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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:
dementedma · 23/02/2018 20:01

he didn't bring the camera??
LTB!

Kidneybeansmummy · 23/02/2018 20:14

I’m so gripped by this.... I started putting my three children to bed an hour ago, then got too caught up in this!!!!

PuntCuffin · 23/02/2018 20:19
TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 23/02/2018 20:25

Noooooooo! Wtaf op’s not-so-d-p?! Humph. And yes LTB obviously.

tumpymummy · 23/02/2018 20:26

Stop and think everyone! Why would an unknown person need to sneak in and use someones tumble dryer secretly? Why sneak around at night, just to dry clothes when you can hang them on a radiator at home? Sneaking the use of a washing machine makes more sense, but not a tumble dryer. Plenty of people manage without a tumble dryer (I dont have one), so why sneak in to someones house?!

TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 23/02/2018 20:29

What’s going on then @tumpy? TELL US!

Ahem... sorry.

Flomy · 23/02/2018 20:32

Oh god, come on Shock

BettyBaggins · 23/02/2018 20:38

Place ahem marking Blush

IrritableBitchSyndrome · 23/02/2018 20:42

What if someone is sleeping in there and using the dryer for warmth?

singledadstu · 23/02/2018 20:45

Amazon do a camera called critter camera. Works on batteries and uses an HD card. It only captures images when there is movement. Great for badger watching etc and very easily hidden anywhere . This would be my first choice as the camera can be used for kids activities in the garden after the tumble dryer mystery is solved

maceyuk · 23/02/2018 20:53

I really need to see what happens next!

niklew · 23/02/2018 20:54

Me too! Need an update :)

Lonesurvivor · 23/02/2018 20:55

Place marking too cause this is too interesting just to put on my watch list.

ImTheMary · 23/02/2018 20:56

OP, There's an app called Presence that you can link between 2 iPhones/iPads (maybe android too?!). One device acts as the camera and one as the monitor. Would this work?!

APontypandyPioneer · 23/02/2018 21:01

Maybe there is potential for a MIL angle on this. What if MIL is the cunning and sneaky machine meddler.

Grasping at straws I know.

Or is it? Hmm

Actually if it is the landlord I might be a bit disappointed now.

Fluffyears · 23/02/2018 21:03

I really would put a small trap so you know if someone is in otherwise you’ll never know.

Leeds2 · 23/02/2018 21:04

What do you mean? He didn't bring home a camera?! Send him out to buy one NOW!

Sassychiccy · 23/02/2018 21:07

He didn’t bring the camera! What!?

Rmcni08 · 23/02/2018 21:11

Here's a plot twist...
OP said the post woman used to leave parcels in there.
It's her!! Has to be a woman because a man would never empty the water tray!

LifeBeginsAtGin · 23/02/2018 21:11

OP, do you mind staying up all night to monitor the situation, and then let us know in the morning when we wake up ? Wink

GrooovyLass · 23/02/2018 21:13

How far away does your DP live? Can he not go home and get his camera?!

SnorkFavour · 23/02/2018 21:16

I totally agree with others that you simply need to leave some dry washing inside and take a photo of it. Then leave the dryer door pushed almost closed but not clicked in so it definitely can't run on intermittent.

Then if the meter registers a higher cost go and compare the contents with the photograph you took.

If it's different then someone's definitely been using it! :)

OnlyJoking1 · 23/02/2018 21:28

I had this problem with DD constantly turning it on, often empty and sometimes full of dirty washing shes put in. She has ASD so its hard to get her to understand.
I got a WiFi smart plug, the dryer plugs into it and we tell Alexa to turn dryer on and off, DD looks puzzled, it should help our electric bill.
You could try that.

Loyaultemelie · 23/02/2018 21:28

Dp is now at risk of being stuffed in the tumble dryer for this! Even my DH is over invested in this although his theory is it's my dsis as he's started taking the fuse out of ours when we go away for the day or weekend so she doesn't use ours (whole other cf story but won't derail)

TotHappy · 23/02/2018 21:34

Oh, WHAT will happen tonight? I so want then to come and tumble