Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Gas vs. Electric dryer

My dryer crapped out last night and I need a new one (Not a terrible time with Black Friday deals I guess). I have natural gas in the house and a line running into the laundry room. Should I consider a gas dryer or stay with Electric? I have always had electric so I don't have any experience with gas but I hear they dry better than electric.

cheaper to operate

softer dry.....gas will be more $$ to purchase...from what I researched

have a vent to tie into ? if code allows.......

I am considering...but I have to run supply line.......as well as tie into furnace vent...if permitted

gas by far is the best, IMO. I have had gas for the past 23 years. Gas fireplace, gas water heater, gas stove top, and gas household heat as well. Fool proof, even after tornadoes.

Not permitted, bad idea.

We have used nothing but a gas dryer for many years. My 70 y/o house has only one 220V circuit breaker which is connected to the well pump now, since a new well was drilled close to the house, and I didn't want to use the 220 from the detached garage.

Gas dryers run on 110V to tumble, and a gas line was close to the laundry room. What became a necessity of using gas turned into cost savings. The gas dryer is far more efficient from our experience. It heats instantly and cools down quicker. It's noisier, however.

You on propane out there or natural gas?

I've had more trouble with gas dryers than electric, so lower utility costs didn't make up for the higher initial costs and repair costs.

I have a gas connection, but went with electric on my last 2 sets (only 2 because we built a new house and wife had to have a different color... ).

Propane

It's not as efficient as natural, but the electric dryers were eating us up.




What kind of troubles? In 15 years I replaced one igniter. I replaced several heat elements in the electric dryer we kept and used in the garage. Third time it failed it went to the metal recycler.

My experience; 30 years in the Marine Corps, stationed all over the US. Have used both and had the lowest expense and problems with gas.

Replaced the thermostat in the last one (Kenmore) 2 or 3 times.

With electric deregulation and picking my plan, I didn't notice much difference on energy costs myself. In this house (150% of the size of the prior house), our electric bill is lower than the last house! And we have a pool!

That reminds me. I replaced a thermostat in the electric one we finally dumped. I cannibalized another one that had died and was out in the metal pile, so it didn't cost more than some creative swearing.

Probably buying a place in Stagecoach. I was surprised it was on natural gas. Mostly Propane east of Dayton.

thx.......wasn't sure.......4" furnace vent was close.......

didn't know if I could use it.......

Thanks to everyone for the input... we are on natural gas. Are there any secrets to hooking up the natural Gas? I assume I need a wrench and some pipe thread tape. The line going into the laundry room is capped right now

JMHO, but I'd pay someone that knows what they're doing to mess with pressurized gas line...

Second that....

No problem at all. Gas is about a third the cost of running an electric dryer. You will need a couple of wrenches though.

I assume that some where you can turn off the gas supply your house.( shut the gas off) You will need an appliance flexible gas line and fittings.. Length is limited to certain diameters. Probably you will need !/2" diameter. Put a shut off valve on the end of the existing stub, approved for natural gas. If the flex line is too short to couple to, you will need to add std steel black pipe (not galvanized pipe).You can buy pre-threaded pipe in lengths from 3" to 20 feet.( I wold put the hard pipe on before the shut off valve). Then the flex line the dryer. If there already is a valve on the end of the stub you are really set to go. Just make sure you buy the right fittings to get from the valve to the flex line You will also need pipe compound for sealing and a bottle of leak detector. Use a new flex line. Hook every thing up and with the shutoff valve turned in the off position turn on the gas supply.Check for leaks at the valve and any new pipe added with the liquid leak detector. Fix if required. Open the shut off valve and check for leaks between it and the dryer, using the liquid leak detector. Turn on valve and be generous with the liquid leak detector.Dry off and repeat. If all OK , procede with the vent installation.

If there is gas stub in the laundry room,there might already be a vent. Since you already had the electric dryer, there probably is one you can use.

If not:

If you are putting it in a basement ,you will need to run a vent at least up to the top of the concrete and out the rim joist. So you will need a vent kit and they sell flexible vent line. Solid is better, but the flexible is OK ..
If in an above ground location, or thru a framed wall, run the vent out the wall. Again you will need a vent kit and vent line.Make sure the vent is above the height of any snow you get if you do.Either way,you will need a reciprocating saw. If cutting thru a wall that has wall board. Cut the wall board first and inspect for any electric lines present.

I plumed my entire basement for gas 40 years. Added gas dryer, gas fire places and gas hot water tank.Use common sense, be careful and you won't have a problem.

I have a gas dryer that was new when I was in high school. Not a part on it you can't buy and replace yourself.

Bet i haven't spent $400 on it in thirty years.