Gas Vs. Electric !

[utjj99]

Just wondered what dryers people prefer...gas or electric? I've only had electric mainly because my mother had always said gas dryers get to hot and can ruin cloths. The house I'm in now has both electric and gas hook up for a dryer and I'm getting ready to get the matching dryer for my Whirlpool duet and I need to decide whether or not to get gas or just stick with electric. Are there big time savings or noticible reflections on your electric and gas bill? Just need to know if a gas dryer really is worse for your cloths or not.

Thanks!

 

[bingwsguy]

Electric. I don't know what the energy rates (gas vs. electric) are in your area, but I can tell you I started out with a gas dryer and when I got my ASKO pair only an electric dryer was available so that is what I had to get. I noticed that my white laundry was a lot whiter and not only because of the washer. As the gas burns, a residue is created that is deposited on your laundry. I am much happier with electric.

 

[gyrafoam]

I have always enjoyed my gas dryers and am still using one. BUT in the old days gas was a lot cheaper to use. That has now changed and when I can I will switch to electric.

 

[maytagbear]

In the old days.....

of just a few years ago, electrics were cheaper to buy, but cost more to run. Especially in my corner of Ohio, which has the highest rates in the state.

I've always had gas dryers, and have always been pleased with their performance.

I have found, in my experience, no great fabric damage from a gas dryer working well.

My current Maytag, LDG9806, has adjustable temperatures (a must for me!) and is practically perfect. (Said this before...I LOVE the end of cycle chime!)

I think it comes down to your comfort level, fuel availabilty, and local rates.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[pulsator]

All my experiences with electric dryers have been bad, they seem to take longer to dry things, and with Duet size loads, they will take FOREVER!!! I have a Duet set with a gas dryer and I couldn't be happier! ^.^

 

[jasonl]

And not to mention, the extra sound of the burner starting (click-WHOOSH!), plus fast drying.

Gas used to work for less :-( .

 

[toggleswitch]

Reiteration:

Gas in most parts of this country is MUCH cheaper to run.

You need three times more gas to make the electricity it takes to dry one load of clothes than it would take to use the gas itself for heat.

I agree that burning gas makes a residue that electric does not, but on the other hand, with only one hour of contact with it, I persoanlly don't feel the clothes are dirtied enough to fuss about it.

Well I should say natural gas is ok in my book. I would not use propane though; with yellow/orge tips no matter what~~ that tells me that carbon is being released.

 

[tolivac]

In my arera the electric is cheaper--esp for heat-people are changing over to heat pumps rapidly in my area.Gas prices are HORRIBLE here.

 

[spinout]

My vote is for gas when you have a choice.

I have owned/restored/used many dryers and I absolutely prefer gas. Not only is it usually cheaper and faster, but in my experience, it is easier on the clothes; especially if you use timed drying. Burning natural gas typically forms about 10% water vapor which is not condensed in the later stages of the drying cycle, but acts as a buffer.

As an example, an electric dryer will go from just barely damp to extra crispy overdried very quickly whereas a gas heated dryer will be noticeably more forgiving about overdrying. For any given dryer outlet temperature, the clothes in a gas dryer will not feel as hot to the touch. I have also noticed that items dried in a gas dryer just seem to be softer to the touch and have less static charge after drying. With a good rinsing washer and gas dryer, I never need to use softeners of any kind.

Additionally, because the water vapor [formed in combustion] is condensed early in the cycle while the clothes are still wet, that energy is recovered resulting in more initial heat input and thus faster drying times.

In my experience, I haven't noticed any gas "residual" problems, but I'm burning clean natural gas in a properly functioning dryer. I suppose that poor quality (impure) gas and/or an improperly adjusted burner has the potential to cause a problem. Incidently, my mother runs a propane fired dryer and has not noticed any problems (although it is somewhat noisier).

Finally, concerning cost of operation: I just ran the calc's and assuming a similar heat input into an equivalent dryer (5600W Electric or approx. 20-22k BTUH gas) I came up with these figures to heat the dryer:

$0.60 a load for electric; and,
$0.21 per load for gas.

This is based on Southern California average rates of about $1.50 per therm (natural gas) and $0.1626 per kWH. In some areas of the country it could be up to 5:1 ratio in favor of gas.

Hope this helps!

 

[Washaholic]

I agree gas is much better to use than electric. The drying time is shorter and in a course of a year it is cheaper to use gas than electric.

 

[toggleswitch]

Said: In my arera the electric is cheaper--esp for heat-people are changing over to heat pumps rapidly in my area.Gas prices are HORRIBLE here.

Well at least it only involves replacing a CAC with a heat-pump, and the gas furnaces stays intact in case energy rates flip, making gas less expensive.

Here on Long Island we are a the norhern ridge of effeciveness of a heat-pump. Many nights the unit would have to switch over to *emergency* heat (electric reisitance when there is no gas or oil available in the house) due to the extreme cold when heat-pump becomes inffective. Electric is PROHIBITIVELY expensive here, esp for heat.

Cooling bills for CAC are EASILY $300 - $500 per month just as a guide. We just die laughing when Floridians complain of a $100 bill for an all-electric house.

 

[Cybrvanr]

Hey toggle, I've heard the electric rates in your area are in the $.20 / KWH. Is that correct? I still see a lot of power in downtown New York being used with reckless, careless abandon, even at that rate! I couldn't imagine anybody even attempting to use a heat pump anywhere north of DC. Both becasue the electric rates are so much higher, and because there are more days below 40 degrees.

I'm in Richmond, and dual-fuel systems are wildly popular here too(heat pump during moderatley cool weather, and a fossil-fuel heating system during the more occasional extreme cold for backup heat). THe fossil-fuel sides get used more frequently than most people think!

Here, electric rates are pretty cheap, at $.075 per KWH. It sort of makes a gas dryer a bit more expensive to run. Still, I perfer a gas dryer for it's performance. Cooling my 50 year old 1000 sq/ft home during the summer to 75 degrees doesn't cost any more than about $80-$100.

 

[sudsmaster]

In areas with plentiful, cheap electricity (like the Tennesee Valley or the Pacific Northwest, where the electricity is made from hydro, I could see an electric dryer making more sense. But here in California, heating with gas is still cheaper than heating with electricity. And since most of our electricity is made by burning natural gas, it makes environmental and energy conservation sense to use gas for simple heating functions like clothes drying, cooking, space heating.

The most efficient heat pumps in temperate climates would be in-ground systems that use the fairly constant 55 degree temperature of ground water or the ground itself to both heat and cool homes.

 

[toggleswitch]

Yes electricity is $.20 per KWH with taxes and surcharges ($

Low rates such as those presented amaze me!

Here is my my set of theories:

The major cost of the electic used in this area is the opening amd re-closing of asphalt streets(and high administrative salaries). After a major snowstorm in the very late 1800's, electrical lines must by law be buried.

Demand metering- Businesses pay a HUGE penalty for their maximum demand (load) in any 15 minute period => message to business stagger your load, esp. to off-peak hours!

Summer demand- Warmer climes with electric heat tend to be mroe evenly balanced load-wise all year round. Here, there is a huge demand in summer and very very much less in winter. In order to provide peak-demand power, the utlities run *special* diesel generators that are less efficient. You just have to.

I am so condtioned to the high rates for power that I shudder to hear of OTHERS using it instead of gas or oil. Long Island rates are even higher than NYC's.

Central air here was considered a luxury till just very recently- the cost to run can EASILY be $500 to $600 per month. Some lunatic friends I know keep the temp at 70*F (is that 22*C?) all summer. It is FREEZING in there and their bill? $1,100 for the month

 

[sudsmaster]

I found that by insulating and ventilating my attic, my home stays much cooler in the summer months. But that is with the aid of cool nights. I couldn't imagine what running an air conditioner - even a window unit - would cost in terms of electricity here. Rates go well over $.20/kWH for excessive users. Starting rates are currently about $.12/kWH. That's high enough.

Eventually I'll put in solar electric panels on the roof. But with a needed capital outlay of some $20,000 just to do that, I have "other priorities".

 

[mavei511]

I hate electric dryers! In the 1960s we had one(a Firestone) and it took forever to dry clothes. Since then I have used electric dryers on occasion and they are still slow! Not to mention that you can't tell when they are heating up.I agree with jasonl on the sound of the burner igniting.

Since Hurricane Katrina anyone that needs a new gas dryer here is out of luck. Most retailers stock electric dryers and don't know when they can get gas dryers. They are backordered,and are very expensive. One retailer claimed that manufacturers are shipping electrics here because of demand. Probably because they are cheaper to buy and most newer houses whether all-electric or piped for gas have a 220v.dryer circuit (Is this a requirement of new building codes?). We don't. Most older houses built in the 50s or earlier,had dryers added as an afterthought,and in most cases it was convenient to extend a gas line from a water heater,stove or heating equipment for a dryer-even in renovations.
The washer connection came first, as per code requiring an automatic washer connection.As far as I know,no requirement exists for dryers in older construction renovations. Hence you may see a washer in one place,dryer in another- sometimes across the house or across the yard in the shed or garage.

 

[retromom]

This gal uses gas!

I prefer gas, myself. The old electric dryers used to take an eternity (at least in my impatient humble opinion). As far as cost is concerned...I remember the days when using gas dryers were a bargain. However, since natural gas prices have skyrocketed the cost may be about the same. Perhaps it is my imagination, but I think that gas dryers heat up faster and retain more heat, resulting in a quicker dry.

I plan on putting the 1975 Kenmore gas dryer in the laundry room for awhile. It will be interesting to see if it works as well as the newer Kenmore Elite currently occupying the space.

Venus

 

[sudsmaster]

Most of the rentals I lived in for some 45 years didn't have 220 volt outlets. But they all had gas. In my last rental, the washer was on a little enclosed porch where the water heater also resided (good for instant hot water). There was no room in there for a dryer, so I put in a dryer in the kitchen, next to the gas range. Simply put in a T connection on the gas line, and used an existing but unused stove flue for venting the dryer. Worked great.

 

[maytagbear]

My current apartment

didn't have hookups when I moved in, and my landlord later told me that if I had had an electric dryer, he would have not been inclined to put in the hookups.

Since the nearest coin op laundry is over a mile and a half from me, it would have been a great inconvinence.

(Home laundry is cheaper, easier, (usually) cleaner, and the company is generally far superior-!)

Plus, a gas dryer only needs a little 120 v.a.c. for the controls, drum light(if availale) and solenoid. The 120 branch circuit was already on the wall facing the bathroom. (He tied into the tub/shower lines for the washer.)

Lawrece/Maytagbear