By Thad Warren
If you are in the market for a new dryer you have come to the right place! In this article we have put together a list of dryers for a range of shoppers. At EnergyBot we want to help you make the decisions that not only fit your needs but are also energy efficient. Therefore, every dryer on this list is Energy Star rated.
Washing and drying your clothes takes a lot of resources: water, detergent, electricity, and sometimes gas. Unfortunately, it's still not socially acceptable to walk around naked all day. This is why we put the lists of energy-efficient washers and dryers together, to help you make smart decisions. Feel good about your bills and having clean clothes!
Here are some of the key attributes we considered:
- Load Capacity
- Load Configuration
- Energy Efficiency (CEF)
- Energy Star Rating
- Customer Rating
- Price
If you need some assistance in understanding the categories and how to select a dryer. We are here to help with that as well. There are a lot of options out there. Let's discuss how to select a dryer that fits your needs. We will consider:
- Size
- Fuel source (electric or gas)
- Configuration (stackable, top loading, or front loading)
- Vent (with a vent, or ventless)
Unfortunately, top-load dryers don't exist, even outside of Energy Star. This is due to the airflow that is needed to efficiently dry the clothes.
This makes this category simpler. Would you like a stackable or side-by-side configuration. Often there is an extra part needed to stack the washer and dryer, so be on the lookout if it's a separate purchase.
There are two options for how the dryer heats up your clothes: electricity or natural gas. If you are looking for the most efficient dryer, electricity all the way. There are Energy Star-rated gas dryers as well; however, there are none that have been able to obtain a "Most Efficient" rating.
If you are looking to switch from gas to electric and aren't sure if it's the right decision for you, here are some things to consider:
Consider the energy efficiency difference between the gas and electric dryers. The electric dryer may have a higher upfront cost, but the savings over time may make the purchase worth it.
Remember, changing from gas to electric will reduce your gas bill but it will increase your electric bill. Consider the cost difference between using gas versus electricity.
What are your venting options for your dryer? There are heat pump-style electric dryers that are ventless. This is ideal for people who live in apartments or have other restrictions.
A standard dryer works by heating up the clothes and removing the moisture through evaporation. The moist air is then vented outside.
A ventless dryer, dries the clothes in the same way; however, the moisture in the air is removed through condensation. This is done by cooling it down the air over a heat exchanger which has refrigerant running through coils. The condensed water drips down into a pan and must be emptied.
Maytag, "What's Inside Matters". It comes as no surprise that the Best Overall Dryer comes from a company with this slogan. Maytag is known for having durable and long-lasting equipment. Great customer rating, average size, a great reputation, energy efficient, reasonable price, you can't go wrong with this option.
This Maytag dryer has a few extra features: a steam cycle, wrinkle-free option, and a sanitization cycle. Not having to pull out the iron and ironing board? That's extra time back to do whatever it is you like to do, like walk your cat...nope just me? Well, you do you.
In our Energy Efficient Washing Machines post, LG is another brand that we continue to see. They have made some great energy-efficient options, but on the dryer list, it has made our best budget option.
This will also be great for those looking for a quiet dryer. Do you live in a small space and can't watch tv and dry clothes at the same time? Or maybe it's next to your bedroom? This LG dryer was designed for "quiet operation".
Blomberg is not as well known in the United States but they are the 3rd largest appliance manufacturer in Europe. Blomberg is recognized as a German quality brand in home appliances. They have been around since 1883!
It is known that Germany produces some admirably engineered products from cars to knives, watches, and cameras. Blomberg appliances are no different. Here they have made a "Most Efficient in 2022" certified electric dryer.
Whirlpool's vision is "Be the best kitchen and laundry company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home." In our list, this has achieved our Best Overall dryer.
Similar to our electric counterpart, this Whirlpool model not only has a steam and sanitize cycle, it also has a static reduce option. It allows you to save up to 36 customizable cycle options. With this many savable settings, everyone in your household can have their own unique dryer cycle combination.
GE is a consistent player on our washer and dryer lists. For 2022, this model has made our best budget option while still being Energy Star rated. While this items doesn't have as many customizable settings, it still has all your basic needs and for a reasonable price.
For this price, it even has wifi powered notifications powered by SmartHW. "Start, stop and monitor your laundry from anywhere while receiving real-time notifications and updates".
Last, but absolutely not least is our most efficient gas dryer, is this LG model. There haven't been any gas dryers listed as "Most Efficient" in 2022. The efficiency ratings of the gas dryers with an Energy Star rating don't vary all that much.
This LG dryer is highly efficient in other ways than energy consumption. It has a couple of unique features to separate it from the pack.
Yes, it has different drying cycles and all that jazz. You can receive wifi notifications. It also works with Alexa or Google Assistant.
What sparked our interest was the unique door design. It is a front loading door; however, it can open from the top or the side. Opening it from the top allows the wet clothes to slide right in without missing a sock. Opening up to the side allows you to slide the hamper right up to the opening, pushing the door out of the way. The two way door gives you the best of both worlds.
Don't cram clothes!
This helps no one. This is not just less efficient it is inefficient! This causes your machine to use a lot of energy while not fully getting your clothes dry. It also causes unnecessary wear and tear which could lead to issues.
Likewise, don't underfill your machine either.
This is inefficient because too much time and energy are used on too few items.
In many parts of the world, you’ll see people hanging their clothes to dry instead of even owning a dryer. If you are really looking to save energy, try using it less.
If you live in a dry and hot part of the country like Southern California or Texas, then your clothes will dry quickly out in the sun.
On the other hand, if it is humid where you live, this may not be the best option. If your clothes are sitting wet for too long it could cause mold.
We love the nerdy stuff too!
Combined Energy Factor (CEF): (lbs/kWh) CEF is used to compare the energy efficiency ratings of dryers. The higher the value the more efficient it is. It is calculated by dividing the weight of the dryer load by the energy consumption of the dryer during different times.
Energy consumption = standby energy consumption + off mode energy consumption + 1-cycle energy consumption
CEF = (weight of load) / (Energy Consumption)
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