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Original poster

To ask how often you run these appliances after I’ve had a HUGE energy bill?

307 replies

Brepa · 13/08/2024 19:29

How often do you run the dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer?

dishwasher here goes on every night without fail. The washing machine 6 out of 7 days. The tumble dryer 4 or 5 times a week. I didn’t think this was excessive? Is it?

OP posts:
IdLikeToBeAFraser · 13/08/2024 19:56

Is this a new house?

the cost of your electricity is driven largely by anything with a heating element. So if you're doing your washing on a hot cycle, that's more expensive than doing it on a cold or warm cycle. Ditto dishwasher. Tumble drier is notoriously one of the most expensive appliances in a household. But the oven is another. electric stove if you have one. Any heating. If it's a new house, check your boiler/hot water - if it's set too hot your hot water is being constantly heated to a higher temperature, which will ramp up the bill massively. Ditto any underfloor heating.

Destiny123 · 13/08/2024 19:56

Misthios · 13/08/2024 19:34

Family of 5, all the kids are older teens. Dishwasher every day on an eco cycle, washing machine usually every other day (again, eco cycle, 30c), we don't have a tumble dryer.

Check the eco cycle as my eco cycle uses waaaay more electric than the quick cycle

We dishwash every maybe 3-4d and 1x washing a week. Line dry clothes. But there's only 2 of us

NeverEnoughPants · 13/08/2024 19:56

BakedBeansforabrain · 13/08/2024 19:54

Why are you putting the tumble dryer on 4 to 5 a week in the summer?

don’t you hang the washing out to dry, we haven’t used ours for months

Not everyone has an 'out' to hang their washing.

AliTheMinx · 13/08/2024 19:55

We use the dishwasher 3/4 times a week and the washing machine 2/3 a week. We don't have a drier. We are a family of 3 - me, DH and DS (12.

maddening · 13/08/2024 19:54

bergamotorange · 13/08/2024 19:36

How much was your bill, how much was your previous bill?

I'm wondering if you've just come off a low fixed tariff or something.

Agree with this - particularly being a summer bill

CoffeeCakeAndALattePlease · 13/08/2024 19:54

We use ours about the same as you roughly. 2 adults and 2 kids.

have your bills suddenly gone up? Have you come to the end of a fixed term without realising and the unit cost has shot up?

BakedBeansforabrain · 13/08/2024 19:54

Why are you putting the tumble dryer on 4 to 5 a week in the summer?

don’t you hang the washing out to dry, we haven’t used ours for months

Willowkins · 13/08/2024 19:53

Dishwasher and washing machine run every day (3 adults living here at the moment). I don't have a tumble dryer but the electric car recharges once or twice a week and it's easily the biggest user of electricity in our house.

NeverEnoughPants · 13/08/2024 19:52

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Yup.

I live alone. I'm not going to put on a dishwasher for the amount I use in a day. And honestly, it's not like that are particularly dirty. I'm cooking for one. It's salad with a baked potato and cheese or a toasted sandwich or a bowl of soup. It's not steak and chips or sausages and mash. Or if I cook properly, it tends to be in bulk and the dishwasher goes on that day. Then all I use the following days is a plate (that's easily rinsed).

dementedpixie · 13/08/2024 19:51

@Brepa how much is the huge bill?
Our last months usage was £140 electricity and £30 gas.

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 13/08/2024 19:51

Tumble dryer in this weather?! You must be mad!

TwinklyAmberOrca · 13/08/2024 19:50

Dishwasher every other day.

Washing machine 4x a week.

I don't use a tumble dryer. I line dry or use a dehumidifier in a small room with the clothes. (Usually a bathroom)

notleastbitsurprised · 13/08/2024 19:49

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PlantDoctor · 13/08/2024 19:48

Allnewtometoo · 13/08/2024 19:44

Tumble dryer, broke months ago. Haven't replaced it. Not sure how I'll fare in winter.

Washer - 4 or 5 washes a week. Often less.

Dishwasher, rarely.

Get a clothes rack and a dehumidifier. You can chuck it outside if nice and dry inside if raining, without the issue of extra humidity in the house. Dries MUCH faster than without dehumidifier too (although of course not as fast a tumble drier!)

User79853257976 · 13/08/2024 19:48

We don’t have a tumble dryer or dishwasher. The washing machine is used most days.

OddBoots · 13/08/2024 19:47

What kind of tumble dryer is it? They really vary in electricity usage.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 13/08/2024 19:47

We don't have a dishwasher but use the washer/dryer 7-8 times a week.

dementedpixie · 13/08/2024 19:47

Washing machine used a lot and dishwasher is on most days, sometimes twice. Don't have a tumble dryer though.

We have an electric oven and electric showers and the shower especially probably increases our electricity bill the most

DailyMailHater · 13/08/2024 19:46

No dishwasher and no tumble dryer -
washing machine at least once a day weekdays and maybe twice a day at weekends

Bignanna · 13/08/2024 19:46

PistachioFrapp · 13/08/2024 19:44

We run all 3 machines every day, sometimes more than once for the washing machine.

I use 30 degrees 60 minute setting for all clothes and 55 minute quick setting for dishwasher.

Our combined gas and electric is £275pm average.

Wow, some serious savings could be made there!

namechange1986 · 13/08/2024 19:46

Here's a wild idea @notleastbitsurprised how about people can also hand wash their dishes too.

Original poster
Brepa · 13/08/2024 19:45

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@notleastbitsurprised it’s the first bill in this house, not had a dishwater before but was told on the phone they are the cheapest of the three to run!

OP posts:
TheChosenTwo · 13/08/2024 19:45

Family of 5.
washing machine - twice a day.
dishwasher - twice a day
tumble dryer - at the moment not at all but only because it’s been super sunny. Most of the time it goes on daily.

If fewer of us are around then the above totals reduce.

Bignanna · 13/08/2024 19:45

Don’t need it! Doesn’t everyone know a tumble drier gobbles electricity?

Underlig · 13/08/2024 19:45

Dishwasher every evening. Washing machine 2-3 times a week. Don’t have a tumble dryer.

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