The units that have the washer and dryer stacked (but connected), and the single units that do it all. Are they efficient? If they are, which ones are better? I can’t find good sources from which to write a short article, but here are a few links to pages that have reviews of both the stacked and the all-in-one units:

THIS page favors the all-in-one units, but it has several stacked unit as well.

Again THIS page seems to favor the all-in-ones, but it’s got some different stacked units too.

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Which is better? Well, let’s see:

Both gas and electric dryers use a small electric motor to turn the large drum, so even if you get a gas dryer you’re still going to need an electric hook-up. With gas models this hook-up only needs to be the standard 115-volt outlet, but electric models require a 240-volt outlet. Electric dryers are usually less expensive initially, and they have fairly easy installation going for them too. However, gas dryers are generally less expensive to run after the slightly higher (about 50$ more for a comparable gas dryer) initial purchase. Understand though, that gas dryers are only a viable option if the house already has a gas hook-up; if not, then definitely go with an electric model.

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Many newer dryer models have sensors for detecting moisture. Many sensors estimate the moisture only by the temperature of the exhaust air, but some also gauge the humidity inside the drum. With this sensor, the dryer will cut off when the humidity is removed. You can save about 10% with just the temperature sensor, and 15% with the moisture sensor. These sensors not only help you save money through efficiency, but it also reduces the wear and tear on your clothes. Definitely watch for these energy smart options when you’re buying a dryer.

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Well, depending on the size of your household anyway. Remember from the last post mentioned that it is best to get a dryer that can accommodate the majority of your clothes in two or three loads at the most? Here’s a quick reason why:

The more room the clothes have the faster they will dry. The faster your clothes dry the more they save you on your energy bill in the end. As a rule, you’ll probably want a dryer that’s about twice a large, in cubic feet, as your washer. This doesn’t mean, however, that you can cram two loads from your washer into your dryer; remember, the clothes need room to tumble.

THIS article makes several good points when you are thinking about buying a dryer.

… for a new clothes dryer? Here are some things to think about if you are:

Guess what? Energy Star does not label dryers because there is very little energy use difference between models. Well, aside from the Energy Star there are still a few other things that you can watch for that will help you decide which dryer is the best option for your household.

• It helps if your dryer is large enough to accomodate the majority of your clothes in two or three loads at the most.
• Many new dryer models have sensors that are able to tell when the clothes are actually dry.
• Timers that can be manually adjusted for the size and weight of the load are really good.
• Gas dryers are, in general, much more efficient than electric dryers.

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