Best Gas Dryer Reviews - Gas Clothes Dryer for Home and Apartment Use

The quality, brand, style, aesthetics, design, durability, and size of dryers determine their prices. The higher the quality of a dryer, the more you can expect to pay. Popular brands also come at high costs. When investing in a dryer, you want a machine that’s going to last, so you should buy one of good quality from a well-known brand. The features a dryer is built with also determine its price. The more features you want in your dryer, the more you’ll pay for it. Dryers are also built for residential and commercial use. The latter types of dryers are more expensive than those designed for home use. Establish a budget to work with when shopping for a gas dryer; with the amount you’re willing to pay in mind, you can compare various gas dryers for the best choice. Gas dryers cost anything between $400 and $2000. Whereas popular brands such as LG have gas dryers that cost at least $1500, some lesser brands retail some much less. Don’t go for cheap gas dryers just because they look attractive. This is an investment that, when chosen properly, can last many years of regular use.

Gas dryers come in various styles, colors, designs, capacities, and many other features for improved functionality and ease-of-use. Carefully choose the features you might need because there’s no need to spend more on features you’ll never use. Assess your clothes’ drying needs and your intended area of application to help you choose the right features in a gas dryer. Here are some features to look out for in your gas dryer:

• Capacity and pedestal to hold clothes and raise the dryer, respectively
• Controls and lint filter indicator to manipulate the dryer and know when to clean the filter
• Cycles and speed for load-drying under different conditions and how fast clothes are dried
• Sensor and timers to detect moisture levels of load and setup of the duration a cycle should last
• Eco-cycle and door for minimal energy consumption and side, front, or top machine loading
• Steam and color for quick-fix solutions such as removing odor and a matching finishing color
• Delicate and express dry to dry clothes with loose or light fabrics and dry clothes faster
• Digital displays for easy use such as child locks
• Extended tumble and NSF ratings for longer drying sessions and ability to kills allergens and bacteria
• Vent blocking indicator to notify you when it’s time to clean the vent
• Drum rack and light for flat clothes-drying and illumination of the dryer’s drum

Whichever features your gas dryer is built with, ensure they support durability, efficiency, low energy consumption, ease-of-use, and high performance.

Capacity – choose the right capacity depending on the size of your household and how often you wash clothes. Opt for a large capacity if you’ll be drying large loads and a smaller capacity if clothes for only two people will be dried at once. The smaller your load, the faster clothes dry since there’s more room for tumbling, hence less energy consumption. Controls – opt for a gas dryer with an easy-to-use control panel. Choose the features or controls you want in your panel such as turning knobs, touch dials, touch-screen controls, etc. Cycles – choose cycle features you need and are likely to use. Although most dryers come with delicate, normal, and heavy-duty cycles, more advanced models can feature up to twelve more cycles for better outcomes such as bedding or towels, permanent press, air fluff, etc. Eco-cycle monitors clothes’ dryness levels to minimize energy consumption. Certain models feature a monitor on the display console to output energy efficiency and use of various cycles. Buy a dryer with this feature if you need your clothes to last and want to save energy. Sensor – moisture or dryness sensors check the dampness level of your clothes for proper drying. This ensures clothes get dried only as needed, hence preventing over-drying and saving energy. Delicate – this feature gently dries light clothes or those with loosely woven fabrics at ultra-low temperatures to prevent damage, hence lasting fabrics and color. Steam – use this feature to eliminate odors or relax wrinkles in clothes you’ve worn, but don’t need to wash. Clothes are first tumbled in low heat for a few minutes before being sprayed with little water to save energy. Drum Material – choose dryers with stainless steel drums to prevent snagging. Pedestal – do you need to raise your gas dryer? Buy a drying machine with a pedestal or purchase it separately. Some come with a drawer for additional storage. Door – choose a dryer with front, top, or side loading doors as you deem necessary. Color – choose a color finish that blends into your existing décor and matches your washing machine. Lint Filter Indicators – this feature lets you know when it’s time to clean your filters. Express Dry or High Spin Speeds – this feature dries clothes faster using large blowers that improve airflow. Digital Displays – modern dryers come with digital displays for easy use and/or manipulation of your machine such as child locks and cycle count-down features. Vent Type – opt for a side, back, or front 4-way venting system. Timers – a dryer with timers lets you set how long you want your clothes to dry. It comes in handy when you need to engage in other things or shortly go somewhere. Extended Tumble – if you need to do something else while using your dryer, use this feature for slow runs at regular intervals. It’s also ideal if you want your clothes wrinkle-free and fresh. NSF Ratings – this is the machine’s ability to kill bacteria and allergens on your clothes as rated by the National Sanitation Foundation. Opt for a dryer with this feature if you’re health and hygiene-conscious. Drum Rack and Light – use the rack for flat-drying of your clothes if you don’t want to use the tumbling feature. The light illuminates the drum to help you see what’s inside. Vent Blocking Indicator – with this feature, you’ll know when it’s time to clean the vent of your drying machine. Noise Level – dryers can be noisy. Opt for one with this feature if there’s need for silent operation.

The right capacity, controls, NSF ratings, cycles, and sensors support high performance in gas dryers. The digital display, extended tumble, pedestals, loading door, indicators, light, and noise levels support ease-of-use. Generally, most of the features a dryer comes with support performance and ease-of-use, though you still should go for those with a warranty to protect you from manufacturing faults. Also decide whether you want a stand-alone gas dryer or one that doubles up as a washing machine for 2-in-1 use.

How to Install a Gas Clothes Dryer

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey discusses how to select and install a gas dryer. | Courtesy of This Old House