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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Somebody is using my tumble dryer at night...

494 replies

RaisinBread · 22/02/2018 09:18

I’m convinced of it.

I have a new smart meter it’s been installed for about a month. My resting house uses 9p of electric between midnight and the time we wake up. Always.

So I’ve woken up today and the meter is on 48p.... I went to bed past midnight last night, which is very unusual for me but got hooked into 24 hours in AE and ended up making the kids packed lunches at 12.30. At this point from several lights being left on and the tv running the meter was already on 8p so I knew it would be around 20p at most by the morning.

So I wake up to find it double what I’m expecting and then hear the dryer going. It’s in a building attached to the main house, sort of a boot room. When I rented the house there was no lock to that room (old house with old doors and I think the key was lost at some point) but there was to the main house which has a heavy door, locks and bolts. It didn’t bother me as in a sleepy village. My landlord lives behind me with his family in a converted barn and someone is usually home as they are renovating it.

Even weirder than my tumble dryer being on when I hadn’t turned it on is that the tray that collects the water was bone dry! My washing load in there was bulky cottons that hold a lot of water so it should have been half full/full after my load drying.

I put my load in the day before and due to the pre mentioned tv binge, forgot to take it out before bed to fold.

This has really weirded me out as this is now the second time this week that the tumble dryer has been on in the morning and the meter has been above 9p. The last time was I think Tuesday morning but I live with three kids so just shrugged it off that one of them had put it on by accident when looking for clean uniform. Although thinking about it logically now they wouldn’t have been looking for clean uniform on a Tuesday morning as we have enough sets to last until Wednesday before they need washing and drying....

So do you agree with me is someone sneaking into my house unloading my washing. Drying theirs. Emptying the tray of water and then putting mine back in to fully dry? Confused

OP posts:
PurpleStarInCashmereSky · 23/02/2018 09:14

Happy sigh.

Original poster
RaisinBread · 23/02/2018 09:19

No unusual goings on last night/this morning. The meter was at 9p, as expected and nothing looks to have been disturbed.

I was absolutely freezing here last night, lots of frost on the ground this morning. So I doubt it was optimum sneaking around with wet washing weather.

No animal could have drunk the water and I have no pets. The tray is at the top of the dryer, the same place that you would find one on a standard washing machine but it runs the whole depth of the dryer with an opening for the water at the back end.

OP posts:
QueenDaisy · 23/02/2018 09:24

Poshjock

Thank you, saved to my phone & will read it later Smile

Motoko · 23/02/2018 09:34

Unplug the dryer at night and see if it's plugged in the next morning

That won't necessarily work.
If I was surreptitiously using someone's dryer and found it unplugged, I'd make sure I also unplugged it after using it.

Mind you, if I heard my tumble drier going when it shouldn't have been, I would have gone and investigated at the time.

OrangePeels · 23/02/2018 10:24

Could it just be a weird coincidence that the tray was empty and something else in the house switched itself on? Like the freezer doing a blast chill or something?

Roomba · 23/02/2018 10:52

We had this with our washing machine. It was plumbed in inside the outside loo in our last rented house and someone was using it to do their washing. They pinched our clean sheets

My washer is in what was previously the outside loo. Round here they'd just nick the entire machine so it's kept well locked with a massive padlock, sliding bolts, and one of those door sensor alarms that makes a piercing noise when you open the door. I'd suggest this arrangement for you, OP!

I still worry, as it would really only take a crowbar to get in, then someone could load it into a waiting van in the back alley. Someone stole all the old lead water pipes from a neighbour's outside loo once!

hellsbellsmelons · 23/02/2018 11:07

Well now I'm invested and need to know the outcome.
NOT placemarking Wink

VileyRose · 23/02/2018 11:22

Cheeky place marking ..

Jux · 23/02/2018 12:06

Beautiful diagram, btw. 10/10. That is the diagram beside which all other diagram shall be held (and found wanting!).

Jux · 23/02/2018 12:07

Cats would open your dryer's water drawer - cats with thumbs could, anyway.....

Whitecurrants · 23/02/2018 12:21

Your tumble dryer is possessed. Exorcism is the only answer.

Hotpinkangel19 · 23/02/2018 12:26
Confused
APontypandyPioneer · 23/02/2018 12:27

Can't wait to see how this unfolds!

So what's the plan for tonight OP?

I saw in a film I watched once (don't remember which) they smashed a light bulb on the floor and left glass shards on the floor to hear when someone walked over it and see if it was disturbed. Not suggesting smashing a light bulb, or food stuffs given the location but maybe can you put a couple of handfuls of gravel on the floor by the door and see if it's disturbed in the morning?

APontypandyPioneer · 23/02/2018 12:28

Just read that back... I'm way to invested in this.Blush

torthecatlady · 23/02/2018 12:29

Just found this thread and very interested as to how it will turn out. Going forward I would definitely put some sort of temporary lock on the patio doors though. I have no good suggestions though, sorry! Good luck!

Stompythedinosaur · 23/02/2018 12:34

I'm waiting for an update with baited breath!

LizzieLestrange · 23/02/2018 12:36

Following with interest, I love a good mystery!

MyNewBearTotoro · 23/02/2018 12:42

I would have to get to the bottom of this and find out who or why it was! Think I would try and see if there is any pattern to the tumble dryer being on - is it every Tuesday night for example? Then I would set out to find the person in the act - think I’d have to set a couple of middle-of-the-night alarms and go down and try and find the load of someone else’s washing being dried.

Then I would take their washing into the house so they had to come and ‘fess up to get it back. Would probably fit a lock after that too, but would want to catch them out first!

milliemolliemou · 23/02/2018 13:40

If there is someone using it, they must be desperate .... and patient. Imagine waiting for the OP to go to bed, unsure in your own mind that she might be going through a box set (because it's Friday night) and then stealing into the outhouse and waiting for a 40 minute drying programme to end .... and where I am it's been beautiful drying weather. This will be a long saga ....

sportyfool · 23/02/2018 17:10

How weird , can you just ask him? 😬😬

notapizzaeater · 23/02/2018 17:28

Ooh, I’d be dragging a sleeping bag and sleeping the other side of the door ready to pounce

tempester28 · 23/02/2018 17:49

This could be one for Jonathan Creek

TheDailyMailLovesTheEUReally · 23/02/2018 17:51

I am strangely gripped by this...

NurseP · 23/02/2018 17:51

I can't wait for the update either! OP you must take the washing into your house if you find any in there! See if they ask you for it back!

Confusedbeetle · 23/02/2018 17:52

I would just take the fuse out of the plug and/or put a cheap camera in there. also see to the lock

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