Tumble dryers are probably the most energy hungry of all domestic appliances. To dry a full load of washing will cost in the region of 50pence , therefore the less you use it the more money you will save. The table below shows the annual running costs of a tumble dryer for different rates of usage.
| 5 times a week | 4 times a week | 3 times a week |
2 times a week | 1 time a week | Never |
| £ 134 | £ 107 | £ 80 | £ 54 | £ 27 | £ 0 |
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The annual running costs of a tumble dryer for different rates of usage |
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There is over £ 100 difference a year in your electricity bill if you use your machine once per week as opposed to 5 times a week. You can save £ 26 per year just by using it once less per week. So air dry, either in doors or outside whenever you can!
If you do use your tumble dryer then you can minimise energy costs in the following ways:-
• Part dry your clothes in the tumble dryer, finish them off on a clothes horse or washing line.
• Clean the filter after every use.
• Dry loads in batches to make the most of the heat in the machine, it may slightly reduce drying time.
Washing machines typically spin between 1000rpm - 1600rpm (dependent on machine).
Vertical spin dryers operate at 2800rpm and are far more efficient at extracting water
out of towels and absorbant materials.
A rated Tumble dryers are now available that significantly reduce energy consumption.
i.e Siemens WT46W56C and Bosch WTW84560 (203KWhr/year and 241KWhr/year).
(£23-£30 used 127 times per year at full 7kg load).