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AIBU?

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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:
Apple23 · 22/02/2018 15:42

Don't use flour, sugar or any other foodstuffs to make a trap, otherwise you'll have a mouse/rat problem - although they may then frighten away your nocturnal visitor.

If you are sure that the machine can not turn itself on, and the meter isn't adding a daily standing charge, then the most likely explanation is that you've got a rough sleeper using the tumble drier for warmth.

LucyAutumn · 22/02/2018 15:46

My money is on your landlord!

Also, diagram please!!

Mandapanda85 · 22/02/2018 15:47

Absolutely not placemarking in any way 😂 this is so gripping!

daisypond · 22/02/2018 15:49

Lucy There is a diagram. Posted at 12:07.

Pancakeflipper · 22/02/2018 15:54

Ooooooooooooooh. A mystery of the midnight wet clothes.
Bizarre behaviour to covertly use someones tumble drier.

PigletJohn · 22/02/2018 15:56

key-operated bolts are better than tying the handles together

Prices vary greatly. DIY sheds often sell them in multipacks. Get them all to work on the same key. If the door and frame are flush they will usually fit hinged or sliding doors.

www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/search?searchtext=patio%20lock&fl=category:door_and_window_security

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SLIDING-PATIO-DOOR-LOCK-SCREWS-Window-French-Frame-Catch-Latch-Security-Bolt/311875443022?hash=item489d39994e:m:mc_1YsJyrLjAjSO-EUq2OYw

PigletJohn · 22/02/2018 16:17

Or if the "lost key" is for a Eurocylinder, it can be changed in minutes with a screwdriver.

www.screwfix.com/p/union-6-pin-euro-cylinder-lock-45-55-100mm-satin-nickel/5371g

NormansNipple · 22/02/2018 16:20

I don't have a tumble drier and had no idea there was a water tray that needed to be emptied. Your intruder must have a working knowledge of them. Anyone in the village mentioned their drier breaking recently?

I'm paranoid that someone (my parents, they have keys) will enter my flat when I'm away on holiday. Similar to other posters I set a trap. Just a folded up piece of paper wedged in the door frame, it would fall out if someone opened the door. I can't wait for the trail cam results!! Grin

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 22/02/2018 16:42

I'm very impressed that the Dryer ghost knows how to empty the water tray, or that it own't work if you don't empty it

Original poster
RaisinBread · 22/02/2018 18:18

Thank you for all the lock, bolt links I'm looking through them now.

Glad the diagram helped in some way. The kids did come home and ask why there was a picture of the downstairs of our house. Just casually said that I, you know, fancied doing some drawing with labels.

Friday night seems like an age..

I think I might just set some tape up on the top of the inside of the patio doors tonight. So if opened the tape will come away in some way.

Although because of condensation with the weather the tape may come away anyway? As I can't use sellotape or brown tape as it will leave residue on the paint.

That or leaving clothes in it again and stealthy positioning something in or on the dryer? And take a before picture that I can then compare in the morning.

OP posts:
selftitledalbum · 22/02/2018 18:21
Halo
MyBrilliantDisguise · 22/02/2018 18:23

Here's something you could do.

Do you have a tea-towel with a hemmed edge?

If so, drape it over the tumble dryer door with the hemmed edge inwards. Then check whether it's the same the next day!

I do like the idea of flour on the floor, though - there would be nothing anyone could do once they'd trodden in that, and you'd see their footsteps and the direction they took, too.

MyBrilliantDisguise · 22/02/2018 18:25

You really shouldn't go to bed when the cycle is running, though, OP. There have been a number of fires caused by tumble dryers.

QueenLaBeefah · 22/02/2018 18:31

Is this the most perfect thread ever? It's got it all:
Tumble drier
Diagrams
Mystery
Potential cheeky fucker landlord

If only there was some MIL angle to it.

Bahhhhhumbug · 22/02/2018 18:40

I used to pop the fuse out(modern plugs fuse is usually on outside and easily pops out) of my tumble dryer to thwart my stepson constantly putting it on with one top in it or whatever. He was a determined bugger l'll give him that and he worked it out and put another fuse in. So l then started taking fuse out and replacing it with a 3amp one instead of the required 13amp (it won't work with lower fuse) and told him it was broken (l hardly use it unless it's rained for a month or whatever). That did the trick as he didn't notice the wrong fuse. Would only recommend with a modern wiring system though as it's safe and simply won't work with a lesser fuse but wouldn't try it on older wiring tbh.

Deux · 22/02/2018 18:41

There’s probably a simple explanation though. Tumble drier fault, problem with sensor, problem with smart meter. My TD will still work when the actual condenser unit is getting gunked up but not much water will go in to the tray. have you cleaned all the filters?

Talking of people borrowing something that’s not theirs. Does anyone remember the CF who had been holidaying in the poster’s house in Mexico I think? They’d legitimately borrowed it some years before but had keys cut or something? The poster or some other friends turned up at the Mexico house to find the CFs having an unknown holiday there. Shock

TeeBee · 22/02/2018 18:43

Talcum powder is brilliant for picking up footprints and can't be brushed back into place like sand can.

spagbol11 · 22/02/2018 18:47

Op take the fuse out of the dryer plug when you leave, whoever is using it won’t be able to work out it needs a fuse or have one on them. Also placemarking Grin

Nubbled · 22/02/2018 18:59

Why would someone tumble dry your clothes? If they did a load of their own, why would they put your clothes back in and start the machine again? Confused I can see why they'd put yours back in, but why draw attention to the machine by restarting it?

Is your tumble drier a Bosch?

Original poster
RaisinBread · 22/02/2018 19:11

Mybrilliantdisguise - my house is rental and quite large so I think it has about 4 or 5 fire alarms as well as two carbon monoxide alarms in the rooms with log burners.

If there was a fire in that room an alarm would most likely pick up on it before I did anyway even if I was downstairs. And I wouldn't sleep through an alarm.

OP posts:
Original poster
RaisinBread · 22/02/2018 19:14

I'm reluctant to put anything messy on the floor in the way of trap. I spend so much time cleaning up after the kids. I can't bring myself to cover a floor in anything than will require more house work.

OP posts:
j3mz · 22/02/2018 19:38

Battery powered*

SpidersWilliesOnYourFrillys · 22/02/2018 19:43

Op put a thread over the top of the door or hanging out of the door and if it’s moved tomorrow you know someone is using it

j3mz · 22/02/2018 19:43

Sorry my last post didnt send for some reason......
I was saying you can get battery powered cctv cameras on eBay my brother showed me his couple weeks ago and I got one for myself

It has an app u put on your phone and you can click on it and see live feeds of whatever room it is in aswell as turn it left to right from your phone to look all around the room also has an intruder alert setting you can active which will notify you if anyone enters your home and also takes still pics and saves it to your phone so you have the pics for police! They start from 20 pound I got the same as my brothers and it was 25 pound

Knittedfairies · 22/02/2018 19:56

Has it been particularly cold in the bit where the dryer lives? I just wonder whether ambient temperature might influence drying times.

Otherwise you need to draw up a rota of MNetters to watch the back door through the night..