Is Your Dryer Gas Or Electric? How To Find Out

Figuring out whether your dryer runs on gas or electricity is an important detail that every homeowner and renter should know. Knowing your dryer's fuel source allows you to properly maintain it, troubleshoot any issues, and eventually replace it with the right model when the time comes.

But for many laundry room newcomers, one glance at the back of a dryer doesn't make it immediately clear if it's powered by gas or electric. Both types have a cord and ventilation duct, so how do you really know? Don't worry, determining your dryer's energy source is easy with just a few tips on what to look for.

Check For a Gas Line or Electrical Cord

The easiest way to identify if your dryer is gas or electric is to look behind the unit. Gas dryers have an additional gas line that runs from your household gas source to the back of the dryer. This special gas line connection provides the gas fuel that the dryer needs to heat up. If you have a gas line running to your dryer, then you have a gas-powered dryer.

If there is no gas line, look for an electrical cord plugged into an outlet. Standard electric dryers use a big, rounded three or four-prong plug. Following this electrical cord from the outlet to the back of the dryer confirms you have an electric model. The electrical cord powers the entire dryer, including the motor, drum rotation, and heating element.

Signs of a Gas Dryer:

• Thick, circular electrical plug
• Additional gas line from household gas source
• Gas valve and burner inside

Signs of an Electric Dryer:

• Standard three-prong electrical cord
• No gas line
• Electric heating element inside

Check Inside the Dryer for Gas Components

If your dryer is pushed back against the wall or you couldn't get a clear view of the gas line or electrical cord, your next step is to pull the unit out and inspect the back panel. Gas dryers will have a gas valve that controls gas flow from the supply line. You should also find a circular gas burner inside the dryer drum.

When activated, this gas valve opens to allow gas to flow to the burner. The burner ignites and produces a flame to generate heat. You'll be able to see the flame by looking through the air vent. Gas dryers also make a clicking noise when the automated igniter turns on the gas flame.

If you don't see a gas valve or circular burner inside, then your dryer is likely electric. Electric models have a coiled heating element that gets red hot to warm the drum. This electric heating element turns on when you start a cycle.

What to Look For Inside a Gas Dryer:

• Gas valve and control
• Circular gas burner
• Igniter that clicks before lighting

Smell For Natural Gas When Running

One of the clearest ways to confirm you have a gas-powered dryer is to rely on your nose. Natural gas has a very distinct rotten egg type of smell added to help homeowners detect leaks.

When your gas dryer runs, it's normal to smell a faint gas scent in the laundry room. You may notice the smell is stronger when the dryer first lights and dissipates as the gas burns. If you notice gas fumes that don't go away or seem excessively strong, you likely have a gas line leak that requires immediate repair.

If your dryer produces heat without any gas smell at all, then it's almost certainly an electric model. You'll also notice electric dryers don't make the clicking ignition noise when turned on since they don't require a flame.

What to Smell For:

• Faint rotten egg/sulfur scent when running
• Stronger smell when first ignited
• No gas smell indicates electric

Consult the Dryer's Data Plate

If you just moved into a new place and aren't yet familiar with how the dryer works, look for the product data plate. This plate is usually found on the back of the machine or just inside the door. It provides important information like the model number, manufacturer, date of production, and voltage requirements.

Search the model number online to pull up specifications provided by the manufacturer. Details should clearly state whether that model is gas or electric. The data plate also lists the voltage requirement, which is 220-240V for electric dryers or 110-120V for gas models.

Dryer Data Plate Provides:

• Model number
• Serial number
• Brand and manufacturer
• Production date
• Voltage

Know the Difference Between Gas and Electric Heating Elements

Gas and electric dryers operate in similar ways - by tumbling wet clothes in a heated drum to dry them. But the heat source differs based on whether gas or electricity is powering the appliance.

In a gas dryer, ignition of natural gas or propane gas produces the heat. The gas flows from the household supply line through a valve and to a circular burner positioned at the back of the drum. When activated, the gas burner lights and emits a flame into the drum to warm the air.

Electric dryers use a coiled metal heating element, similar to the one in an electric oven. When powered on, this heating element gets red hot, reaching temperatures between 500-600degF. A fan blows air across the element and into the tumbling clothes to dry them.

Gas Dryer Heating:

• Natural gas or propane combustion
• Heat from a gas flame
• Gas burner or igniter

Electric Dryer Heating:

• Coiled metal heating element
• Element reaches 500-600degF
• Heated air blown with a fan

Note the Size of the Electrical Cord

Looking closely at the dryer's electrical cord can provide clues about whether it's gas or electric. Even though gas dryers utilize gas for heating, they still need standard household electricity to run the control panel, drum motor, and internal light bulb.

So gas dryers have an electrical cord that plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet. But this electrical cord is larger and more heavy-duty compared to an electric dryer's cord. That's because the gas dryer's electrical system doesn't power the heating element and thus doesn't draw as much load.

An electric dryer requires more electrical power to heat the internal elements and run the rest of the appliance. So electric models have a typical three-prong cord that connects to a 240-volt outlet.

Gas Dryer Electrical Cord:

• Thick, heavy-duty electrical cord
• Standard 120-volt outlet

Electric Dryer Electrical Cord:

• Standard three-prong cord
• 240-volt outlet

Both gas and electric dryers require proper ventilation to remove hot, moist air and lint particles from the drum. This ventilation is achieved with a flexible metal duct that attaches to the dryer and vents outdoors.

However, gas dryers have an additional smaller vent tube that serves to expel combustion byproducts outdoors. This extra venting is connected to the household gas line and safely releases the carbon monoxide and other gases created when the gas burns.