Select Dryers with Moisture Sensors to Prevent Excess Energy Use

A clothes dryer uses significant electricity. It is estimated that dryers cost roughly $85.00 per year to operate. Clothes dryer efficiency is rated by energy factor. Similar to the miles per gallon for a car, the energy factor is the measure of pounds of clothing dried per kilowatt-hour of electricity. The minimum rating for a standard capacity electric dryer is 3.01, or 2.67 for gas dryers. Clothes dryers are not required to feature EnergyGuide labels.

When buying a new clothes dryer, consider the following tips:

Look for a moisture sensor with automatic shut-off based on the degree to which your clothes are dry.

• The best dryers have moisture sensors in the drum.
• Gas dryers are less expensive to operate than electric dryers.

To lower energy usage in your clothes dryer, follow the tips below:

• Install the dryer in a heated space so it does not have to overcome cold ambient temperatures
• Check your dryer vent to ensure that air flow is not interrupted
• Examine the outdoor exhaust vent periodically to ensure that it does not leak
• Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load
• Dry only full loads, but do not overload the dryer
• Dry similar clothes together
• Dry two or more loads in a row to take advantage of the dryer’s retained heat
• Use the cool-down cycle (perma-press cycle) to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer