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A Comprehensive Comparison: Electric Dryers vs. Gas Dryers

Operation

The act of drying clothing is actually quite scientific, so both electric and gas dryers work in a similar fashion:

As air is pulled into the dryer, it passes through a heating coil to warm it. An electric fan circulates the heat throughout the dryer so when the clothes tumble, they are constantly being heated. The molecules from the water in the garments heat up and turn into steam through the process of evaporation. The steam is then vented out of the machine through the dryer’s exhaust tube.

Electric dryers are powered with a 240-volt current (twice the power needed for most household appliances) to run the electric heating coils and motors.

Gas dryers use both natural or propane gas and electricity to operate. A burner converts the gas into heat through a dedicated gas line and a 120-volt electrical outlet powers the drum and blower motors.

Appliance Cost

According to Consumer Reports, electric dryers generally cost between $500 and $1,400, depending on features. Gas dryers can run between $50 and $150 more than the comparable electric model.

Must-have features available on both types will be contributing factors on how much you spend:

Moisture Sensor—this is a huge improvement over thermostats in previous models. This detects how much moisture still remains in the dryer and will automatically turn off the machine when the laundry is dry. This helps reduce shrinkage and can extend the life of your clothing by preventing over-drying, plus it saves energy.

Extended Tumble—how often have you forgotten to take your clothes out of the dryer only to find them a wrinkled mess? This new ingenuity intermittently tumbles the apparel up to three hours after the cycle has stopped so you can avoid dragging out the iron.

End-of-Cycle Signal—even if you don’t have the extended tumble feature on your new dryer, you can be alerted when your clothing is dry with a series of beeps or chime. When the dryer stops, removing your clothes promptly will save ironing time or alert you to clothes that need additional drying time. There is no fear of disturbing the baby as most signals have a volume or on/off switch.

Capacity Size—it’s very important to “pair” your dryer with your washer or you won’t be able to fit a full washer load into one cycle. The general rule is your dryer should hold twice the capacity of your washer. Go too small and there won’t be enough room to tumble the clothes or dry them efficiently.

Compact units for those with limited space or light laundry needs are available at 3.4 cu. ft. “Full-size” dryers are most common and range between 5.8 cu. ft. and 8.3 cu. ft. “Mega-capacity” units can handle heavy-duty loads and come as large as 9.0 cu. ft. Be careful searching only by dryer terminology as manufacturers don’t always identify their units the same.

Installation Process

Electric dryers are pretty easy to install as most laundry areas are equipped with a dedicated 240-volt circuit. Many models don’t require venting either, making them a perfect choice for an apartment or home with limited space. Be careful, though, that your electric model has some type of lint catcher or you’ll find lint and dust strewn all over your laundry room.

Gas dryers are more complicated and require additional space. In addition to a 120-volt electrical outlet, they need a separate gas hookup. If you don’t have one, you’ll want to hire a professional Gas Fitter Tech to ensure it meets all safety codes. In addition, all gas dryers require outside venting to disburse harmful fumes.

Plan about $100 for simple installation or several hundred dollars to hire out a gas line and vent system.