Dry one load of clothes immediately after another. This will minimize heat loss, reducing warm-up and drying times.
Clothes Dryer
Blue Flame
In gas appliances, look for blue flames; yellow flames indicate the gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed.
Elevating Appliances
For protection against shallow flood waters, the washer and dryer can sometimes be elevated on masonry or pressure-treated lumber at least 12″ above the projected flood elevation. Other options are moving the washer and dryer to a higher floor, or building a floodwall around the appliances.
The furnace and water heater can be placed on masonry blocks or concrete at least 12 above the projected flood elevation, moved to inside a floodwall or moved to a higher floor.
Furnaces that operate horizontally can be suspended from ceiling joists if the joists are strong enough to hold the weight. Installing a draft-down furnace in the attic may be an option if allowed by local codes. Some heating vents can be located above the projected flood elevation.
Outside air conditioning compressors, heat pumps or package units (single units that include a furnace and air conditioner) can be placed on a base of masonry, concrete or pressure-treated lumber. All work must conform to state and local building codes.
Dryer Lint
Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
Cool Down Cycle
Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.
Separate When Drying
When using a clothes dryer, separate your clothes and dry similar types of clothes together. Lightweight synthetics, for example, dry much more quickly than bath towels and natural fiber clothes.
Drying in Sets
Dry two or more loads of clothes in a row, taking advantage of the dryer’s retained heat.
Lint Removal
Clean the lint filter in the clothes dryer after every load to improve air circulation. Remember to regularly clean the lint from vent hoods, too.
Dryer Exhaust
Check the outside clothes dryer exhaust vent periodically. If it doesn’t close tightly, replace it with one that does to keep the outside air from leaking in. This will reduce heating and cooling bills.
Moisture Sensor
When shopping for a clothes dryer, look for a model with a moisture sensor feature that automatically shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry. Not only will this save energy, it will reduce the wear and tear on clothes from over-drying.