propane or electric clothes dryer

[wilson]

just bought a place in gaylord mi. which is the better way to go? propane or electric dryer??? what are your thoughts?
thanks

[scott_l]

is there currently one in there?

If no how far/how much work to either get gas or electric to the area you want to put one?

[wilson]

the house has both, i need to buy a dryer, don't know which would be more economical to operate

[lenny]

long term propane would be more cost effective. Here is a calculator to check it. Keep in mind the gas dryer will cost more but if you are gonna stay for a few years you will break even and start paying less

http://suhresgas.com/propane_vs_electric.htm

[polarisrider1]

Heating anything with electric is expensive.

[frnash]

Heating anything with electric is expensive.

That depends …
If you're on a "time-of-use" rate schedule from your electric utility company, and you can get by with operating the electric dryer only during "off peak" hours, it may not be that bad.

Example: In Phoenix, AZ the "off-peak" (all day on Saturday & Sunday, and midnight-noon & 7PM-midnight on weekdays) energy charge on Arizona Public Service (APS) Rate Schedule ET-1 in the summer is 6.126 cents per kWh, while the "on-peak" (noon-7PM weekdays) it is 24.445 cents per kWh. So if you can just deal with NOT running the electric dryer on weekdays from noon 'til 7PM, it's not so bad, but running the dryer during the "on-peak" time period will cost you four times as much!

[Administrator]

If I lived in Phoenix AZ, I would just hang them outside to dry.

Ba dump, dump! Thanks, I'll be here all week!

-John

[frnash]

If I lived in Phoenix AZ, I would just hang them outside to dry.

Ba dump, dump! Thanks, I'll be here all week!

-John

Good one, John; in fact, sometimes I just run the dryer with no heat, just to stir things around while the ambient heat does the drying (The dryer is in a small utility room behind the garage, no A/C there.)!

[yamahauler]

I would agree propane is probably cheaper in the long run but I can't stand the smell of my clothes after going through a gas dryer.

[arcticgeorge]

I would agree propane is probably cheaper in the long run but I can't stand the smell of my clothes after going through a gas dryer.

...........My sister had propane and said she did not like the smell of propane through her clothes so they switched to electric. Now natural gas doesnt stay with the clothes in my experience.

[Team Elkhorn]

Had the builder install gas lines for the stove and dryer when we bought our new house. We always used gas appliances in the past, but the house came with electric hookups. We had issues with the gas dryer overheating. Something about the vent being too long, (25 feet). Switched to an electric dryer and it solved the problem. And actually dried the clothes better and faster. We didn't see a noticable difference in our utility bill. Where we live the gas and electric bill is combined.

[anonomoose]

Over the years, natural gas was cheaper to run than electric.

However, recently with prices of gas, both natural and cng on the rise, the difference is marginal at best. The variables are, what will it cost for you to run the electricity to the unit, or the cost to run a gas line, the cost of or rate you pay for both gas and electric, and where you live (can you run the electric exhaust into your house to offset the cost of your furnace)...and so on.

I have had both, and after trying to figure it all out, my head hurt.

Gas driers still use electric to roll the drum, and set off the buzzer :-)

You should never exhaust the gas dryer into the house but you can humidify your home air in winter with an electric unit.

Anyone who buys one or the other trying to save money because....just didn't do the math because they are very close when you enter all t he factors including how much you use it....which affects the life of the unit, and repair costs.

In the end, I have decided that I like electric because it is a bit safer to use.

Otherwise, flip a coin.

I know, that folks swear by one or the other but in reality, it all comes down to what you want to use. Cost saving really doesn't enter into it....and if you really want to save a nickle...drive right past the beer store on friday nite and you will save the difference either way.

[chords]

Take ad vantage of the sun and those N'Westerly brezzes in Gaylord area. Hang your sheeet out to dry. How much you gonna use a dryer ? Go electric with a copper wire.