Upgrade Clothes Dryer
Not all dryers are created equally. The most important feature? A moisture sensor. Moisture sensors “sense” when your clothes are dry and know when to turn off — saving 20% or more on the most energy intensive appliance in your home. If you have a gas dryer, upgrading to an efficient electric dryer also reduces climate and air pollution!
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
Dryers heat up air to remove moisture from your clothes. Most dryers have similar efficiency, but the important feature that sets dryers apart is a moisture sensor that can tell when your clothes are dry and stop automatically. This reduces wasteful drying time, saving you energy and money while also reducing wear and tear on your clothes.
Upgrading your dryer is an opportunity to lower climate and air pollution. If you have a gas dryer now, switching to an efficient electric dryer will make it possible to run your dryer on clean, safe, renewable electricity instead of burning natural gas. Better for you, and the planet.
Efficient electric dryers:
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Save energy and money
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Reduce wear and tear on your clothes
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Save time
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Reduce air and climate pollution
1When to upgrade
Efficient Electric Dryer. If your current dryer doesn’t have a moisture sensor, you can expect to save on average around $20 a year on your bills with an upgrade to an efficient electric dryer. These are great savings, but do not warrant upgrading early. It is best to upgrade when your dryer is closer to the end of its lifetime or needs expensive repairs. Dryers generally last 8-12 years. If your dryer isn’t ready for replacement, add it to your list and schedule it out!
Heat pump dryers. These are highly efficient electric dryers that use heat pump technology to save up to 50% less energy than conventional dryers. This results in savings up to $60 or more a year on your energy bill. Heat pump dryers also don’t need venting and are easy to install. However, they take longer to dry clothes and are more expensive to purchase. There are great rebates available in some areas that might make this a good upgrade even before your current dryer’s end of life.
Cost. Energy efficient electric dryers cost $500-$800 or more depending on features. Electric heat pump dryers cost $800-$1,500 or more.
Rebates. There are some significant rebates available for heat pump dryers depending on where you live. Check the resources or with your local state or utility programs for more information.
Prepare to upgrade. If you have not had an electric dryer before, you might need to do a one time upgrade to install an electric outlet for your new clothes dryer. Most electric dryers require a 240 volt outlet, however, some work on a regular outlet. The cost for a new outlet install will vary based on your current electricity service capacity and wiring. Check with an electrician to determine what the cost would be for your home.
2Choose energy efficient features
Here are some of the features to look for:
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Moisture sensor. Moisture sensors save energy and money.
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Energy Star Rating. These dryers use 20% less energy than traditional models and have all the latest smart features.
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Auto Dry. The Auto-Dry feature lets you pick how dry you want your clothes. Choosing "less dry" instead of the regular full dry setting can reduce your energy use significantly.
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Size your dryer to your needs. An extra large dryer that isn’t filled up means heating extra air every time you dry. If you like doing smaller loads, choose a smaller dryer.
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Noise level and ease of use. If your dryer is in the house and noise is an important factor, check the noise level of the dryer. Also check to make sure it will be easy to operate and access.
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Energy-tracking Features. Newer hi-tech models track how much energy each load uses, giving you instant feedback to improve your laundry habits. Some dryers even connect to the smart grid and run when energy costs are lowest — saving you energy and money!
3Install your new dryer and recycle the old one
Now that you have picked out your new dryer, purchase it and schedule delivery and installation!
Recycle. Dryers made from steel and aluminum can be recycled. Most companies will offer to take away your old machine when they deliver your new dryer. Check that they will recycle your dryer and not dispose of it at a landfill.
If the installer won’t recycle it for you, there are other options. Check the website of your city or county’s municipal waste service. Many have recycling programs that accept large appliances and even offer curbside pickup. Or visit the Recyclenation.com website and search for “large appliances” for a list of local recycling centers that accept appliances.