Posted: June 1, 2026
Shopping for a new clothes dryer or laundry pair? Energy efficiency is usually one of the most important criteria when you’re buying any appliance for your home. And it’s a big consideration for a clothes dryer, which relies on heat to get the job done.
Whether you’re shopping for a sturdy machine that will get the job done or you’re looking for a dryer with deluxe features like steam cycles for removing wrinkles and smart controls that let you monitor a load from anywhere, you need to consider how you’re powering your clothes dryer. Bells and whistles aside, the choice comes down to propane or electric. Here’s what to know.
One factor in your decision is whether you have access to propane or the correct voltage of electricity.
While most everyone is connected to the electric grid, you can’t simply plug a clothes dryer into any electric outlet. Because of the power required to run an electric dryer, you may need to upgrade your electric panel. That can be expensive.
If you already have propane for your kitchen stove, water heater or other appliances, you know how efficient and versatile it is as an energy source. And adding another line to connect your dryer is easy. Just let us know when you’re adding new propane appliances, especially if you’re on automatic delivery. Because you only need to plug in a propane dryer to power the control panels, not the heating element, it can be a convenient and efficient choice.
If you don’t have propane, it’s easy to add, and inexpensive unless you want to bury your storage tank. Adding propane can open up a range of other efficient options for making your home more comfortable, too.
If you’re looking for a clothes dryer that will save you both time and money, a propane-fueled dryer is the smart option. Propane-powered clothes dryers are super-efficient because they heat up faster. That means they dry faster, so you spend less to get the job done—and less time doing laundry. That’s a win-win.
The main drawback of a propane dryer is that they tend to be more expensive up front. But over time, they’ll save you more on energy costs.
Electric dryers are generally less expensive. But a fully electric dryer requires a 240-volt outlet, which can really raise your up-front costs unless you’re replacing an old dryer and the necessary outlet is already in place.
Electric dryers take longer to heat up, so they take longer to dry. That will run up your electric bill—and it means laundry day can take, well, all day.
If you’re already using propane at home, you know the benefits. If you’ve never lived in a propane-fueled home before, you might be surprised to know how versatile it is and how many ways it can be used in your home. Not only does propane provide steady, reliable heat energy at a competitive price, but it also offers exceptional performance and efficiency in a wide range of home appliances at a much lower cost than electricity.
The experts at Superior Gas have the experience and knowledge to answer all your questions and help make adding propane—or simply hooking up a new propane dryer—easy. Contact us to learn more and become a customer today.