How to Tell if You Have an Electric or Gas Dryer in One Second

I’m clearly no appliance expert, because until recently, I had never heard of a gas dryer. This begs the question: How can you tell if your dryer is gas or electric? If you’re getting a new appliance anytime soon, you’ll need to know which you have. Here’s why it’s so important, and how you can identify your hookup.

When my family moved into our new home, we knew we’d have to replace the old washer and dryer. However, it wasn’t until we had our new electric washer-and-dryer set delivered that we realized it’s have to go right back to the store. It turns out, the electric dryer we 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 vs. electric ovens.

• An electric dryer is 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 need 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.

Just because you see a cord, it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily an electric dryer, says John Carey, cofounder of Designer Appliances. Every dryer, whether it runs on gas or electricity, has an electric cord for its control panel. “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.

Electric 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 have 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 counterparts, so while they’re more expensive on the outset, they tend to be friendlier on your monthly bills, says Carey.

If all else fails and you need to know if you have a gas or electric dryer hookup before making a purchase, Carey recommends finding the model number on your unit and looking it up on the manufacturer’s website. 

Fortunately, I was able to get a refund for the electric 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 a whole lot of frustration.