A clothes dryer removes moisture from wet laundry by tumbling clothes in a rotating drum while circulating hot air. The process works in three simple steps:
- Heat: Air is heated and blown into the drum.
- Tumble: A motor rotates the drum at a slow speed, tumbling the clothes to expose all surfaces to the warm air.
- Vent: The hot, humid air picks up moisture from the clothes and is vented outside the house.
Types of Clothes Dryers
Clothes dryers are powered by one of two energy sources:
Understanding Dryer Efficiency: The Energy Factor
Unlike refrigerators or washing machines, clothes dryers are not required to display EnergyGuide labels, and energy consumption does not vary dramatically among comparable models. However, efficiency is still measured using a metric called the Energy Factor (EF).
- What is Energy Factor?
Think of it like "miles per gallon" for your car—but for dryers, it measures pounds of clothing dried per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy used. - Minimum Standards:
- Standard electric dryer: EF ≥ 3.01 lbs/kWh
- Standard gas dryer: EF ≥ 2.67 lbs/kWh
(Note: Gas dryer ratings are still expressed in kWh for comparison purposes, even though natural gas provides the heat.)
Because most energy goes to heating—not mechanics—two dryers with similar capacity and features will typically use similar amounts of energy. Your usage habits matter more than the model you choose.
Clothes Dryers: How to save Energy and Money
You can significantly reduce energy use through proper installation, maintenance, and smart laundry habits.
Installation & Venting
- Place your dryer in a conditioned space. Locating it in a cold, damp basement forces the dryer to work harder to heat incoming air.
- Vent properly. Use the shortest, straightest metal duct possible to exhaust air outside. Avoid flexible vinyl ducts—they restrict airflow, can crush easily, and may not withstand high temperatures.
- Seal the exterior vent. Check that the outdoor exhaust flap closes tightly. A loose vent lets cold air leak in (raising heating bills) or warm air escape (raising cooling bills).
Maintenance
- Clean the lint filter after every load. This improves airflow, reduces drying time, and lowers fire risk.
- Inspect the vent hood regularly. Remove lint buildup from the exterior vent to maintain proper airflow.
Smart Usage Habits
- Dry full loads—but don't overload. Full loads maximize efficiency; overloaded drums restrict airflow and extend drying time.
- Sort clothes by fabric type. Lightweight synthetics dry faster than heavy towels or denim. Drying similar items together prevents over-drying some items while waiting for others to finish.
- Dry consecutive loads. The dryer retains heat between cycles, so drying multiple loads in a row uses less energy than spreading them out.
- Use the cool-down (permanent press) cycle. This allows clothes to finish drying using residual heat, saving energy and reducing wrinkles.
- Air-dry when possible. In good weather, hang clothes outside or on an indoor rack. This is the ultimate energy saver—zero electricity or gas used.
Text description of the clothesline image.
The image depicts an outdoor clothesline with various brightly colored garments hanging to dry. The clothes run horizontally across the image and are held in place with clothespins. On the left, a pair of arms is reaching to adjust the clothes.