Comments on: Gas versus Electric Dryer II

By: Daryl

Daryl — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:43:13 +0000

Great discussion.
Here in California, the public utilities (SDG&E, SCE, PG&E) have high tiered rates. You need to make sure you are using the right rate. An electric dryer might bump you up to a higher rate or the savings might be less with a gas dryer because you fall to a lower rate.

Gas prices have also fallen over the last few years. New technology, (“fracking”) might even lead to falling gas price.

Currently for PG&E electric rates for most customers rise from $0.1184 to $0.49929 depending on usage level “the tier”.

Gas is about $1.05- $1.07 a therm.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:58:01 +0000

Great spread sheet but I noticed there was no cell to account
for the gas dryer’s motor. I used the tested figures (.21kw) from this site:

http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/dryers.html

and added cells for that. Also they measured their electric dryer’s power consumption at 4kw for the cycle but the gas btu’s were the same as yours. Otherwise it’s a GREAT tool. Many Thanks :)

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:21:22 +0000

A new twist for you. I live in the Jensen Beach area of FL, one mi from the ocean. In 2004, in one month’s time, we had hurricanes Jeanne and Francis. Both eyes came ashore within 10 mi of our house. We were without electricity a total of 5 wks combined. I have a 6kw generator which can be, and was, hooked straight to the panel box after both. It was our salvation. It would run everything in the house, without having to alternate breakers, except the central A/C, and the electric clothes dryer. We have LP gas for our range and water heater. Our electric clothes dryer has died after 10 years. You can bet your butt that I am buying a gas dryer, because the generator only has to power the motor to turn the drum. The little bit of difference between the energy cost doesn’t matter to me. P.S. Adelphia cable was the last utility to get back up and running. (over 2 months) After the first couple of weeks, I went and bought a Dish.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:38:12 +0000

I’m a single mom moving about to move into a rental house. I have a small child and do approx. 8 loads a week. I own a gas dryer, but there’s no hookup for gas. Is it better to buy an electric dryer, or pay to have a plumber install a gas line?

By: JJ

JJ — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:54:09 +0000

Go look at http://www.savenrg.com They have a patented – yes patented, house design that does away with the heating element in the clothes dryer and pumps atic heat instead.

That is just a small portion of there HUGE energy savings built into their homes.

Personally, I think we have far more gas than even some industry execs believe. There is proven reserves in Kansas that has as much energy as the oil in Kuwait. Several small companies have most of it tied up. They are pumping, and it is so clean it can go right into the distribution system – almost unheard of.

I have not decided for my self. Am rebuilding after a house fire. But am leaning electric. There are so many more sources for generating electric that are renewable (or not if coal is used but which can be processed for super clean burning) that if supervised properly rates will be much less volatile than other “fuels”. Yes, I believe in some regulation and some deregulation. Just not the way the wonderful pols here in Md. (and CA) did it.

By: John

John — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 12:53:28 +0000

It seems the discussion is primarly regarding the installation and operating costs. Now that I have that information, my big question is, which dries clothers faster? I have always been a gas appliance consumer, but if cost of electric vs. gas is minimal in my area, efficiency and time are very important. Thanks!

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 06:25:21 +0000

Hi Linda,
For the electricity decision, it would probably be best if you ran the numbers (cost of buying power from SDGE, # of loads, etc) through the spreadsheet:

http://www.jimcarson.com/a/gas_versus_electric.xls

Front-loader washers use about 40% less approximately half the water as the top-loader types.
Jim

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 05:59:51 +0000

We are considering what kind of dryer to buy to replace our gas dryer which is more than 15 years old. We’ve had about 3 repairs, all kind of pricey, in that time. We had solar panels on the roof which were calculated to cover our current usage. If we switch to an electric dryer, I’ll just be buying more power from SDGE. But, with the new gas dryers, is their energy consumption so much less than my old dryer that if I buy gas, my gas bill will go down or if I buy electric my electric bill won’t go up that much? This is far beyond comparing apples and oranges. It’s very complex. Also, are front loaders more energy effecient or do they just save water over top-loaders?

By: duane

duane — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 12:53:24 +0000

When moving from natural gas to propane changes must be made to the gas burner. Propane burns hotter than natural gas. Most new drier come setup for Natural gas with the part to change over to propane included.

By: laura

laura — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:54:57 +0000

My question is…”what is the difference between natural gas and propane gas clothes dryers?” We’ve moved and have our dryer, which used natural gas, and now is using propane. It looks like a fire is going on in the back of the dryer so we are not using it until we find out.

By: damyank

damyank — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:13:20 +0000

As an HVAC and gas contractor and a former appliance repairman I have some food for thought for all:

1.Drier repair costs for gas driers are much more expensive. If you tend to keep your appliances a long time consider electric the way to go.

2.If you are limited in demand growth for your electric panel (100 amps or less for your panels capacity) AND you already have gas piped into your house And you have the additional capacity in your gas system, go with gas.

3.An IMPORTANT consideration is also whether or not your local electric utility uses nuke, coal, or hydro generating power. If the answer is yes to any of these, then the rate of increases in your electric bill is likely to be less making electric the way to go.

4. I personally think that the rate of fuel increases in the next few years will make all of these considerations extremely critical to us all.

By: Don in Northern California

Don in Northern California — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 18:17:08 +0000

Here’s another scenario. We have a small granny unit, and we’re remodeling our home. I want to place a washer/dryer in a closet in the granny unit, and must decide on gas or electric.

For gas, a line needs to be brought to the closet. Labor from the contractor for that will not be too much.

For electric, we need 240 volts, and the service panel must be replaced in order to gain more breakers. The labor for this is more.

Then, we plan to have solar panels placed. The washer/dryer will not be used nearly as much as the one in our house.

So… It seems to me overall that electric is the way to go, considering low appliance usage, solar generation, and lower environmental impact. However, right or wrong, I have a sense that gas may perform better. Do gas and electric perform the same with todays appliances?

By: Derek S

Derek S — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 04:17:21 +0000

After reading the comments I am more confused than ever. One thing no one seemed to touch upon is the following: is one drying source, gas or electric, better for your clothes? does one harm the fabric less vs. another? If you claculate the cost of some clothing articles today if one heat source damages clothes less this could be a deciding factor for me. Is there ant proven research to this question?
Derek

By: Jim C

Jim C — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:51:44 +0000

Nice workup. As an engineer, I like the approach. I also got a laugh from the guy saying “well, gas isn’t renewable so it will go up.” To which I say, yes it might someday. But for now, the choice is clear. Would you choose an electric water heater for your home over gas? How about the furnace? The water heater choice would DOUBLE your cost per month…the furnace would also be much more expensive – plus the air out of the vent would be much cooler than from a gas furnace.

Gas is the best choice and it will remain so for quite some time.

By: willie ,

willie , — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 00:31:44 +0000

JIM,need new dryer soon, have electric dryer now,but I not sure if, LP at $3.00 a gal or
return to the electric at 0.14 cent a KWH,Is the way to go,
THANK WILLIE,
OH,OH is LP or Electric faster?,

By: jim

jim — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 17:21:30 +0000

Based on a quick glance at RepairClinic, the electric dryer motor is 1/3hp, 1725rpm (use: 6.4A and 115V == 736W in your calculations).It's slightly over 10% what the electrical heater uses. However, since both the gas and electric dryers have this component in them, it shouldn't affect the number of loads.But your point about going with what your house is plumbed with is spot on. Running gas line costs about $10/foot by a plumber.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 03:33:29 +0000

Ok lets do one based on total consumption and maintenance seems that is the only way to make a smart decision on which to buy. And I understand that you may only have one choice anyway depending on your set-up in your house. I had gas and switched to electric and dropped a line to do it, to many problems with 2 previous gas models and they were top of the line maytags.

By: jim

jim — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 03:00:14 +0000

Mike: Reread the original assumptions. Both the gas and electric dryers have a rotating drum. The power consumption is based on the heating element only.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 01:56:22 +0000

I think you need to recalculate. Seems you forgot the fact that a gas dryer uses electric also to turn the tub hello? The cost of a gas dryer is about $50. more and the upkeep is more. so elect. has got to be less in the longrun.

By: David

David — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 15:23:33 +0000

Thanks for the information! Seems to be quite a debate. I just purchased the Kenmore front loaders H4's for my wife. Using the website that Terry posted http://www.energy.wsu.edu/documents/building/res/Eff_appliances.pdf above I took thoses numbers and called my utility company and got currnet rates. Sure they will change - Well gas will, electric is locked in until 2010, but it gave me an idea of what it will take. What I don't know is how does the H4 with its energy saver rating will effect consumption. Any help? I am sure that the Numbers change. Using Jims spread sheet there is a definite diff. in favor of gas. But what about the CO gas factor and the Ion electric factors? Help ! davidmckinney [at] juno [dot] com

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 20:26:45 +0000

I live in Colorado at almost 6,000 ft elevation and am told that burning gas drops in efficient by 4% for every 1,000 ft elevation increase. There is less oxygen here. Also natural gas has a moisture component which must be removed, electric doesnot. I plan to ask the local utility if this is the case, however to be politically correct I don’t expect an answer.

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 00:41:23 +0000

Thanks for all these helpful comments. I will be needing a new dryer very soon and currently have electric. I will probably stay with elec because I don’t want to pay the hook-up fee to PSE&G. This thread has been great to read, thanks Jim!

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 10:06:57 +0000

Since the gas bill is in listed in therms, you might just want to calculate the cost per therm instead of the cost per BTU. You have taken into account the conversion from therm to BTU in cell G6, but it would more accurate to have /100000BTU in cell F6.One other factor you need to add to your spreadsheet is that a gas dryer also uses electricity. You can view a document at the following link that shows the annual energy consumption of gas and electric dryers as well as other appliances. The file was found at multiple sites in many different formats, but they all have the exact same data. http://www.energy.wsu.edu/documents/building/res/Eff_appliances.pdf

By: Nic

Nic — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:00:00 +0000

Thanks to all that have crunched the numbers. Bottom line on cost varies. They are getting close to the same. So I want my decision will be a subjective one. I have heard…Clothes
are more uniformly dry when using gas. I also understand that gas dryer do not cause Static cling. Having the gas supply to the dryer will increase the marketability of your home. Of course you can now brag to your neighbor about all the cool information you learned on this website. Thanks, Nic

By: jim

jim — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 18:07:14 +0000

Thanks, I realized the logic bug in the calculation. If the break-even time was negative (meaning you’d *never* break-even), it’ll show electric.