Clothes dryers have finally started to see the kinds of helpful innovations that other kinds of appliances have been enjoying for years. As one of the most power-hungry devices in the home they've been overdue for the energy-efficient overhaul that has emerged in recent years. Keep reading to find out what features your new dryer needs simplify your life and keep energy costs down.

Another important consideration is whether a vented or ventless system makes sense for your home. Standard (vented) dryers, both gas and electric, use a heating element to raise the temperature of the air in the dryer. Doing so heats your clothes and the water in them, creating steam. The dryers vent this steam outdoors through aluminum ducts. However, it's not always possible to install these ducts. For years, if you couldn't install a venting duct, you couldn't install a dryer.

Ventless Dryers solve this problem, making it possible to install dryers in apartments, closets, and other places where ducts aren't possible. Be aware, laundry rooms, especially small ones, with ventless dryers can get hot. Although most of these sophisticated machines contain the majority of the heat and moisture, small amounts of hot air and condensation can seap out.

Unfortunately, ventless dryers cost more than their vented counterparts. Heat pump dryers, a kind of ventless dryer, offset their higher upfront cost with much lower operational costs. You'll have to decide if the convenience and lower operational costs justify the higher price tag.

Instead of using a heating element to raise internal temperatures, these dryers pull in air from around the machine and pass it through a condenser to warm it up. Condenser dryers pass this air into the drum to dry the clothes. As warm air fills the drum it pushes cool, damp air out, passed the condenser where the moisture in the air converts to water. The dryer then directs this water either into a holding tank or out a drainage hose. If your dryer uses a holding tank, be sure to empty it after every load or two.

Condenser dryers use lower temperatures than vented models. As a result, these machines have longer drying times and sadly aren't much help when it comes to saving energy. But, the lower temperatures are easier on fabrics. So your favorite clothes should last a little longer.

If you're looking to go green with the most energy-efficient dryer you can find, a heat pump dryer is your best option. Heat pump dryers use a refrigerant system with hot and cold coils. Air coming from the drum passes over the cold coil, releasing moisture and creating heat. The resulting heat adds to that of the hot coil which raises the temperature of the air on its way back into the drum. Because of this efficient process, heat pump dryers use about 50% less energy than any other kind of dryer.

Heat pump dryers do share some of the drawbacks of other ventless dryers. The water it removes from the air has to go somewhere. So heat pump dryers require a drainage hose or a holding tank. And like condenser dryers, drying times are longer than those of vented dryers.

If space is especially limited in your home, consider a washer dryer combo unit. These units combine a ventless dryer with either a condenser or heat pump and a front load washer. These appliances simplify the laundry process by eliminating the need to transfer clothes from one machine to the next.

However, if you have room for both a washer and dryer it usually makes sense to get two separate machines. Adding a wash cycle to the extended drying times of the ventless dryer can turn the whole process into a 4+ hours affair. Plus, dryers work best when their capacity is twice that of a washer. So, manufacturers suggest washing half loads when using washer dryer combos or removing half of your clothes after the wash cycle completes.

• Full-sized - 27" wide, ~7 cubic feet of capacity
• Compact - 24" wide, ~4 cubic feet of capacity

When deciding what size dryer you need, make sure you pick one with roughly twice the capacity of your washing machine. If you're not replacing your washer, this rule makes it easy to find the perfect dryer size. Replacing your washer dryer set takes a bit more thought.

Think about how often you do laundry and who will be sharing the dryer with you. If more than two people will be using the dryer, compact units probably don't make sense. But how big should you go? The largest dryers on the market offer around 9 cubic feet of capacity which is big enough for 17 full-sized bath towels. In contrast, a 4 cubic foot dryer has enough room for about 6 of the same towels.

As for physical size, there are two basic options: compact and full-sized. Ignore terms like "high-capacity" and "ultra-large." These phrases aren't standardized and can be misleading, especially when comparing different brands.

Roughly 24" wide with a 3.5 - 4 cubic foot drum, compact dryers are all electric. Consequently, they require a 240v outlet for power. These models are great for tight spaces or homes with minimal laundry needs. But if you do multiple loads of laundry every week, a compact dryer probably isn't the best choice.

Full-sized dryers are generally 27" wide with 7 cubic feet of capacity. However, "full-sized" has been used to describe dryers from 25" to 29" wide with capacities ranging from under 5 cubic feet to more than 9.

If you want to squeeze both machines into a small space, stackable washer dryers are a great solution. With an affordable stacking kit, you can secure a stackable dryer above compatible front load washers. Should you ever find yourself with a little more room, you can detach the stackable washer dryers and place the units next to one another.

Alternatively, you can find stacked washer dryers that come attached to one another. While these models are often less expensive than buying and stacking two separate machines, they usually have smaller capacities.

Whatever size you decide on, make sure your dryer has a little breathing room. Vented dryers need at least 6" of open space behind the machine for ductwork. Similarly, you should leave an inch or two of space around ventless dryers.

Deciding which features are important to you is the last step in buying a dryer.

Some dryers offer more cycles than you could possibly use. Most of them are just variations of heat and time. Others bring something unique to the table. Keep reading for an explanation of a few of the most popular dryer cycles.

Sensor Dry

By monitoring the moisture levels inside your dryer, Sensor Dry cycles make sure your clothes dry fully without overdrying. Saving time, money, and wear on your clothes, sensor dry is probably the most useful cycle a dryer can offer.

Eco-Cycle

Meant to save energy, eco-cycles generally just use low heat over an extended time. Some models may even have a monitor on the console that displays the energy use and efficiency of different drying cycles. While the cycle can help you save money on energy bills and reduce wear on your clothing, you can achieve the same or similar results with any dryer that allows you to adjust cycle length and temperature.

Steam

The steam cycle is a newer feature introduced that assists in the drying of your clothes. Steam cycles can refresh an outfit you've already worn by injecting small amounts of steam to relax wrinkles and remove odors. While the automated process is definitely convenient, throwing a damp wash cloth in with your clothes has a similar effect.

Delicate

The delicate cycle uses an ultra-low temperature to safely and gently dry lightweight garments, as well as any loosely woven fabrics. This will help your clothes last longer and maintain their color.

Express Dry

This dry cycle uses large blowers for increased airflow so laundry can dry a lot faster than usual.

Dryer doors hinges are typically found on the left or right of the door. Some hinges rest along the bottom edge of the door, allowing the door to swing open like an oven door. While some dryers allow you to choose which direction the door opens, not all do. Just make sure your dryer door doesn't get in the way when transferring clothes from the washer.

Losing socks while doing laundry is all too common. Drum lights illuminate the inside of your dryer to make sure you don't leave anything behind. Simple as this feature is, it's incredibly useful.

Designed for delicate items like shoes and sweaters, drum racks provide a flat surface to dry items without tumbling them.

When you can't be there right when a cycle ends, many dryers can tumble your clothes at regular intervals to prevent wrinkles from setting in. While this feature is a must for many people, be aware that it can increase energy usage by as much as 10%.

The National Sanitary Foundation rates machines based on their ability to destroy allergens and bacteria on fabric. This is something to look into if you're worried about cleanliness and staying healthy.

This allows users to mute the end-of-cycle signal on machines located close to living and sleeping areas.

Many newer dryers allow you to monitor and adjust cycles right from your smartphone. They can send you notifications at the end of a cycle, helping you prevent wrinkles. Some models can even track energy rates from your utility company and delay drying until the cost of electricity drops overnight.

While this increased level of control can be convenient, it's still important to use your dryer responsibly. The National Fire Protection Association recommends only using your dryer when you're home and awake.

This feature let's users know that it's time to clean out the dryer vent, as sometimes it's easy to forget.

Buying a new dryer may seem overwhelming but it's easy to break it down into a series of either or questions. Gas or Electric? Vented or Ventless? For Ventless, Condenser or Heat Pump? Compact or Full-Sized? Stacked or Standalone?

If you're updating your washer too, check out our Washing Machine Buying Guide for help finding the perfect model for your home. And if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at 800-860-3577 so we can help.