What is the difference between an electric dryer and an electric steam dryer?

Answer 1

None of the above. Please don't get trapped in that mindset that you must have an appliance to dry your clothes. For one thing, a dryer, gas or electric, beats the crap out of your clothes! Yes they give it a nice, easy, gentle name.....they call it "tumbling" but really it's beating the crap out of your clothes. Look at the lint that comes out of the lint trap next time you clean it. That was part of your clothes. How many times do you think you can do this to your clothes? Soon there will be nothing left of them, maybe you can knit a sweater from the lint you have collected.

Folks, the best clothes dryer in the world is a piece of rope and some wooden spring clamps (clothespins) I would suggest hanging your clothes in a shaded area, as direct sun will fade colors over time. You can also hang them inside, like in the basement, or a spare bedroom. Your clothes will not dry as fast as with a dryer, of course, BUT..... after the initial cost of the rope and clothespins, it is free. There's your efficiency that you are wanting, right there! In the winter you are already heating the air in your home, and the moisture from the clothes is usually much needed. A clothes dryer is one of the biggest energy-suckers you have in your home, and then what happens to all that hot and moist air??? it gets blown outside of course. But that is another discussion topic.

Do yourself a big favor, and air dry your clothes, they will last longer, and you will save a heap of money. yes, it may be inconvenient at times, but a great man once said, "In order to conserve, we must be inconvenienced to some degree."

Now to answer your question properly, that is, if electric or gas are the only allowed answers, and by "most efficient" you don't mean least expensive, In both cases, efficiency is affected by airflow, or lack of airflow. Keep the filters clear of lint. One by-product from the combustion of liquified petroleum (propane) is water.... moisture.... so just from burning the gas to make heat your are taking away some of the hot air's ability to absorb moisture. in that regard, gas is less efficient, but just to a slight degree. Electricity is 100% efficient at the point of use, your home, but one must think about, how efficient was the electric plant that produced the electricity... and how effieciently was this power transmitted to your home? but. i guess that is neither here nor there, since the electricity you pay for is measured as it goes into your house wiring, so the electric company in the end pays for the inefficiency of it generating and distribution network. but still, something to think about.

So to answer the question.................Electric............definitely ELECTRIC :)

Answer 2

An electric dryer will have a plug on it that plugs into the wall. If you can not see a plug go to your electrical distribution panel and look for a two breaker that is marked dryer. Turn this breaker off and you should not be able to start your dryer. If it is a gas dryer you should be able to see a gas pipe going to it. If you have a basement, check for a pipe from down there, it may be fed to the dryer from underneath the floor to the unit

Answer 3

Electric dryers are less expensive to purchase initially but the cost of gas vs electricity in your area will determine what is best for you to own and operate over the life of the appliance.

Answer 4

the electric steam dryer has steam...