Natural gas clothes dryers are more energy-efficient. Consider replacing your old, inefficient clothes dryer for a natural gas unit. They are generally less expensive to operate and can save you up to 50 percent on operating costs.
Energy Conservation Tips
- Line-dry your clothes when possible.
- If you use your dryer, dry full loads, but don't overload or over-dry. Separate lightweight and heavy clothes for more energy-efficient drying.
- Dry two or more loads in a row to take advantage of the heat still in the dryer.
- Clean the lint filter before drying each load.
- Clean the machine. Periodically remove any buildup of lint and dust from the dryer exhaust, the back of the dryer and behind the lint screen.
- Replace leaky exhaust terminals. Check the outside dryer exhaust terminal to make sure it closes as it was designed to do and is not blocked with lint.
Appliance Selection Tips
- Be sure to check your laundry room connections before comparing gas versus electric clothes dryers. A gas dryer requires a gas hook-up and a 120-volt electric outlet. Electric dryers require a 240-volt electric outlet.
- When buying a new dryer, choose an energy-efficient model.
- Energy-efficient gas dryers can be more expensive than standard models, but the gas savings from operating a gas dryer can more than offset the initial purchase price difference – saving you more money on your monthly gas bill.
- Choose energy features that save:
- A moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the machine as soon as your clothes are dry.
- A cycle with a cool-down period, sometimes known as a "permanent-press" cycle.
Where can I get more information about clothes dryers?
- ENERGY STAR® at www.energystar.gov *
* By clicking the link, you will leave www.socalgas.com and transfer directly to the website of a third party provider which is not part of the Southern California Gas Company. The Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy on that website will apply.
