Somebody is using my tumble dryer at night...

[RaisinBread]

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?

post a photo of the back door to the boot room, showing the lock (indoor/outdoor sides and edge of door)

It may be easier than you think to make it lockable.

When I moved in there was no key to the wooden patio doors. But I will get a bolt for the inside, after setting a trap for the sake of mumsnet science.

or do I mean the patio door?

Both of them, then.

FGS, don't hid the kids in the fridge... it'll cost you WAY more than 50p when they eat the entire contents...

I only have 1, he's 12... I can hear that fridge door open, and I know he's got his head in it...

Get one of those magnetic door alarms and put it on the door(s) that allow entry to the room. Turn them on at night. If anyone opens the door it emits a shrill alarm and will scare the shit out of them (and you).

You won't know who's been doing it, but they'll never be back!

hide

www.amazon.co.uk/Friedland-Mini-Alarms-ML3-Magnetic/dp/B0041M8YBA?tag=mumsnetforum-21

or

www.amazon.co.uk/Belle-Hop-Unisex-Travel-Alarm/dp/B000SKZM0A?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Assuming the unlocked door opens inwards, just put something behind it like an empty plastic tub, if it has moved then someone has opened door. Also can't be put back in position when they leave. If want warning put things that will make a noise.

Not following the trap being set at all.

It’s a sad fact of my life that this has me gripped! Following!

Do you have local tramps? Or hobos as the kids would say?

Shamelessly placemarking because I need to know the outcome of this! Roll on Friday night

I think I would just leave a note saying "if you fold my laundry then we'll call this quits".

I hate folding!

So more details.

The dryer will on a weekly basis be left with clothes in it over night at some point.

I will often put a last load on at 8pm and then go to bed myself a few hours later before a cycle has finished. It has never been running in the morning until this week.

I will however find clothes 90% dry like this morning but the dryer will be off. it's usually because there is too much water in the tray. So the dryer shuts itself down to prevent overflow.

The clothes were 90% dry this morning and upon checking the tray... nada... empty.

I didn't really notice the time left on the clock. Because the whole empty tray thing weirded me out too much.

The doors are patio doors so open outwards. Into the courtyard. Which backs onto my landlords parking area and garages. They are wooden with 3 pains of glass in each door. The doors do have a latch that shuts. But there wasn't ever any key provided so it doesn't lock.

Totally following this

I think you should innocently ask your landlord if he has noticed any strange goings on and mention that you think someone has been entering the boot room in the night, see what his reaction is.

Friday - bring it on.......

What!!!! Ive got this far and you say its not happening until Friday?

I may have missed this, but when you heard your tumble dryer running in the morning, did you not go to see what was in it and if it was turned on properly or just doing anti crease thing?

You could try fitting a locking chain to thedoor.

www.amazon.co.uk/Brass-Plated-Locking-Door-Chain/dp/B000TAWGGM/ref=pd_sim_60_2?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforum-21&refRID=WBBABQ2XK43P5WE5P6VZ

Can you tie the handles of the patio door together to prevent access? You have said that the doors open outwards I am assuming they must have a handles.
I have patio doors that open outwards and when I go away on holiday as well as locking them I put a bicycle lock around them too.

..

Just wanted to applaud OP for the excellent diagram. Clear, labelled, reasonable scale.
Well done!

Friday?!! its too long to wait! We need to knowwwww!!