InfoHub: Laundry
How Many Kwh Does a Dryer Use?
On average and across all loads and cycle configurations, electric clothes dryers may use anywhere from 1800 to 5000 watts of energy. That translates to somewhere in the range of 1.8 to 5 kWh of electricity.
Maytag dryers typically require 2100 watts of energy.
If you’re committed to lowering your energy bill, it may be useful to understand how much electricity your dryer uses. By being able to calculate your dryer’s energy usage, you can monitor your laundry routine and make the changes you feel are necessary.
This article will outline how kWh is measured, provide guidance on how to calculate your own usage and also offer some useful tips on how to reduce your dryer’s energy consumption.
How is your Dryer Energy Usage Measured?
A kilowatt hour (kWh) is a measure of the energy used by an electrical device during a period of time. It equals the total amount of energy that is used if, for instance, you kept a 1,000 watt appliance operating for a full hour. Kilowatt hours measure your electricity usage (or consumption) and, ultimately, is used to calculate your electricity bill.
To understand your kilowatt-hour consumption, consider the following:
1) The amount of watts an electrical device draws
2) How often that device is used
To calculate kWh, simply multiply the wattage of a device by the number of hours that you think it will be used for, and then divide by 1,000. For example, a 100-watt incandescent bulb that is on for 10 hours, will consume 1 kWh of electricity.
Learn to calculate your usage
To determine what the estimated annual and lifetime cost would be for a dryer with its wattage, use this calculator and comparison tool from Natural Resources Canada. If you already know the watts and want to calculate the energy used and cost per hour of electric drying, use these steps:
Step 1
Get the kWh by taking the wattage and dividing it by 1,000.
Step 2
Multiply that kWh by the cost per kilowatt hour of electricity in your area.
Step 3
If drying a load in your dryer takes an hour, this is also the energy consumed and cost on a per load basis.
The Owner’s Manual or the serial tag on your machine are where you can find your dryer’s wattage. You can also find the kWh per year for your dryer on the EnerGuide label from the Government of Canada that is typically included in the literature package of your machine.
Only use the cost per hour of electricity in your area, which can be found on your utility bill.
Tips to reduce your dryer's energy consumption
Here are some handy tips that can potentially lower the amount of energy your dryer uses.
ENERGY STAR®
If you’re shopping for a dryer, look for ENERGY STAR® certified dryers. These units exceed government standards in an effort to conserve natural resources and could potentially save money. On average, an ENERGY STAR® certified clothes dryer uses 20% less energy than a standard model.
Ventless Dryers
Consider ventless dryers. These laundry appliances do not require a hookup to an exhaust vent and are usually more energy efficient. Ventless dryers can be either “heat pump” or “condensing”. Heat Pump dryers typically cut down on energy by recycling the air to dry clothes and drying the load with lower temperatures. A condensing dryer uses innovative water condensation drying technologies to get clothes dry. Keep in mind that this technology may extend dry times compared to a standard vented dryer.
Dry full loads
Dry loads in succession
Moisture-Sensing
Clean the Dryer Lint Filter
After each load, clean the dryer lint filter as this can help maintain proper air circulation and heating.
Keep the Outside Exhaust Clean
Please note that these tips do not apply to every brand and model. Confirm what will work for your dryer before putting one of these tips into practice.
Learn more about Maytag Dryers or shop our full line up of Maytag electric dryers.
Share this article
Get more laundry tips and tricks in these articles from Maytag:
-
Discover the Best Dryer for Your Home Trying to find the best clothes dryer for your home? From our largest capacity dryers to models tough on wrinkles, we'll help find the best dryer for you.
-
How to Measure Washer and Dryer Dimensions Not sure what washer and dryer size will fit? Learn about standard and stackable washer and dryer dimensions to accurately measure for appliances with Maytag.
-
HE Detergent: What Is It & Do You Need It? Why do you need HE detergent? Can you use HE detergent in a regular washer? Learn more about what makes HE detergent special and more from Maytag.
