Buying guide for best gas dryers
A dryer is an essential home appliance – after all, who has the time to wait for laundry to line dry? If you really want to dry your clothes in a hurry, try a gas dryer. It can significantly reduce drying time over electric models.
But selecting a gas dryer can be difficult. There is such a wide variety of models on the market – and so many features to consider – that the options can be overwhelming. While determining the best size and capacity dryer for your home may not be that complicated, settling on the right cycles, control panel, and other features can be a little trickier.
That’s where BestReviews comes in. We’re dedicated to taking the confusion out of shopping for your home, so we provide unbiased recommendations that you can trust. We discuss the products with experts to help identify the top features to look for, evaluate customer feedback, and test leading contenders to see if they meet our high standards. That means we’re able to provide plenty of information to make your shopping process as stress-free as possible.
Looking for a new gas dryer?Our top five recommendations are in the product list above. For general tips on what features to look for, check out our shopping guide.
How do gas dryers work?
Like an electric dryer, a gas dryer uses electricity to power the motor that turns the drum. However, a gas dryer uses a gas burner to burn natural gas to warm the air that dries the clothes.
When the dryer is turned on, a sensor ignites the pilot light and another opens the gas valve. A fan blows the heated air through the appliance until it reaches the right temperature The gas valve then closes.
A thermostat monitors the temperature throughout the drying cycle. If the temperature drops too low, the pilot light ignites, the gas valve opens once more, and the process starts again until the items are fully dried.
Gas Dryer Installation
In order to install a gas dryer in your home, you need a dedicated gas line in the laundry area. If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to have one professionally installed before you can run a gas dryer.
If your home has an existing gas line, you should still have your dryer installed by a professional. Improper installation can lead to a fire, explosion, or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Gas Dryer Benefits
Gas and electric dryers are comparable in many ways, but gas dryers do have a few advantages.
Less Costly to Run: In general, it costs up to 50% less per load to run a gas dryer. That’s because gas is cheaper than electricity in most parts of the country.
Shorter Drying Time: Clothes usually take half as much time to dry in a gas dryer as they do in an electric model.
Easier on Fabrics: Because clothes dry more quickly in a gas dryer, there is less wear and tear on them, which usually means the clothes last longer.
We assess how easy a gas dryer’s control panel is to read. Basic models usually only have dial controls, whereas high-end models have touchpads.
Since consumers prefer laundry that doesn’t come out wrinkled, when researching gas dryers, we note whether each model comes with an extended tumble setting. This helps ensure that clothing comes out smooth.
When researching gas dryers, we learn about the installation process. The goal is to avoid serious hazards such as fire, explosion, or carbon monoxide poisoning. In most cases, it’s best to hire a professional.
In our research, we note the capacity and size of each gas dryer on our list. There are three main sizes: compact (3.4 cubic feet of capacity), full-size (7.3 to 8.3 cubic feet of capacity), and oversized ( 9 cubic feet of capacity). The size you need largely depends on the size of your household.
Since gas dryers are a bit of an investment, we note whether they come with a warranty, and if so, how long that warranty lasts. Most warranties are valid for one to two years with the option to buy an extension.
In our research, we look with favor upon dryers that are NSF approved. This means the National Sanitary Foundation tested them and deemed them able to remove 99.9% of bacteria, germs, and other microorganisms.
A gas dryer drum may be made of stainless steel or ceramic-coated stainless steel. In our research, we have noted little difference between the two except that stainless steel won’t rust or scratch.
When researching gas dryers, we consider how many settings each machine offers. Because a range of settings can properly clean a range of fabrics, we tend to value those that have air dry, normal, heavy-duty, permanent press, delicate, express, eco mode, steam, and sanitize settings.
We are keenly interested in gas dryers with dampness sensors. This technology monitors the dampness of the laundry and automatically turns the dryer off when its contents are completely dry.
Gas dryers tend to run hotter than electric dryers. Thus, in our research, we often look for models with an automatic cool-down feature.
Gas dryer features to consider
Size and capacity
Getting the size right for your gas dryer goes a long way toward making sure that you can do your laundry as efficiently as possible.
Compact gas dryers have 3.4 cubic feet of capacity.
Most full-size gas dryers range from 7.3 to 8.3 cubic feet of capacity.
Some oversized gas dryers have 9 cubic feet of capacity
The best size dryer for your home depends on the size of your household. A compact unit is usually large enough if you’re only doing laundry for one to two people, but you likely won’t be able to accommodate large bedding items in your dryer. You’ll want more dryer capacity for a larger household.
The easiest way to determine dryer size is to consider the capacity of your washing machine. In general, your gas dryer’s capacity should be about double that of your washer. For example, if your washer has 4 cubic feet of capacity, you’ll want a dryer with at least 8 cubic feet.
Drum
Gas dryer drums are made of either stainless steel or ceramic-coated stainless steel. You won’t notice much difference between the two in terms of performance or energy efficiency, but stainless steel drums are less likely to rust, and they won’t suffer scratches from metal zippers or buttons as easily as coated models will.
You may also want to consider a gas dryer with a drum light. It’s easier to see stray socks if the interior of your dryer is illuminated.
Control panel
A gas dryer’s control panel should be easy to use. Many basic models use dial controls for extremely simple operation. Higher-end gas dryers offer user-friendly touchpad control panels. Whichever option you choose, look for a lighted control panel. Laundry areas can be somewhat dark, so the extra light from the controls can help you see what you’re doing.
Cycles
In order to successfully dry your laundry, a gas dryer should have a wide variety of cycles to accommodate a range of fabric types. Some cycles you may want 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 suitable 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 temperature for lightweight, loosely woven fabrics
Express: Increases the airflow to dry laundry more quickly
Eco Mode: Reduces energy use by monitoring laundry to avoid drying longer than necessary
Steam: Wets laundry and tumbles it with heat to help remove wrinkles and odors
Sanitize: Removes germs and bacteria from laundry with steam or very high heat
Moisture sensor
For the most efficient drying, look for a gas dryer equipped with a sensor that monitors the dampness of your laundry and automatically turns the dryer off when the laundry is dry. This feature saves energy and helps prolong the life of your clothing.
Extended tumble
If you’re tired of wrinkled laundry, opt for a gas dryer with an extended tumble option, which tumbles the load after a 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 with an automatic cool-down feature. It works by gradually turning down 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.
End-of-cycle signal
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.
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 percent of the bacteria, germs, and other microorganisms that might be found in your laundry.
Extra features
Some gas dryers are equipped with extras to make drying your laundry even easier.
Drying Rack: A drying rack keeps items like tennis shoes or delicate hats from getting banged around in the dryer.
WiFi: If you’re someone who likes your technology, look for a gas dryer that’s WiFi connected so you can control the dryer through an app on your smartphone or other device.
Warranty
Most gas dryers come with a one- to two-year warranty, and many manufacturers offer extended warranties. If you’re buying an expensive gas dryer, an extended warranty might be worth the investment. For dryers that cost $500 or less, it’s usually not worth the added expense.
For your safety
A gas dryer must always be vented outdoors to prevent potentially lethal combustion gases from building up inside your home.
STAFF
BestReviews
Gas dryer prices
Gas dryer prices can vary significantly based on size, number of preset cycles, and extra features but usually range from $400 to $1,800.
Inexpensive: Compact gas dryers that offer no more than 6.5 cubic feet of capacity, approximately 10 preset cycles, and few extra features can run from $400 to $600.
Mid-Range: Average-size gas dryers that usually offer 7.3 to 8.3 cubic feet of capacity, 10 to 15 preset cycles, and several extra features can run from $600 to $1,000.
Expensive: Oversize gas dryers that offer 8.3 to 9 cubic feet of capacity, up to 24 preset cycles, and a wide array of extra features can run from $1,000 to $1,800.
FAQ
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. 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 professional, such as a licensed plumber or other qualified heating contractor.
Q. Are gas dryers safe?
A. Technically, all dryers are potential fire hazards if they’re not used properly. Still, it’s true that gas dryers can pose more of a danger to your home than electric models because of the potential for gas leaks. However, if you have your gas dryer installed by a professional and maintain it properly, you shouldn’t have any problems. It’s also worth noting that a study done by the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that electric dryers are actually more likely to cause a home fire than gas dryers.
Q. How long should my gas dryer last?
A. The average home dryer, whether gas or electric, should last up to 13 years. However, it’s important to use the dryer properly and follow the routine maintenance procedures laid out in your owner’s manual if you want to keep your dryer in proper working order.
