Types of Dryers

Gas or electric, plus new features

Most experts, including Consumer Reports, suggest buying a dryer with a moisture sensor. With this feature, the dryer measures when the clothes are dry and shuts off automatically, saving energy. Moisture sensors are virtually standard-issue on dryers these days. Even lower-priced models have moisture sensors. Moisture sensors eliminate the need for thermostats and timers. The sensors reduce the risk of over-drying, which can damage or shrink fabrics or create static electricity.

FlexYourPower.org, a consumer website featuring information about energy efficiency, indicates that clothes dryers are one of the most expensive home appliances to operate, accounting for about 6 percent of a home's total electricity usage. However, the government's Energy Star program does not extend to clothes dryers because, according to Energy Star, there's little difference in energy use between models.

That's not to say that there aren't things you can do to save a little bit. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) you can reduce energy usage and drying time "by drying similar fabrics together, drying multiple loads in quick succession (to take advantage of residual heat), and make sure to clean the dryer filter after each use."

Experts say that drying technology is fairly standard at this point, and dryers from all price ranges do well in tests. The basic difference between dryers is whether the air is heated with gas or electricity. Experts recommend gas dryers most often, even though 80 percent of all dryers sold are electric, according to Consumer Reports. While there is no discernible difference in the performance of gas and electric dryers, gas dryers cost about $50 to $100 more than their electric counterparts, but are cheaper to operate. One advantage of electric dryers is that they often have more venting options (four-way venting) than gas dryers. Four-way venting allows more installation options because the dryer vent can extend from the front, back or either side of the dryer. Gas dryers usually can't be vented from the right side of the machine.

The most basic clothes dryers can be found for around $300 to $600. Higher-priced dryers add features such as specialty cycles or stainless-steel tubs, which don't necessarily improve the drying performance. Some have heat sensors to help preserve more delicate fabrics and sound dampening to reduce noise.

More expensive dryers also feature designer colors and advanced styling, often matching that of a companion washing machine. When shopping for a dryer, many feel a strong compulsion to buy a machine that matches an existing or new washing machine, though from a performance viewpoint, there's little reason to do so. In addition, buying an inexpensive dryer is a good way to justify spending more on a washing machine, where there's a greater difference between models with respect to performance, energy efficiency and reliability.