A dryer is one of the most common appliances in our houses. You might use a dryer every day to dry your clothes. But the more you use the dryer, the more electricity will be used.
Moreover, dryers are different types nowadays. So, their electric consumption might also be different.
That’s why you might be confused about how many amps and watts a dryer uses. If you calculate the electricity consumption, it will be easy for you to control the use of a dryer. So, let’s see details about a dryer’s electricity consumption.
How much electricity (amps & watts) does a dryer use?
Generally, a dryer uses electricity as much as the other large devices. For example, common dryers use 20 to 30 amps. The range might change with the change of watts used. Generally, a dryer uses 3000 watts. But this can vary from 1800 to 5000 watts. So, the amps will also change with the watts.
How many amps does a dryer use?
A dryer can use different ranges of electricity (amps). The using amps will change according to the voltage the dryer uses. The amps might vary from 15 amps to 30 amps. Some low-power consuming dryers will consume fewer amounts of amps.
Even some manufacturers offer that the dryers will consume less electricity. But the dryer needs a minimum amount of electricity. So, let’s see how many amps the common dryer uses.
110v:
Generally, a 110v dryer doesn’t use so much electricity. The average use of a 110v dryer is 15 amps.
220v:
With the increase of voltage, the use of amps also increases. For example, if you use a 220v dryer, it will consume 20 amps. So, if you use a higher voltage dryer, the dryer will pull more amps of electricity.
240v:
Like the other different voltage dryers, 240v voltage will also use more electricity. A 200v dryer will use 25 to 30 amps of electricity. So, the more voltage you use, the more electric consumption will be.
Do old dryers use more electricity?
Yes, old dryers use more electricity. Even some old dryers can use 66 percent more electricity than the new ones. Contrarily, new dryers are comparatively energy saving than the older dryers.
Generally, dryers are one of the most energy-consuming appliances. They will consume a huge amount of electricity whether you use an old or new one. But the older dryers will use more electricity.
So, many brands are releasing new dryers that have features to limit electricity consumption.
Does the clothes dryer consume a lot of electricity?
Yes, clothes dryers consume a lot of electricity. Even among the home appliances, dryers are the second most energy-consuming appliances. So, the high rate of the electric bill might be a sign of using clothes dryer regularly.
Generally, dryers have to use instruments that spin and produce heat. This process needs a lot of electric power. So, the overall use of amps and watts is also increased. A typical dryer consumes about 3000 watts.
Moreover, if you use a 220 volts dryer, it will consume more than 20 amps. So, the clothes dryer consumes a lot of electricity.
How much electricity does an electric dryer use?
Generally, an electric dryer uses from 1800 watts to 5000 watts. The average use of a typical electric dryer is 3000 watts. This amount of watts uses about 1.8 to 5 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
An electric dryer is pretty a power-consuming device. If you use an electric dryer that uses 3000 watts, it will consume 3 kilowatt-hours of electricity. That means an electric dryer is one of the most power-consuming devices in your house.
How much energy does a gas dryer use?
The energy consumption of a gas dryer and an electric dryer is different. Generally, a gas dryer uses less energy compared to an electric dryer. Though both of the dryers use some amount of electricity, a gas dryer uses less electricity than an electric dryer.
So, if you notice the energy consumption of a gas dryer, you will see it uses between 20,000 and 25,000 BTU (or .2 to .25 therms) per hour. BTU is a thermal unit to measure heat. So, a gas dryer uses 20,000 BTU of energy on average.
How to reduce your dryer’s energy consumption?
You might know that the dryer uses a huge amount of electricity. Moreover, if the dryer is an electric dryer, it will consume a lot of energy. So, the electricity bill per month will be pretty expensive. That’s why you might want to reduce your energy consumption.
So, let’s see how you can reduce your dryer’s energy consumption.
Control your dryer’s moisture content:
Many people over-dry the clothes that are harmful to cloth and energy-consuming also.
Make sure to keep an even airflow:
While drying clothes in the dryer, make sure to keep an even airflow. Even airflow will make the clothes dry soon and reduce the electricity use.
Choose the moisture sensor option:
This sensor will automatically turn off the dryer when there is no moisture content. So, the dryer will not be turned on when the clothes are completely dry.
Optimize the system efficiency:
You should optimize the system efficiency while using the dryer. For example, check for debris and dirt in the heat exchange coil. If you find any dirt and debris, clean them to run the dryer well.
Make sure the fan operation is okay:
If the fan regulates well, it will distribute the airflow at every corner. So, the drying time will be reduced as well as the energy consumption.
Clean it properly:
After using the dryer every time, clean it properly. If you don’t clean the dryer well, the dryer will not work will its maximum efficiency. So, more electricity will be needed. That’s why a clean dryer is necessary to minimize energy consumption.
Can I use a 40 amp breaker for a dryer?
No, you should not use a 40 amps breaker for a dryer. Generally, dryers use 30 amps circuits for operating. If you use a 40 amp breaker for the dryer, it will not be appropriate.
If you use a 40 amp breaker for a dryer, the wires of the circuit will overheat. This will make the dryer highly dangerous. It’s so unsafe for electrical devices to overheat. Moreover, it will never trip until the flow exceeds 40 amps.
So, the device that is run by a specific amp, will not be appropriate to use a high level of amp breaker. So, you can’t use a 40 amps breaker for a dryer.
Can I run a 30 amp dryer on a 20 amp breaker?
No, you can’t run a 30 amp dryer on a 20 amp breaker. Generally, a 30 amp dryer will fit with a 30 amp breaker. Similarly, a 20 amp breaker is usable for a 20 amp device. You can’t use any electrical device in a random breaker.
So, if you use a 30 amp dryer on a 20 amp breaker, the dryer will not work. You have to use a 30 amp breaker for this dryer. Moreover, using an inappropriate breaker for the dryer might cause damage to the device.
Moreover, it can be unsafe to use a random breaker for a dryer. So, you must use a 30 amp breaker to run a 30 amp dryer.
Which uses more electricity washer or dryer?
Washers and dryers are both electricity-consuming appliances. But generally, dryers use more electricity than washers. This difference occurs due to different uses of watts.
Generally, a washer uses 1200 to 3000 watts to operate. But a dryer can use up to 6000 watts. Moreover, the average use of watts for a dryer is 3000 watts. So, this high electricity makes the dryer more electric power consuming.
Moreover, the overall energy cost of the dryer is more than the washer. So, it will be efficient if you air-dry your clothes after washing them in a washer. Otherwise, the overall use of electricity will be pretty high. So, a dryer uses more electricity than a washer.
Final Thoughts:
A dryer can use a huge amount of electricity. But the ranges might differ for different voltages. A dryer uses 3000 watts of electricity on average. This range can rise to 5000 watts also. Besides, a dryer uses 15 amps – 30 amps of electricity. The amps of dryers change with the change of voltages.