Have you ever wondered the difference between high-efficiency and regular clothes dryers? Dryer energy usage varies drastically depending on the model. For example, a new study by Ecova found that 30% of currently available clothes dryers are less efficient than their newer counterparts. With this in mind, consider these three features when looking for your next purchase!
Gas vs. Electric Clothes Dryers
When considering the energy use of dryers, they seem to vary very little in terms of performance. However, when including other factors such as converting and delivering gas or electricity into your home, standard electric models will consume much more than their gas counterparts– one-third more! This translates not only to fuel usage but also to CO2 emissions, which You can reduce significantly by opting for a natural gas model instead.
Gas clothes dryers are the better choice if you’re looking for a low-cost, high-efficiency option. They use less energy than electric models and require no pilot light to ignite them. The only downside is that gas combustion byproducts might be introduced into your home if they aren’t properly vented outside of it through an exhaust pipe or venting system (we recommend both).
Automatic Shut-Off Technology
Other than fuel type, the major energy consideration is whether or not termination controls are used to sense dryness and turn off automatically. If this feature is present on your specific dryer machine model, you should take advantage because it can save up to 20% in annual costs!
The time it takes for your clothes to dry depends on the type of fabric and how much moisture they have. Different fabrics absorb water at different rates; cotton absorbs more than wool does, so you might be able to get away with setting a lower timer if you’re washing washcloths or towels compared to a wool jacket that needs closer attention.
You can save a significant amount of energy by buying a model that senses dryness and automatically shuts off. Most people don’t realize this, but it is estimated that using electric clothes dryers for 15 minutes will use as much power as running your dishwasher or washing machine for 3 hours!
The best clothes dryers have moisture sensors in the drum for sensing when clothes are no longer wet, while others only infer by measuring exhaust air. Lower-cost thermostat-controlled models may overdry some types of clothing, but even these are much better than timed drying machines and save you money on your electric bill!
If you’re looking to save a little money on your clothes in the long run, it might be worth investing in equipment that can sense temperature and moisture levels. By doing so, not only will you reduce energy costs-saving about 10% with heating control or up to 20% by using cooling controls – but also keep your clothing from being too worn-out if overdried, saving them for more wear before they need to be replaced.
Clothes Dryer Permanent Press Technology
The energy used for ironing clothes is not technically part of the energy used for washing or drying clothes, but it’s closely related. If you take your laundry out of the dryer while still slightly damp and then hang them up to air-dry a little more before putting them away in their proper place, they may never need an iron!
Moisture-sensing automatic shutoff is a cool feature for drying clothes and reducing wrinkles. If you want to go the extra mile, an even better option would be adding in features that tumble or fluff your laundry periodically after it’s finished with its cycle, so they don’t get too wrinkled up while sitting motionless in there!
Be aware, however, that the “wrinkle-guard” cycle on some models tumbles clothes continuously for an hour or so after the cycle completes. This can increase energy use by 10%. Look for a machine with moisture sensors and periodic tumbling to minimize wrinkling and save money!
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