Heating & appliances
Propane clothes dryers
A propane clothes dryer heats with a gas burner instead of an electric element, so it generally dries faster than a standard electric dryer and still plugs into an ordinary household outlet for the drum and controls. Buy a gas model set up for propane or have it converted, vent it outdoors in metal duct, clean the lint screen every load, and get a leak test and a shut-off valve within 6 feet at hookup.
Updated · American River Gas office, Newcastle
How a gas dryer differs from an electric one
Both types tumble clothes in a drum and blow warm air through them. The difference is the heat. An electric dryer uses a resistance element, while a gas dryer lights a burner. The Propane Education & Research Council says propane dryer burners generally run from about 18,000 to 30,000 Btu per hour, with electric dryers at the low end of that range, which is why gas models tend to finish loads faster. PERC also says propane dryers save about 20 percent a year compared with electric models, a trade group figure worth checking against your own rates.
A gas dryer still uses electricity for the motor, drum light and controls, but usually from a standard 120-volt outlet rather than the large 240-volt circuit an electric dryer needs. Check the installation manual for your model.
Propane or natural gas setting
Gas dryers are made to run on either propane or natural gas, but they ship set for one. As PERC puts it, just let the installer know which gas you use. If your dryer came from a house on natural gas, it needs the maker's propane conversion before it goes on your line. Our guide to converting appliances covers what that involves.
Features that save energy
ENERGY STAR rates dryers by Combined Energy Factor (CEF): the higher the CEF, the more efficient the dryer. Certified models use moisture sensors that stop the cycle when clothes are dry, which saves fuel and wear on fabric. Load size matters too. ENERGY STAR notes that drying a single towel for 30 minutes costs about as much as drying a full load for the same time, so dry full loads that still have room to tumble.
For a fair comparison, ENERGY STAR also points to electric heat pump dryers, which it says use around 70 percent less energy than conventional dryers and need no outside vent. They cost more up front and usually take longer per load. If you are choosing between fuels, compare both on your own electric and propane costs.
Venting and lint: the fire safety part
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that failure to clean was the leading factor in home clothes dryer fires from 2018 to 2020, at 31 percent. Lint is fuel, and a gas dryer has an open flame inside the cabinet, so keep it clean:
- Clean the lint screen before or after every load.
- Vent to the outdoors using the duct material and maximum length your manual allows. Most makers call for metal duct, and short straight runs dry faster.
- Check the outside vent flap now and then to make sure it opens and is not packed with lint, leaves or a nest.
- Have the vent run cleaned out periodically, more often if drying times creep up.
- Plug the dryer directly into a wall outlet, never an extension cord, as the U.S. Fire Administration advises.
Before you buy
- Measure the laundry space, including room behind the dryer for the vent to bend without crushing.
- Confirm the model offers a propane setting or kit, and note the part number.
- Check the outlet: most gas dryers want a standard grounded 120-volt outlet.
- Look at the vent path to the outside and how long it will be.
- Pair washer and dryer capacities so a full wash load fits the drum with room to tumble.
Carbon monoxide and where the dryer sits
A gas dryer sends combustion exhaust out with the moist air, which is one more reason the vent must be sound and must end outdoors, never in a crawlspace, attic or garage. California law requires carbon monoxide alarms in homes with fuel-burning appliances. Propane is heavier than air, so California's Mechanical Code restricts propane appliances in basements, pits and similar low spots, as the Placer County appliance handout explains.
Hooking it up to your propane
Adding a dryer means extending the gas line to the laundry room. PERC notes flexible corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) routes easily in both new and existing homes. The new connection gets a leak test, and the dryer needs its own shut-off valve within 6 feet. A dryer is one of the smaller loads on a home propane system, but tell us when you add one so your account and delivery timing reflect it. If you smell gas, leave the building first, then call 911 and us from outside.
Questions
Straight answers
Is a propane dryer cheaper to run than an electric dryer?
The Propane Education & Research Council says propane dryers save about 20 percent a year compared with electric models. Your result depends on local propane and electric prices, so compare with your own bills.
Does a propane dryer need a 240-volt outlet?
Usually not. Most gas dryers run the drum and controls from a standard 120-volt outlet. Check your model's installation manual.
Can I use a natural gas dryer on propane?
Only after the maker's propane conversion is installed by a qualified technician. Many gas dryers are designed to be set for either fuel.
How often should I clean the dryer vent?
Clean the lint screen every load and have the vent run cleaned periodically. Longer drying times are a sign the vent needs attention.
Related
Keep reading
Sources: Propane Education & Research Council: residential clothes dryers (opens in a new tab) · ENERGY STAR: clothes dryers (CEF, sensors, heat pump dryers) (opens in a new tab) · U.S. Fire Administration: appliance and electrical fire safety (dryer fires) (opens in a new tab) · Placer County Building Services: propane appliances handout (California Mechanical Code 303.7.1) (opens in a new tab)
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