Converting to gas dryer

[fenneran]

Our electric dryer caught fire this weekend /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif (othing major..luckily we were nearby at the time) and are now in the market for a new one. I have heard that a gas dryer is better all around (quicker drying, more efficient, cheaper to operate, etc). So, for the vast expanse of TBN knowledge, I have the following questions:
1. Are my assumptions correct in a gas dryer being better? (this would be propane, not NG)
2. Our current W/D setup is in the kitchen and the lint/dust vent goes into the basement. I'm assuming I need a vent for the combustion event as well. Can I run this pipe through the floor and then out the basement wall? Or would this be too much "down" before venting?
3. Can a new electric dryer be just as efficient as a gas one?
4 Are there any other factors to consider?

Thanks in advance

-Frank

 

[JATO_RaT]

Our next dryer will be gas (LPG). Folks who converted from eletric to gas for the most part really are happy with them. The things often mentioned are, gas dryers dry faster, leave the clothes a little more "hung on the clothesline" like feel/smell and noticed a sizeable decrease in the electric bill and little increase in the gas bill. I don't know about the clothesline smell/feel, but the other two sound feasible. Rat...

 

[gerard]

There is no separate vent for combustion gases, they just exit with the exhaust air. Also most come equipped for natural gas, you need to change the orifice size for propane or tell them to equip for propane when you buy. Not sure if venting into your basement would be a problem. They don't run that much, probably not any more than a gas stove and they don't get vented to the outside........I vent to the outside because it just introduces too much humidity, more than I need, even in winter.......

 

[Rubintropfen]

Well, the difference is just in how you make heat. You will need about the same heat output to dry the clothes, regardless of whether it is gas or electric.

I've read that one gallon of propane has the same energy content as 26.9 KWH of electricity. So, what do you expect to pay for propane? What do you expect to pay for electricity? Do the math.

Another issue might be that most of the new dryers can sense the moisture level and stop the dryer when the clothes are dry (i.e. not after a time set by the owner). I'll bet the units with the best control and feedback systems are sometimes considerably more efficient.

My natural gas dryer exhausts (nearly all) of the combustion gases through the clothes drum and out the vent to the outside.

 

[fenneran]

Thanks to all. I stopped by Lowe's tonight and found one of their clearance models and the last one they had, so got a pretty decent deal on it. Now to hook it all up so momma is happy (and I can stop going to the laudromat!)

-Frank

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Gas driers live 3 times longer than electric driers. Venting the drier properly will require a clean vent pipe, and it should be maintained yearly (lint removal).
When it is installed, the installer should run a draft test to be sure products of combustion are leaving the house.
Plastic vent hoses are not recommended on gas driers.
Many propane vendors also sell equipment, and are well versed on the proper installation. Most appliance dealers aren't conversant with propane and properly setting up appliances to run on propane.

 

[thcri]

Well being somewhat in the business I would have to disagree on the gas dryer lasting longer than the electric. Electric you have an electric element, you have a motor/blower and some kind of fancy device to select heat and run time. Gas, well you got glow plugs, gas valves, gas regulators, loc-out devices, proving sensors, motor/blower and this fancy device to control temperature and run time.

The gas can nickel and dime you to death. Operation, gas is definately cheaper to run, especially natural. Gas is quicker if vented properly. But you have so many more items in a gas that usually over a ten year period the operation/maintenance repairs added all up end up being about the same for both.

I just built a new house, got natural gas but I still went electric.


Murph

 

[Anonymous Poster]

And electric heating elements never burn up, and overtemp klixons never fail, and the off shore built thermostats and clocks have sufficient contact area. Yup, electric is better, for guys in the business.

 

[JATO_RaT]

A couple of years ago, I took my moms old gas dryer to the dump. It still worked beautifully, but one of my sisters gave her a brand new electric dryer that just looked nicer with more buttons and fancy looks. The electric dryer worked fine, but the old gas one did too. Oh yeah, the gas dryer was purchased in 1954 and did require one repair. The fan bushings never received a drop of oil in their life and eventually developed/wore enough play to make a noise. To my surprise, they still sold the fan and bushings. I replaced the fan (not motor) and it was a thing of beauty to see it back to new. I miss that dryer. As a child I would peep through the little "spy hole" near the base to see the flame. Rat...

 

[Wingnut]

we have a gas (propane) dryer ... paid top dollar (stacked set w/ front load washer & dryer). Now about 5 years old.
Always had electric before.
Based on this, I'd have to say ... I'll switch back to electric when this sucker goes bye-bye. I have to assume that my spouse knows how to wash as well as I do ... after all, she reaised 3 boys ... and I know that using the electric dryers, I NEVER had clothes shrink on me. I mean shrink as in the sleeves and legs are shorter, not as in my belt is too tight. I can't count the number of shirts I have now that have sleeves too short ... that I KNOW fit just fine when I bought them.
Bottom line ...bought gas 'cause the wife assured me (she'd always had gas) it was better than high-priced electricity. After 5 years of high propane prices and reasonable power costs (and ruined clothes) ... I disagree.

pete

 

[fishman]

Yes, yes it's the dryer that's shrinking my clothes, not me expanding. I like your thinking. Now, if I can convince everyone else. . . pass the pizza! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Might I humbly suggest you check the handy dandy fabric care label attached to those shirts. You'll need a magnifying glass to read it.
Also, check the plastic content of the fabric.
Garments, I hesitate to call them clothes, today are manufactured from PLASTIC, unlike years gone by, and plastic has interesting propertys when attacked by chlorine and cooked at high temperatures.
What my wife can do to a teeshirt in a few trips thru the laundry process is amazing in terms of shrinkage. I seriously doubt the operating temperature in a gas drier is much different than that in an electric drier.
I've seen what commercial laundry equipment can do to hospital scrubs, when the operator overuses the equipment and hauls a lump of plastic out of the machine scrubs went in to.

 

[thcri]

Franz,

When I said I am somewhat in the business, I meant I am around them mostly on a service basis. I don't sell appliances or residential dryers and never will. In regards to your comment about the electric heater and the klixon. Yes electric heaters fail, and so do klixon's. But I can replace alot of heaters and klixon's before I can change one gas valve. A gas dryer will typically have everything an electric one plus more items. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the more you put into a product the more apt it is to fail. I use to sell LP Gas and repair appliances. I would never take gas based on seeing repairs of the gas over the electric. That's just my experience.

Murph

 

[RAllen]

First, I'm not in the business at all. I just use dryers. I am over 50 years old and have owned exactly two gas dryers. Neither went bad. My current is over 12 years old and has never seen a service man. It's still going strong. I checked with a couple of other folks and no one has seen any problems specific to gas dryers. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I've lived in 4 states and gas is always much cheaper to operate. I bet the money saved in 5 years would pay for a new dryer.

This thread interested me- so I caled the Whirlpool Hotline. According to the person I talked with, there is no appreciable temp. difference in Whirlpool gas and electric dryers.

Personally, I'm glad there's a choice but it seems gas wins in operating costs, at least in my limited experience.

Rick

 

[fenneran]

So now that I have the dryer and want to vent it properly, as opposed to the current vent which is a nylon stocking on the end of the flex tube in the basement, I have a few questions:
1. I know I should use the rigid, smooth metal tubing, but how long can that run be? (only 2 90's: one at the dryer and one to go horizontal in the basement). I will need about 20 feet to get from the current location to the outside wall.
2. Should the horizontal run be:
a) level
b) angled up
c) angled down
d) doesn't matter

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif-Frank /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[JATO_RaT]

Another experience I can relate to are gas water heaters. As an electrcian, I have often been asked to repair water heaters, electric ones. My own personal experience with water heaters is that gas has far less problems then electric ones, in particular, those that use the double switching heating elements (which is most). My personal experience may not reflect yours, but I definitely have trend going that shows the longevity of gas appliances being better. In my area, propane gas is still less to operate then electric, the big difference between gas/electric is the recovery time or in the case of home heating, the time required to get to the desired temperature with gas definitely having the advantage. Rat...

 

[Wingnut]

I would certainly blame me expanding rather than the clothes shrinking .... except getting fat doesn't normally cause your arms to lengthen. I assume that arms woiuld have to lengthen in order for the sleeves to suddenly be too short?

But ... to keep the peace, I just buy new shirts rather than suggest she let me do the laundry.
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[weedsportpete]

Maybe adding a dryer will not make a difference, but we get a quantity discount with our LP gas supplier. Can't get that from an electric utility..

 

[JATO_RaT]

Hehehe, I just thought peoples heads got smaller as the rest expanded. Your a smart man Wingnut. I don't mind doing the laundry, you know, throwing the stuff in the washer and then to the dryer, its the work after that that drives me nuts. My hands and anything fabric just don't coordinate. I don't fold well. Rat...

 

[fractal]

Electricity is 25 cents a kw/hr here. We just sold our 2 yr old electric dryer and bought a brand new gas one. It paid for itself in 4 months. Yeah, natural gas is much less expensive than electricity, at least here in california.

It has been my experience that all dryers will shrink clothes. I never run ours on "normal" or "high" setting. I always use the "low" setting. May take longer but clothes don't shrink as much.

As for ducting issues .. It should be covered in the manual that came with your dryer. It was in mine. You get a certain distance and every 90 degree bend costs distance and the like. There was a wonderful diagram in the paperwork that came with ours. And yes, you must use metal duct pipe with a gas dryer as the combustion exhaust goes out with the lint in the one exhaust.

Do check your local building codes. The county I moved from 3 yrs ago required gas dryers to be so many inches above the floor if located in a garage. Where I am now does not. You might want to make sure.