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Though your clothes dryer accounts for a relatively small part of the energy consumption in your household, the cost to run it can add up over a year. In addition to paying for energy, you also pay for damages to your dryer, your clothes and -- potentially -- your home. Typical Energy Use

Otter Tail Power Company of Minnesota estimates that a clothes dryer uses between 360 and 1,680 kWh of energy per year. OTPC bases the figures on a 5,000-watt machine that you use for 72 to 336 hours over 12 months. Your actual use may be different.

Since the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports an average electricity cost of 11.2 cents per kWh, the median annual cost of a clothes dryer is $204. In other words, about $17 of your monthly utility bill is likely due to your dryer use.

Always obey the manufacturer's warning to clean the lint trap on your clothes dryer. Not only does this decrease the risk of the machine overheating and causing a fire, but according to the Energy Star website, it also makes your dryer run more efficiently. If you use dryer sheets on a regular basis, Energy Star advises you to scrub the lint trap with a toothbrush at least once a month to remove residue.

Line drying your clothes means you avoid using your dryer altogether. It also extends the life of your clothes by saving them from the direct heat of the dryer. Contact your local homeowners association to find out whether it allows clotheslines in your neighborhood.

Energy use isn't the only way your dryer costs you. Since it wears out clothes, it causes you buy new ones. Dryer sheets and repairs also add to its costs. Consider these when calculating the annual cost of your drying machine.