Don’t Make These Mistakes When Buying a New Dryer

When my wife and I bought our first home, our biggest concern was the availability of laundry facilities. The machines in the house were old, but after years of weekly hauling to the laundry, the most luxurious thing we could think of was the prospect of on-demand laundry at home.

Naturally, the washer and dryer broke down about a week after we moved in. I went online to buy a replacement, feeling like a real adult… a real adult, unable to buy a proper dryer, apparently. I found out a few days later when my shiny new washing machines arrived and were hard put into place by bleak installers who immediately discovered I had bought the wrong thing. It turns out there’s more to know about laundry in your home than how to fit your cars into the space provided. Here’s what you need to know to avoid my fate (namely, offer the couriers extra tips to get the item back on the truck).

Gas dryers vs electric

When I started looking to replace washing machines, the first question I had to answer was if I wanted a gas dryer or an electric dryer . For me, this was new information, and before that I had no idea about the existence of gas dryers. I solved the problem logically: Our new house had gas central heating and a gas stove. We were a gas house. So, I bought a gas dryer. Which turned out to be the completely wrong type of dryer to buy.

What can be a bit confusing is the fact that gas dryers that use natural gas or propane in their heating element also plug into the wall to power everything else. The easiest way to figure out which dryer you need is to look at the back of the one you already have. There will be a fairly obvious gas line and valve if you need a gas plant, so you should buy accordingly unless you’ve also budgeted for retrofits to existing facilities.

Voltage

If you need an electric dryer, the next information you will need is the voltage. Gas dryers almost always require a standard 120-volt plug, which uses a standard appliance plug—the three-prong plug you’ll find on most of your home appliances.

However, most electric dryers use 240 volt sockets, which have a large plug with three or four prongs, usually at an angle.

However, some compact electric dryers only require a 120 volt connection, so you can’t just assume you need a 240 volt model. If you’re unsure, your best bet is to move the old machine away from the wall one more time and look at the plug. If your electrical panel is well labelled, you may also want to see if there is a dual switch installed for your dryer that would indicate 240-volt service.

The final complication if you need a 240 volt dryer is the cord type. Three-prong 240-volt plugs were officially replaced with four-prong plugs a few years ago, but it doesn’t require people to change existing plugs, so appliance manufacturers can’t be sure which plug you have in your home. As a result, they often don’t even include a cord in their dryer anymore – you’ll need to purchase one separately and plug it in , or the installer will.

Ventilated or non-ventilated

A relatively new disadvantage of home dryers is ventilation. Traditionally, all dryers have been ventilated to pump hot, lint-filled air out of the house while your clothes dry. More recently, however , non-ventilated dryers (sometimes referred to as heat pump dryers) have entered the market.

If you choose a ventilated dryer, make sure your home has ventilation . If you’re installing a laundry in a new location, or if your home didn’t have a laundry before and you’re installing a new laundry, you may not have an air vent. In this case, you will need to install it or choose a fanless dryer. These dryers have their advantages and disadvantages over traditional dryers, but there’s no doubt that they’re easier to install – as long as you have the right outlet. But whatever you do, don’t buy a ventilated dryer if you don’t have a vent and don’t plan on installing one, as venting the dryer’s exhaust into your home is a really bad idea .