If your electricity bill keeps rising, the culprit may be your dryer. Unlike constantly running appliances, electric dryers consume massive power in short bursts to generate heat and remove moisture. On average, they use 2,000–5,000 watts per hour—far more than a refrigerator, laptop, or TV. For households running multiple loads weekly, dryer use alone can account for a surprising portion of energy costs.
Overloading the drum, neglecting the lint filter, using high heat unnecessarily, or running long vent ducts can further increase usage. Older models are less efficient, making the problem worse. Compared to gas dryers, electric models are more expensive to operate because electricity costs more than gas for heating.
Small changes—air-drying clothes, cleaning the lint trap, using lower heat, grouping similar fabrics, or upgrading to energy-efficient models—can dramatically reduce costs. Sometimes the biggest energy savings hide in plain sight: your dryer.
