Electric vs Gas Dryer Hookups: How to Tell Which One You Have

I’m no appliance expert, but until recently, I had never heard of a gas dryer. If you’re like me and don’t know how to tell if your dryer is gas or electric, let me warn you, it’s important to get this right before getting a new appliance.

When my family moved into our new house, we knew we’d have to replace the old washer and dryer at some point. That time came months later, but once we had the new electric washer-and-dryer set from Best Buy delivered and in our home, we realized it had to go right back to the store. It turns out, the electric dryer we had picked wouldn’t work in our house, because we actually have a gas dryer hookup. 

Avoid my mistake by learning all about the differences between electric and gas dryers.

According to Uncle Harry Raker, an appliance pro of more than 50 years, electric and gas dryers do the exact same thing — draw moisture from wet clothes with heat and air. The difference is in how they’re powered, similar to gas or electric ovens.

• An electric dryer is fully fueled with only electricity.
• A gas dryer is powered by both gas and electricity — the gas is what heats the dryer, and the electricity powers the control panel, light, and drum.

The simplest way to find out if you have an electric or gas dryer is to look behind it. An electric dryer will have a heavy cord that plugs right into a high-voltage outlet, without connecting to a gas line. A gas dryer, on the other hand, plugs into a regular outlet and connects to a gas valve, which is usually right behind the dryer. Gas dryers also have to have an exhaust pipe, Raker says, which usually exits to the outside of your home. Both types of dryers have an accordion-looking duct that blows hot air and lint to the outside.

Every dryer, whether it runs on gas or electricity, has an electric cord for its control panel. But just because you see a cord doesn’t automatically mean you have an electric dryer, says John Carey, cofounder of Designer Appliances. “If it’s an electric dryer, it will have a distinctive four-prong plug because these dryers connect to a high-voltage outlet,” Carey says. These dryers, he adds, are usually cheaper up front than gas options, but they might cost more monthly because electricity is usually more expensive than gas.

Gas dryers sport a regular three-prong plug, but instead of connecting to electricity for power, Carey says, these appliances have a gas line in the back that connects to a gas shut-off valve on your wall. Usually, these gas lines are stainless steel or painted yellow. Gas dryers are generally more efficient than their electric cousins, so they tend to be friendlier on your monthly bills. “But they tend to sell for a bit more at the outset,” Carey says.

If you’re looking to replace your dryer and need to know what you have before making a purchase, Carey recommends finding the model number on your unit and looking it up on the manufacturer’s website. 

Fortunately, the folks at Best Buy were kind enough to refund us for the dryer so we could buy a new one that would actually work in our house. But if you’re in the market for new appliances, hopefully you can learn from my error and do your research before hitting the “order” button. A little bit of recon on the front end could save you time, money, and frustration.