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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:
SurvivalOfTheUnfittest · 23/02/2018 23:39

Also invested here. Can he not go home and get the camera and the shoes?!

MMcanny · 23/02/2018 23:42

I’ve only read the first two and last page but I must have missed something as everyone is talking about putting flour down etc. Surely the simplest thing is if you hear it on as you say you do you go down immediately to see what’s in it? No? Not sure what the subterfuge is all about. If there is something in it and no one about take it hostage till the culprit comes to your door to explain. And stick a lock on the door!

RubyFlint · 24/02/2018 00:17

Place marking

ChaosTrulyReigns · 24/02/2018 00:24

All the lols at this being Hot Thread.

GrinGrin

flipperflop · 24/02/2018 00:35

Shameless place mark..Grin

flipperflop · 24/02/2018 00:35

Shameless place mark..Grin

PositivelyPERF · 24/02/2018 00:45

Two place marks flipperflop? That's just greedy. place Mark

123MothergotafleA · 24/02/2018 00:45

Any sign of your phantom thief yet?

NewSingleMummy · 24/02/2018 01:05

Any sign?

ChasedByBees · 24/02/2018 01:13

I’m curious to know what this is too now.

PositivelyPERF · 24/02/2018 01:25

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? chanels inner child

JanKind · 24/02/2018 02:05

Just fit a lock. Next?

echt · 24/02/2018 02:22

Agree with JanKind, lock the door, yet the obvious solution is never taken up. Hmm

5BlueHydrangea · 24/02/2018 02:52

JanKind and echt and that is exciting how??

5BlueHydrangea · 24/02/2018 02:52

OP you need a touch of Frost!!

salsmum · 24/02/2018 02:55

When I was younger and living at home my brother would sneak into my bedroom when I was out...I used to fold a small piece of paper up and put it in the gap of the closed door I always knew if it was on the floor that my brother had been in my room ( he didn't have a clue how I knew) Grin

echt · 24/02/2018 03:20

JanKind and echt and that is exciting how?

I never said it was exciting.

Is there a new rule?

ApacheEchidna · 24/02/2018 05:42

I think 5BlueHydrangea meant that merely resolving the problem by locking the door would utterly fail to achieve the most important and most desirable outcome, which is that this thread should be entertaining.

Cambiarelnombre · 24/02/2018 06:09

I’ve skimmed a little but really can’t be bothered to read whole thread. This is absolutely hilarious. Tbh same thing happened to me. Thought it was my neighbour stealing my electricity. It is your basic daily rate that is added at that time. It is not based on any usage.

Cambiarelnombre · 24/02/2018 06:11

And the spinning is usually it airing out when it hasn’t been switched off properly

Justwanttosayplease · 24/02/2018 06:46

Its the resident ghost, just washing its white sheets after a bit of nocturnal shit-frighting. It has been very muddy outside of late.

Bobbiepin · 24/02/2018 06:49

@echt the sensible answers don't make a compelling thread. The OP can put a lock on once she's found out if there is actually soemone using the dryer. Why splash out on the lock when her DP needs shoes? 😂

Yogafanatic · 24/02/2018 07:06

MMcanny are you sure you would go down alone in middle of night with young children in the house and check the situation out!!! I doubt it! You may of course be black belt.

EasterRobin · 24/02/2018 07:18

Roll up! Roll up! Place your bets now! Will it be 9p? Will it be 48p? Place your bets!

beccabanana · 24/02/2018 07:21

Onlyoldontheoutside - it is higher, that’s the point. The OP said her smart meter is always 9p over night and she’s noticed it went to 40p and the dryer looked like it had been used - water tray emptied and her clothes on.