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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:
Crashbangwhatausername · 22/02/2018 10:06

Surely tumble driers going off by themselves is a fire hazard? I think sit in the boot room all night in the dark and find out. Take pictures of the CF

PhelanThePain · 22/02/2018 10:06

I vote the landlord. They’ll know the door has no lock. Who else could it be?

mmzz · 22/02/2018 10:10

So, what will you do if it does turn out that your landlord has been using the tumble dryer, OP?

If the answer is tell him to stop, but otherwise nothing, then just put a lock on the door now.

If knowing that he's basically a thief makes you want to move, then keep going with the spy camera chat.

MrsSchadenfreude · 22/02/2018 10:11

Either block off the electricity from the fuse box or remove the plug from the wall.

thenightsky · 22/02/2018 10:11

Can you balance something metallic behind the door of the room with dryer in, then squeeze back out carefully yourself. When cheeky fucker comes with their laundry it will all come crashing down and you can hurtle downstairs and catch them?

I'm thinking metal buckets balanced on top of each other or above the door, etc. That kind of noisy if dropped type of stuff.

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 22/02/2018 10:12

Blatant place marking!

Smeaton · 22/02/2018 10:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PoisonousSmurf · 22/02/2018 10:17
isthismylifenow · 22/02/2018 10:17

I'm thinking metal buckets balanced on top of each other or above the door, etc. That kind of noisy if dropped type of stuff

Or filled with flour, then all the OP has to do it follow the trail Grin

Elendon · 22/02/2018 10:19

I had some work done to my kitchen, essentially to put in the dishwasher. The electrician and I got talking over a cup of tea and he said he wouldn't install a smart meter but I've forgotten the reason why now. Sorry, no help at all!

Unplug it each time you have used it is my suggestion. and build a hide in the room for stake out purposes

SoundofSilence · 22/02/2018 10:19

Not nearly as exciting as setting a laundry ghost trap, but you could maybe buy a plug lockout to make sure that all floaty sheets and rattling chains are dried using their own electricity.

www.lockout-tagout.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Domestic-Plug-Lockout&gclid=CjwKCAiA8bnUBRA-EiwAc0hZkzfVyhXU3V8Bsuwqwj67H3-Tp1NkinOM2Q7hAKXu26jwZHNu33NLSRoCqYMQAvD_BwE

LondonHereICome · 22/02/2018 10:20

Well this one is worth place marking!!

It's odd, but I'd unplug it

I like the checking of the meter though, I'd love to be that observant!

ElsieMc · 22/02/2018 10:22

Money on your landlord here. What a cheek, charging you rent and using your facilities which you also have to pay for. It just makes sense because who in the sleepy village would get up at night and nip to your house to dry their laundry? If it doesn't make sense, then its a zero possibility.

You need to find out though. I would just put a lock on and put a stop to it now. Landlord would have to ask you about it and ask you to remove it and you would then say well I think someone is using my tumble drier, you are finding it really creepy, any ideas?

I think it will stop pretty quick.

Brenna24 · 22/02/2018 10:23

I love that idea thenightsky. Proper Famous Five style.

DarkPeakScouter · 22/02/2018 10:23

Baby monitor is a good idea or artful and photographed items

murphys · 22/02/2018 10:26

I had a meter in a previous house. I am sure that those things can be hazardous toward or even cause, OCD.

It was in my kitchen and it would have this slow red light flash every now and then, geyzer on, lights etc. But put the kettle on and that thing would light up like a bloody Christmas tree. So I would get the kettle to nearly boiled and turn it off quick so that I could calm the nerves and see the calming gradual flash happening again.

It made me a bit paranoid to be honest. If I only had a few units left (plenty to get through a few days), it was a bit like my fuel tank indicator, it could just never go below a quarter.... so I would rush and top it up, and feel so much better after. I considered installing another, but its way too stressful....

Hmm
Bobbiepin · 22/02/2018 10:28

Shameless placemarking. This is interesting@

AutumnalTed · 22/02/2018 10:37

Me too Blush

athingthateveryoneneeds · 22/02/2018 10:38

RustyBear wins the thread for most sensible solution, but I do like the idea of artfully arranged tea towels and sand on the floor. It's all very Nancy Drew. Grin

Zaphodsotherhead · 22/02/2018 10:44

I think it's your anti-crease facility operating the tumble drier...I'd like to know how you keep your usage so low, though, 9p a day when still running a tumble drier!

ZaZathecat · 22/02/2018 10:44

What would Mma Ramotswe do? She would go and speak to the landlord and ask if he's seen anyone suspicious around the tumble dryer at night. He would then look uncomfortable and it would never happen again.

Zaphodsotherhead · 22/02/2018 10:45

Sorry, just reread the OP and realised that's it's 'resting state' usage. Ignore me.

Pearlsaringer · 22/02/2018 10:46

Unplug AND remove fuse.

Elendon · 22/02/2018 10:51

A smart meter is different from a prepay meter. I have a prepay meter which is cheaper to run than getting a meter installed, which is unusual. A prepay meter also allows you to safely rent out your home, providing you own it.

www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/understand-smart-prepayment-and-other-energy-meters