Buying guide for Best gas dryers
Did you know there are alternatives to electric dryers? Gas dryers get their heat from burning propane or natural gas. Most major dryer brands make and sell them with the same styles and features as their electric counterparts. Sometimes the only difference between a certain dryer model is whether it runs only on electricity or on natural gas (with electricity to run the drum motor). Gas dryers have a reputation for being able to dry clothes more quickly than electric dryers. The shorter drying time makes them a little gentler on clothes, and they generate less static cling.
Gas dryers do have some drawbacks. You need natural gas service and a convenient hookup to use one of these dryers. Installing a gas line in your home is not for the inexperienced and is best left to professionals. Many gas dryers can run on a liquid propane (LP) tank with a special adapter, but double-check before purchasing. Natural gas also comes with concerns about indoor air quality and environmental effects. Some U.S. cities and states have taken action to ban natural gas hookups in new buildings. Natural gas remains cheaper than electricity, but the prices have risen. That said, if your laundry area already has a gas line and you’re comfortable with the pros and cons, a gas dryer might be a good choice for your home.
After researching gas dryers from leading brands, we narrowed our list down to seven for your consideration. Our top pick is the feature-packed Samsung Smart Dial Gas Dryer with FlexDry, while our more value-packed option is the LG Large Capacity Vented Stackable Gas Dryer with Sensor Dry. Many of our picks can be adapted to work with LP tanks.
Best gas dryers
If it’s features you want, Samsung delivers. This dryer is 46 inches tall and 27 inches wide and offers not one but two separate dryers: the 7.5-cubic-foot main tumbler drum and a small rack dryer on top for delicates, shoes or other small items. This Samsung dryer is WiFi enabled and can be controlled via the SmartThings app, including via Alexa and Google Assistant. You can set dryer cycles, get timer alerts and more from your smartphone.
The stainless steel drum is designed to prevent scratching and catching, while the Smart Dial control keeps track of your favorite cycles and settings. This gas dryer has a sensor for optimized drying, steam drying and sanitizing, vent sensors to track lint buildup and a handy interior drum light. With its secondary dryer unit, this dryer is not stackable. The appliance can be converted to run on propane and is Energy Star certified.
For a full-featured and stackable solution that’s half the price of our top pick, this model is ideal for anyone short on laundry space who still needs to wash big loads. The capacity of 7.4 cubic feet is large enough to dry a king-size comforter. A sensor detects moisture levels in the drum and automatically adjusts the cycle time for best results, regardless of the load size.
A moistening feature adds up to 3 hours of extra tumble time to help fight wrinkles, while the SpeedDry cycle can finish a smaller load in as little as 15 minutes. The dimensions (27 inches wide and 30 inches deep) help it fit in closets and other areas where a stackable washer and dryer combo is practical. An LPG connection kit is included, and the dryer is Energy Star certified.
The sleek and stylish Whirlpool vented gas dryer is our expert’s go-to model, which she endorses for its ease of use and setup. The 7.4-cubic-foot dryer is designed to stand side-by-side with a washer, although at 33 inches it’s a little deeper than some other models.
This Whirlpool dryer has a porcelain drum boasting four baffles to fluff and disperse clothes for more even drying, and you can leave a load tumbling for up to 150 extra minutes without heat to reduce wrinkling. Its three sensors make automated cycles responsive to moisture and temperature, while a heat-sanitizing option kills 99.9% of common disease-causing bacteria. A digital control panel helps guide the appropriate cycle combinations for your laundry.
This Energy Star-certified gas dryer has an energy-saving EcoBoost mode that lowers the drum heat and extends the running time.
If you want a simple, straightforward gas dryer without all the bells and whistles, this is the one for you. With a classic finish, square door and rotary electro-mechanical control knobs, operation is simple and intuitive.
Beneath the simplicity, it offers dependable features like sensor-based AutoDry to save energy, and an aluminized alloy drum to increase heat efficiency and reduce wear. The dryer measures 27 inches wide and less than 30 inches deep, and it’s designed to minimize noise while running. This GE gas dryer is compatible with LP via an optional conversion kit.
The Samsung DVG55CG7100WA3 smart front-load gas dryer stands out with its generous 7.4 cu. ft. capacity and a range of innovative features designed for optimal fabric care. The inclusion of a steam cycle not only efficiently eliminates wrinkles and odors but also goes the extra mile by removing 95% of pollen from fabrics, contributing to a thorough and hygienic laundry experience.
The Wi-Fi Connectivity with the SmartThings app enhances convenience, allowing users to remotely start, schedule, and receive end-of-cycle alerts on their smartphone or tablet. The Sensor Dry technology prevents over-drying, ensuring that fabrics are treated with care. The control panel, complete with audio assistance and braille, makes this dryer accessible to a wide range of users, and the internal drum light provides clear visibility of the contents so you never leave a sock behind.
Rounding out the Samsung’s features set are five temperature levels and 12 cycles, providing versatility for various laundry needs. Overall, the Samsung DVG55CG7100WA3 combines cutting-edge technology with thoughtful design elements to deliver reliability and efficiency.
This Whirlpool vented gas dryer occupies the middle ground between flashy, full-featured models and classic, simpler appliances. At 7 cubic feet, it’s roomy but slightly smaller than our other picks, and it is sized to fit in smaller spaces or closets. The AutoDry feature refers to its sensor-based operation that ends a cycle when the clothes are dry.
One thing that sets this Whirlpool dryer apart from the others is its hamper door that opens flat to create a platform on which you can set wet clothes from the dryer or dried clothes for sorting. With multiple AutoDry levels, three heat levels, a wrinkle-fighting tumble option and the ability to turn off cycle alerts, this is a capable dryer made in the U.S., and it can be adapted for LP tanks.
This large-capacity (7.3 cubic feet) LG gas dryer shares a number of features with its stackable cousin. It has a sensor that adjusts drying time for several different levels of dryness, as well as timed drying for specific durations. It is said to reduce energy usage some 20% compared to other models.
This dryer features a control lock mode, an aluminized alloy drum and a pleasant notification chime. Intermittent tumbling safeguards against wrinkles for up to three hours, and a clear glass window lets you keep track of its progress. It is not WiFi compatible, but it uses audio tones to communicate with LG’s smartphone app for troubleshooting. This model also senses if the ducts and vents need cleaning and if it has been installed correctly. The dryer is Energy Star certified and convertible for propane use.
With its 8-cubic-foot capacity, this Energy Star-certified Electrolux model easily handles bulky items. Numerous features, such as the LuxCare sensor dry system, Activewear care mode, 15-minute Fast Dry option and Perfect Steam mode compare favorably to other dryers on this list, though it lacks Wi-Fi or smart connectivity. One notable option on the Electrolux dryer is the Instant Refresh mode, which freshens up clean or lightly soiled items in 10 minutes without washing. A propane converter kit is available with this dryer.
What to know before buying a gas dryer
Size and capacity
A dryer should have around twice the capacity of your washing machine, since clothes, towels and bedding take up more room when dry. For example, if your washer measures 4 cubic feet, you need a dryer with at least 8 cubic feet of capacity. Compact gas dryers large enough for the use of one or two people measure around 3.4 cubic feet, while full-size dryers range from 7.3 to 8.3 cubic feet. With a smaller dryer, you’ll have to do loads more frequently.
Also, check the outer dimensions of the dryer to make sure it will fit in your laundry area. Gas dryers need at least an inch of space on all sides and more at the back for the vent duct, power cord and gas line.
Drum type
Gas dryer drums are typically either all metal or ceramic coated. All-metal drums made of stainless steel or aluminized alloy are less likely to rust, and they won’t suffer the scratches from metal zippers or buttons that coated drums can. Whichever drum type you choose, try to find a model with a light inside the drum, making it easier to see stray socks.
Controls
The controls on gas dryers range from basic rotary knobs to digital panels. High-end gas dryers offer touchpads and dials to navigate through their array of cycles and options. Whichever control option you choose, make sure it’s convenient to reach, especially on a stackable model that sits on top of a washing machine. A lighted control panel is useful if your laundry area is dimly lit.
It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re waiting for a load to dry, but you want to remove items as quickly as possible to prevent wrinkling. Look for a gas dryer with a signal that alerts you when your laundry is dry.
Modes and cycles
A dryer’s different cycles are suited to different fabric types and may help protect fabrics, reduce power use or shorten cycle duration.
Sensor-based automatic mode: For the most efficient drying, choose a model with a sensor-based mode that automatically adjusts the drying time according to the amount of moisture detected in the load.
Extended tumble: If you’re tired of having to iron clothes, opt for a gas dryer that continues to tumble the load periodically after the cycle ends. This keeps wrinkles and creases from setting in the fabric if you aren’t able to remove the items from the dryer right away.
Automatic cool down: Gas dryers can get very hot, so it’s a good idea to choose a model that automatically cools down. It works by gradually lowering the heat at the end of a cycle until the load is eventually being tumbled without any heat at all. It can help protect heat-sensitive synthetic fabrics and prevent wrinkles from forming.
Other cycles to look for include the following:
- Air-Dry: Uses no heat for delicate items that shouldn’t be dried in warm air
- Normal: Uses medium heat for laundry that doesn’t require special care
- Heavy-Duty: Uses higher heat for items like towels, jeans and bedding
- Permanent Press: Uses medium heat to help smooth wrinkles and prevent creases
- Delicate: Uses extremely low temperatures for lightweight, loosely woven fabrics
- Express: Increases airflow to dry laundry quickly
- Eco-Mode: Monitors laundry to reduce energy use
- Steam: Wets and tumbles laundry with heat to remove wrinkles and odors
- Sanitize: Removes germs and bacteria with steam or very high heat
Energy Star certification
Energy Star is a voluntary labeling program that tells you that a product has been independently certified to meet energy-efficiency standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Buying an Energy Star-certified gas dryer is a quick way to ensure you’re making the most energy-conscious choice.
NSF rating
If you’re concerned about germs, look for a model that’s rated by the National Sanitary Foundation (NSF). Certified gas dryers can remove 99.9% of the bacteria, germs and other microorganisms that might be found in your laundry.
Extra features
Some gas dryers are equipped with extras such as the following to make drying your laundry even easier.
Drying rack: A rack keeps items like tennis shoes or delicate hats from getting banged around and possibly damaged in the dryer.
Wi-Fi: Dryers that support Wi-Fi can connect to a smartphone app or smart home network, allowing you to set cycles, receive alerts and monitor the status of your clothes no matter where you are.
FAQ
Q. How much do gas dryers cost?
A. Gas dryer prices range from just below $600 to over $2,000. Compact gas dryers that offer a capacity of no more than 6.5 cubic feet and basic cycle options cost about $600. Full-size gas dryers that offer 7.3 to 8.3 cubic feet, a variety of cycle options and extra conveniences can cost $800 to $1,000. High-tech dryers with plenty of extra features, including WiFi and steam, or those larger than 8.3 cubic feet can cost up to $2,000.
Q. Can I install a gas dryer myself?
A. Because a gas dryer must be connected to a dedicated gas line, you shouldn’t attempt to install it yourself unless you’re a professional plumber. There is the potential for gas leaks, which can put your home and family at great risk. A gas dryer should always be installed by a licensed plumber or other qualified heating contractor.
Q. Are gas dryers safe?
A. Gas dryers have a couple of health concerns that electric dryers don’t. A leaky gas dryer or gas line hookup can vent natural gas into your home, creating a fire and health hazard. Also, gas dryers vent deadly carbon monoxide (CO). Make sure your gas dryer vent doesn’t leak into your home but only vents outside where the carbon monoxide can dissipate.
Q. How long should a gas dryer last?
A. The average home dryer, whether gas or electric, should last around a decade. However, it’s important to use the dryer properly and follow the routine maintenance procedures laid out in the owner’s manual to keep the appliance in proper working order.
