IF you’re looking to save cash and cut down on your energy bills, fear not, you’ve come to the right place.
It turns out that the position of your tumble dryer could be the reason why your bills are so high – so if you’re looking to reduce costs, you’ll need to pay attention.
Approximately two-thirds of UK households own a tumble dryer, and many will limit its use to save money.
But when it’s raining and windy outside and you need to dry your washing, without having sheets and towels taking over your home, there’s no denying that it’s an incredibly handy gadget.
But thanks to home experts, there’s a surefire way to use your tumble dryer and lower your energy bill – and it’s so simple.
The straightforward trick is to simply select the best location for the appliance in your home.
It turns out that the cost of using a tumble dryer varies hugely depending on the type. The three main types are: vented, condenser, and heat pump, which is the most energy efficient.
According to Ideal Home, a 9kg vented tumble dryer costs £1.23 per cycle and £146.28 per year on average, while a 9kg condenser costs £1.20 per cycle and £141.91 annually.
Meanwhile, a 9kg heat pump tumble dryer costs just 50p per cycle and £59.57 per year.
But if you want to ensure that your tumble dryer isn’t costing you more than it should, considering its location is key.
There are several potential locations for a tumble dryer in the home, with many people choosing under kitchen counters, in a utility room, or in an outdoor garage.
Whilst many prefer a concealed yet accessible location, the appliance experts at Hoover pointed out that the room’s temperature must also be considered.
They explained: “Many people might not realise that the placement of a tumble dryer can actually impact its efficiency.
“When you place your dryer in a warm location in your home, it’ll require less energy to heat the air up to the necessary temperatures, therefore reducing your energy costs.”
Drying rack or airer
Load up your airer with wet washing and place near a heat source – like a radiator or direct sunlight – to help distribute air around your clothes.
Dehumidifier
Plug in a dehumidifier in a room with clothes hanging to dry quickly and prevent dampness and mould. Many now have a laundry setting.
Tumble dryer
A tumble dryer can heat moisture out of wet washing, saving time and can be used in any weather.
Heated airer
Many brands and shops now sell heated airers for as little as £30. The racks heat through electricity and can speed up drying time.
Open a window
Choose a spare room or unused room for keeping your washing and crack open a window, but close the door behind you.
Using curtain poles
Hang wet washing on radiators then hook them onto curtain poles with radiators below. The heat will rise and dry the items. Alternatively, if you have a shower curtain pole, hang your clothes in the bathroom with a window open.
This is called the “ambient temperature,” which directly affects the equipment’s resultant temperature and power dissipation.
But according to Zanussi, a white goods and appliances retailer, tumble dryers may not function properly if the ambient temperature is too high or too low.
They shared: “The optimal room temperature to achieve the best drying results is between 19C-24C. If the ambient temperature is too low, the drying time will be longer.”
When the room temperature is between 10 and 15C, the drying time can be extended by as much as 30 percent, which can cause annual expenses to mount up if the appliance is positioned in cold areas.
1. Draught-proof your home
It takes time and money to heat up your home, so it’s important that you do as much as you can to keep in the warmth. Close your doors and windows, and fill any gaps with a draught excluder.
2. Dial down your thermostat
According to Energy UK, turning down your thermostat by just one degree Celsius could cut your heating bill by up to 10%, and save you around £85 per year. Plus, if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one could save up to £70 per year!
3. Move furniture around
Make sure not big, bulky furniture like sofas are blocking radiators.
4. Wash clothes on a lower temp and add an extra spin
Unless it’s bedding, towels or really dirty items, dial down the temperature to 20 or 30 degrees, and do a double spin to remove excess water.
5. Heat the person not the home
There’s not point heating up a room that no one is sitting in, so be mindful about which radiators are on.
As a result, the ideal spot to place a tumble dryer during winter months is in the kitchen or in rooms with constant heating, utilising heat from ovens and radiators to maintain “optimal” conditions and shorten drying duration.
In spaces as cold as 5C to 10C, like some outdoor garages, it could take 45 to 60 minutes to dry the same load of clothes as if they were dried in a warm room.
For heavy fabrics such as towels and bedding, which typically dry in one hour at over 16C, the time could rise to about 1.2 hours when the ambient temperature is between 10C and 15C.
This rises again to around 1.5 hours when the temperature is even lower (5C to 10C).
