Electric vs. gas dryers: which is best?

Updated on March 4, 2024

3-minute read

Electric vs. gas dryers: which is best?

Updated on March 4, 2024

3-minute read

Many of us have used the same old dryer for decades without really thinking about it. A dryer’s a dryer, right? Well, you might be surprised to learn that new, energy-efficient dryers can save energy and significantly impact your energy bills long-term.

ENERGY STAR®-certified dryers use about 20% less energy than your old dryer, and you can save twice that by pairing it with a new efficient washer. That’s worth something!

Most homeowners in Alberta use electric dryers, as they are the cheapest and easiest to install and come with a few options. Gas-heated dryers are more expensive to install but can be cheaper to operate. We’ll get into those details later. First, let's go over how a dryer works!

How a dryer works

Clothes dryers use an electric motor to turn a drum while an electric coil or gas flame feeds hot air inside. As the clothes turn and tumble, the air and moisture from your wet clothes are vented outside, drying your laundry.

As mentioned, you have a few dryer options. Gas is less expensive to run, while electric dryers cost less to buy and install. Electric dryers also present a heat pump option, but which is best for you?

Electric dryers

Electric dryers are the most common. They’re generally affordable and super easy to install. Just buy one, have it delivered, attach it to the outdoor air vent and plug it in! But electricity is more expensive than gas, making your electric dryer less energy and cost-efficient to run.

Ventless dryers

Homeowners with less space or without access to outside ventilation can consider a ventless dryer. These appliances use condensation to collect and send water vapour from your clothing into a drainpipe and collection tank. A ventless dryer reuses the air from the previous cycle and loops it back through the condenser. Then, it’s used for the next dry cycle.

Heat pump dryers

Heat pump dryers use 20 to 60% less energy than a standard electric dryer. They use and recirculate ambient heat to dry clothes while removing moisture. If your household goes through a lot of laundry, you have a big saving potential with this option. They are more expensive than a standard electric dryer, but you’ll see a return with long-term energy savings. Heat pump dryers are easier on your clothes, too.

Gas dryers

Gas dryers are not as common in Alberta, but they are still used and are an option to consider. Gas dryers look and work like electric dryers, except they use natural gas instead of electricity for the heat source. If you want a gas dryer, you’ll need a gas and electrical hookup to install it.

Gas dryers are more efficient and have a shorter dry time than electric dryers. Plus, natural gas costs less than electricity, making it cheaper to run. However, they are more expensive upfront. The appliance costs more, and you’ll have to worry about installing a natural gas hookup in your laundry room if you don’t already have one. That can be a headache.

If your laundry room has a gas line nearby, and you’re most interested in a natural gas dryer, it might be worth getting a quote for a gas hookup. A licensed gas fitting contractor can provide a quote.

Choose an energy-efficient dryer!

Whatever power source you choose, you’ll save the most energy with an ENERGY STAR®-certified dryer. As we already mentioned, you can save up to 20% compared to an older inefficient model and up to 60% with an electric heat pump dryer.

Want to continue your research? ENERGY STAR® provides some great tips for choosing an energy-efficient dryer.

Electric vs. gas dryers: which is best?