Drying with Natural Gas
The relative advantages of gas clothes dryers are not a frequent topic of discussion. Many might not even realize that clothes dryers can use gas heat. Well, listen up: these are a great option for many reasons.
The drying process is the same for gas and electric dryers—a fan directs fresh air over a heating unit and then pumps it into the drum where the clothes are tumbled. In a gas dryer, this heater is (ideally) a thermostatically controlled gas burner with pilotless ignition and automatic shutoff.
While the difference between gas and electric drying might seem minor considering that the rest of the dryers’ functions are the same, using gas can save you energy and money. The instantaneous heat produced by gas means faster and more efficient drying. Dryer efficiency is measured in pounds of clothing per kilowatt-hour of electricity, with the minimum energy factor of a standard sized electric dryer clocking in at 3.01. Gas dryers’ minimum energy factor is 2.67.
Using a gas dryer will also help your pocketbook. Gas dryers come with higher up-front cost, but will likely cost less to operate over time. Using gas can cut the cost of drying a load of laundry in half, from 30 to 40 cents with electric to 15 to 20 cents with gas.
The advantages don’t stop there. Gas dryers are also very easy to maintain. As the Minnesota Blue Flame Gas Association puts it, “A gas dryer is almost maintenance-free.” However, when repair is needed, gas dryers can prove more expensive, as they are less common and parts can therefore be more expensive.
Many factors might influence your decision to buy a gas dryer. One critical consideration is that you must have a dedicated gas hook up, so you will have to have a professional install one in your laundry space unless one exists already.
You should also consider size, ease of use, energy efficiency, price, and set-up. There are various types of gas dryers available, including full-size, space-saving, and stackable. Dryers have a range of drum sizes, fitting loads from 5 pounds to 20 pounds. A standard dryer has a width of 27 to 29 inches and a height of 43 inches. A compact dryer, as small as 21 inches wide and 36 inches high, is best for a smaller space.
Whatever your space requirements and drying needs, gas might just be the answer.
