New Dryer- Gas vs. Electric

[Slick3914]

Hello- need some advice from my fellow BITOGers....I have a second home at the DE beaches and need to buy a new dryer (the current Frigidaire propane dryer is end of life). Trying to decide if I want to replace with another propane dryer (higher initial cost + cost to convert to LP) or replace with an electric dryer (need to run a circuit, which will be very easy). I currently have a LG electric dryer at my main home which works great, thus has me thinking I should convert to electric. However, I believe overall electric is more expensive to operate. Any thoughts you can provide are greatly appreciated.

 

[supton]

When you are there, do you run the ac? My wife hangs laundry in our living room most of the year. Takes overnight though.

Do you have 240 run to the laundry area, or is that an additional cost to add in?

 

[JTK]

They dry the clothes the same IMO.

Maybe I've gotten lucky with my whirlpool gas dryers as my previous one was from the 1980s and I replaced it 6-7yrs ago with a refurbished one from the 1990s.

 

[Tdbo]

I've had a gas for 30 years. The only way that I would go to electric would be if I had no other options. Much cheaper to operate with fewer issues.

 

[Nukeman7]

It may depend on how often you reside in the second home in DE. If the dryer is not used much throughout the year, it may make sense to switch over to an electric dryer to minimize the cost and hassle of refilling propane that often. It would also probably be safer unless you consistently shut off the propane bottle when not at the beach house.

 

[Slick3914]

When you are there, do you run the ac? My wife hangs laundry in our living room most of the year. Takes overnight though.

Do you have 240 run to the laundry area, or is that an additional cost to add in?

Would have to run a circuit for an electric dryer. Luckily the run is only about 18 feet from the panel and I have a 200 amp service. Everything is very accessible.

 

[Slick3914]

It may depend on how often you reside in the second home in DE. If the dryer is not used much throughout the year, it may make sense to switch over to an electric dryer to minimize the cost and hassle of refilling propane that often. It would also probably be safer unless you consistently shut off the propane bottle when not at the beach house.

The development is serviced by underground tanks that service all homes, so no individual tank just a normal gas meter outside.

 

[walterjay]

For occasional use I would go electric.

 

[oil pan 4]

Reject modernity embrace gas.
Electric uses about a dollar with of electric to dry a load with cheap electricity, best I can figure a natural gas dryer uses like 10 to 25 cents worth of gas. But propane is like 4 to 6 times more expensive than natural gas. So electric might be cheaper if your cost to run a dryer circuit is negligible.

 

[oldcodger]

Might not apply to you but hurricanes Camille and Katrina broke me from the idea of electric stoves, heat and dryers. When the electricity goes out I can cook, have hot water, heat if needed, and dry cloths all on gas and my generator. I would go with gas.

 

[Cropduster172]

Have a gas dryer in our Cape May County beach house. Also have gas heat, stove and a natural gas grill. While there is a 220 outlet for an electric dryer, I wouldn't have anything other than gas. It's been reliable and relatively inexpensive. Not sure about the cost of LP. I know it costs way more to cool the house with AC in summer(electric)than it does to heat the place in winter(gas)as we are there frequently in Winter.

 

[4WD]

We elected to have one high output electric appliance(s)
Our dual ovens for control of temps/cooking …
All else is gas which has remained cheap - electricity is creeping up

 

[65f100]

Gas dryers take less time per load than electric.

 

[Rand]

Natural gas>electric>propane.

Propane is worst choice most of the time
Water heater, Furnace, etc.
as long as adequate electricity capacity is available.

Another option to not run an outlet would be a
heat pump electric dryer-- real energy sippers regular 120v outlet... but they need a little more upkeep and longer drying time.

 

[AZjeff]

Is the yearly cost difference between electric and propane clothes drying really a big consideration in a 2nd home? Any estimate what the yearly difference would be? If energy costs were the same which way would you go?

 

[Cropduster172]

Natural gas>electric>propane.

Propane is worst choice most of the time
Water heater, Furnace, etc.
as long as adequate electricity capacity is available.

Another option to not run an outlet would be a
heat pump electric dryer-- real energy sippers regular 120v outlet... but they need a little more upkeep and longer drying time.

The heat pump dryer technology has a long way to go.

 

[Slick3914]

Natural gas>electric>propane.

Propane is worst choice most of the time
Water heater, Furnace, etc.
as long as adequate electricity capacity is available.

Another option to not run an outlet would be a
heat pump electric dryer-- real energy sippers regular 120v outlet... but they need a little more upkeep and longer drying time.

Agreed, if I had natural gas instead of propane it would be a no brainer to stay with gas. The real pain with propane is the conversion.

 

[jhellwig]

Cost to convert appliances to propane isn't much. All it is is an office size change.

It all depends on the cost of electricity.

 

[skyactiv]

Take one for the team. Buy the LG heat pump dryer and review it for us. There is a very interesting unbiased YouTube video review and teardown of it. He has reviewed the GE and LG combo wash and dry units and he reports this LG actually drys stuff.

Enter DLHC5502 Teardown & Review on YouTube

 

[spk2000]

I work at GE appliances and can get you a or anyone here 40% discount on their heat pump electric similar to LG. All I need is an email and I get nothing don't even know if you bought anything or not so shop if you like the deals. Tend to have bigger discounts on accessories and installation/ old unit haul aways too. The Heat pump version is very efficient but very heavy like 300 lbs. Otherwise I would go natural gas for long term reliability. Electric tends to have more problems.