Propane vs. Electric Clothes Dryer?

[CurlyDave]

Where we are living now, we have a natural gas clothes dryer, primarily because they are less costly to run.

When we move to our country property, DW wants a new washer & dryer. Natural gas is not an option.

Does anyone know which is the lower operating cost choice?

 

[Doc_Bob]

If I lived in Woodside, CA, I would use a clothes line. It will pay for itself in a few months
Bob

 

[Doc_Bob]

When we move to our country property, DW wants a new washer & dryer. Natural gas is not an option.

If you need propane for other uses, like a backup gen, stove, water heater, etc, go with a propane tank. If your bride likes electric for everything, then go electric.

Me, I would diversify my fuel sources.
Bob

 

[Mike_Lipke]

We have a city home and a lake home.
House in town has a Nat. gas dryer.

House in country HAD an electric dryer. Both relatively new.
Electric was WAY slower.
After a year, we traded it for another used gas dryer. Now they both dry the same.

BTW, a nat gas dryer and a propane dryer are the same unit, but the jet has to changed.

If you have propane available, I would go gas.

Operating costs for gas are less as well.

 

[2nstonge]

We've run a propane dryer for the past 3 years, electric before that. A load of heavy clothes (jeans, sweat shirts, etc) takes more time to dry in the propane dryer. I'll run it thru for a full 50 minute cycle and then have to run it for another 10-20 min to remove the lingering dampness.

Not sure how the operating costs, propane vs. elec, compare. The big thing for me is the time it takes to 2-3 loads of my work clothes.

-Norm

 

[2nstonge]

Funny, Mike, I posted a minute after you and we completely contradict each other!

Different experiences for different folks I guess. We run propane for the dryer, furnace, hot water heater, stove and patio grill and use about 500 gallons per year - family of 4 (2 teenage boys).

-Norm

 

[Mike_Lipke]

If you have the right jet, I dunno

 

[Dusty]

We had an electric that someone gave us until the propane was hooked up. It was so slow, that my wife took the wet clothes into town and dried them at the laundromat. That was 25 years ago, but I doubt that electric dryers have improved much. There just isn't anything that you can do to improve that technology. We have used propane ever since, and with the propane dryer we don't even notice the amount of gas that it uses, it is so insignificant. What I do notice is the cost of electric going up to drive the motor that turns the drum. Without a doubt, go propane. If you get a propane stove, it is even better. With electric stoves, once you turn the burner off, it still takes a long while for the heat to diminish, so the food continues to cook. With gas, that doesn't happen.
Dusty

 

[Highbeam]

I have natural gas and an electric dryer. I don't know any better so excuse my inexperience. Aren't you all afraid of a fire in your closet? It gives me the creeps. I will need a new dryer in our next home which now appears to be one with NG, you all really think a NG dryer beats electric?

 

[Licklog]

Here are a couple of sites that will help you determine which is best for you.

This one will help buy an energy efficient appliance regardless of type:

http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDocs/Commerce/Appliances__Electronics_110802035138_Appliances.pdf

This link will allow you to compare energy costs based on your local prices for energy:

Fuel Cost Comparison Calculator

For us, the electric cost (.0963/KW) is probably lower than propane ($2.14/gas) since the last jump in prices but your local electric costs may be higher than ours.

We chose propane for most of our appliances because we like quick recovery hot water, do not like heat pumps vs gas furnaces, we have vent-free fireplaces, and the wife likes to cook with gas inside and out.

Have a great day!