The Money Pit
Home Improvement Tips & Podcasts
Electric Dryer vs. Gas Dryer: Which is Cheaper?
Tom Kraeutler asks,
We are remodeling our kitchen, pantry and laundry room and wondering which is cheaper a gas dryer or an electric dryer? Does it make sense to replace our electric clothes dryer with a natural gas dryer? We could have the plumber extend the gas line into the laundry room while the walls are opened up.
This makes total sense. In general, electric dryers are about 50% more expensive to run compared to gas. While this isn’t enough to justify the cost of installing a gas line and gas meter, it does make sense as a while you’re at it kind of project!
Another good reason to switch is that gas clothes dryers have never been smarter at saving you energy. Many of the newest models include moisture sensors which turn off the dryer when the clothes are dry, which might happen before the timer reaches the end of its cycle, thereby saving both energy and the wear-n-tear on your clothes!
It also makes sense to run the line while the wall is opened up and cheaper to install. Having both hookups gives you (and future homeowner) the option to choose your next dryer type.
Quote from energystar.gov:
ENERGY STAR does not label clothes dryers because most dryers use similar amounts of energy, which means there is little difference in the energy use between models.
There are some dryers with moisture sensors, but they are not energy star labeled.