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A dryer can affect the overall appearance and life span of your clothes. Most importantly a dryer can determine how much you invest in your wardrobe. Before purchasing your new clothes dryer it is important that you consider the many new and innovative features dryers have to offer.
Electric vs. Gas
Electric dryers require a 240 Volt outlet. If you are replacing an existing dryer and have no idea whether it's gas or electric take a look at the size of the outlet it's plugged into. If the outlet is larger than your typical one (about the size of a baseball) you have an electric dryer. You now need to know if it's a 3-prong or 4-prong outlet. Most older homes have 3-prong while newer construction (last 10 years or so) use 4-prong outlets. Unplug the old one to verify before taking a trip to the store.
Gas dryers require a normal 110 Volt grounded outlet as well as a gas supply line. The accepted material for a gas line is solid steel. Some older homes may have copper supply lines. While this is accepted it is not recommended and our Delivery Team will not hook up to a copper supply line. You'll need a flexible connector to go from the supply line to the dryer. Once again the accepted material for these is also steel. Most are wrapped in a material that will bubble if a tear should ever occur to indicate gas leakage.
Gas dryers are manufactured to run on natural gas. They may be converted to liquid propane, but you'll need to purchase a separate conversion kit to do so.
Gas dryers typically cost more up front than electric dryers (usually $50 to $100 more) but, cost less to operate over their lifespan. Unfortunately dryers do not have Energy Guide labels that spell out each model's energy consumption. Various studies have shown that on average gas dryers are less expensive to own than electric.
Capacity
Think about the size of your family and how often you use the dryer. The more you are able to dry in a single load the less money and time you will spend. Make sure when selecting a dryer it is comparable in capacity to the washer you own or decide to purchase. Larger capacity dryers will easily accommodate bulky items such as comforters. For those with limited space stackable washer-dryer units are available in either full-size or 'apartment-size' capacities or all-in-one washer/dryer models are available.
Venting
Most dryers need to be vented to the outside. Manufacturers recommend using a solid non-flexible metal duct. Flexible metal ducting or hose is also acceptable. Under no circumstances should flexible plastic ducting be used. Along with the duct material, the length required should be considered. The farther the duct run, the less efficient the dryer is at drying. The industry standard is 15 feet or less. Basically the shorter, the better.
Dryers are typically designed to be vented from the rear but some may be vented from either side or even the bottom. A separate conversion kit may need to be purchased in order to change the vent location.
There are a few "Condensing" dryers available that operate similar to a dehumidifier in that there is a tank that fills with water that you need to empty periodically. This is a good alternative if you are unable to vent your dryer. Another option is a "Vent Bucket". This is just a plastic bucket that you attach the dryer vent to. The moisture collects in the bucket and then gets emptied when necessary.
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