor many years ago, but the only outlet at that spot looks like an ordinary one. I plug my hair dryer into it all the time. I had a new electrical panel put in four years ago. I remember the electrician asking me about appliances at the time, but I don't know what he did about them, if anything. I'll call him, and hope he remembers (though I don't know why he should). Thanks for your help, everyone. Susan
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Why do you think code requires a fire door between house and garage? Garages have things with gasoline in them. And things that produce carbon monoxide. Kitchens have things with fire in them, and people. No direct connection can exist between a house and garage. No venting through a garage without that same fire protection surrounding the vent. That means a dry walled chase, built to the same fire resistant standards as the wall between the house and garage. I have have a gas dryer. It is only advantageous on heavy sturdy things like towels and jeans. You’re basically “cooking” the clothes, which is very slightly faster than electric. For more delicate things, it actually takes longer, as the delicate cycle is still on the hot side for many fabrics. Synthetic and blends. Like polyester microfibers, and ramie nylon blends. Dress clothes. Etc. Those get a very damp dry, and then hung to dry, or laid flat the rest of the way. Many of those were able to be fully dried in the electric on delicate. It was a lower temp. So, it actually takes more time for many things now. YMMV depending on your laundry makeup and frequency.
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wkearney99
Original Author
11 years ago
This is a new build. I can put in either or 120/240 electricity. The budget already specs a gas connection and 120vac into the room. Along with an electric water sensor shut-off.

Another factor to consider is we're using geo-thermal HVAC. This means I won't be using much gas, and I believe there are actually minimum consumption numbers for gas service. I need the gas for the range and the barbeque but not for heat and hot water as before. The previous dryer was gas.

The hamper door suggestion is noted. We do keep the floor in front of the units clean, along with a floor-runner patch of carpet. That and I just keep a spare basket down there when moving from washer to dryer. So, I've no worries about wet stuff flopping onto bare, dinghy concrete. The new 2nd floor laundry will be tiled.

So now it's just a question of whose units to consider (or avoid). I'll have to look over other threads for that...
larsi_gw
11 years ago
I LOVE electric! For me, I find it quieter, quicker, more even, and gentler on clothes. We have a very large solar panel system...so the cost if offset for us. But, even when we did not have the solar system, we used electic...since 2001.
bonesoda
11 years ago
my experience with gas dryer is total opposite of larsi...

With gas dryer the clothes dry quickly (compared to electric).
They have little to no static.
Gas gives it a "gentler" heat so its not rough on clothes.
Energy savings.

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gas vs electric dryer?

Comments (5)

georgect

herring_maven

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wkearney99
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gas vs electric dryer?

Comments (5)

georgect

herring_maven

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wkearney99Original Author

larsi_gw

bonesoda

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wkearney99
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