What’s the Difference Between Gas and Electric Dryers?

May 27, 2020 Published by Leave your thoughts

If you’re in the market for a new dryer, you’re going to have two main options: gas and electric. Do the benefits of one strongly outweigh the benefits of the other? A lot of the time, the decision comes down to personal preference, but there are some differences between gas and electric dryers that you should be aware of before making a purchase decision in St. Peters, MO.

Here’s a quick overview of what you should know about each type of dryer.

Gas dryers

Gas dryers generate heat for the drying process using a gas burner. When the cycle begins, a sensor located on the appliance’s motor triggers the igniter to light up once it reaches a certain speed. When the pilot light is on, another sensor opens up the gas valve. An electric fan inside the system then circulates the warm air.

Once the air gets to the desired temperature, the valve will close, and a thermostat will continue to monitor the air temperature. If it drops by 30 degrees or more, the process begins again.

To run a gas dryer, you’ll need a gas line and a 110V outlet. If you have liquid propane, you must have the dryer converted to work with that type of gas, which can cost an extra several hundred dollars for the equipment and installation process. There have also been more brands offering condensation and heat pump dryers, which adhere to stricter energy regulations.

Electric dryers

Electric dryers use a heating coil to produce the heat needed to run the appliance. They run off a 240V current, usually with a giant plug head and either a three-prong or four-prong outlet.

You also have the option to go with ventless dryers, which are more compact units. These are best used when you don’t have an option to vent the dryer to the outside. Instead, they use a condensation drying system. Instead of exhausting the air, the dryer uses a heat exchanger to cool the air and condense the vapor into a collection tank or a drain pipe.

If you go with the ventless option, you’ll need to perform more routine maintenance to make sure it performs well. You’ll also want good ventilation in the area in which it’s used, because the dryer will expel hot air back into the space.

Making your choice

So, which is the better option? Again, the differences between gas and electric dryers in St. Peters, MO will require that you take several factors into account.

First, you’ll want to consider the price. There are a couple considerations here—gas dryers will generally cost a bit more than traditional electric dryers, and heat pump dryers will run several hundred dollars more. There are also the costs associated with having a plumber come into disconnect or reconnect gas lines for the dryer, which can add a few hundred dollars in labor and equipment costs.

You’ll also want to consider energy efficiency. Electric dryers will generally cost anywhere from 30 to 40 cents per load for drying, while heat pump dryers will probably cost about half that, as will gas dryers. If you wash one load per day on average, you can save about $75 per year by going with gas or heat pump dryers versus a traditional electric dryer.

For more information about appliance repair in St. Peters, MO, or to schedule service for your appliances, contact Crews Appliance Repair today.

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