To not have known this about tumble dryers? (Fuel bill related)

[HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd]

Not terribly exciting subject , sorry. I’m quite excited about possibly saving £££s though.

I’ve just worked out that my (fairly new) condenser tumble dryer costs about £1.25 a cycle to run, despite the fact I’m on a less-bad fixed rate.

A good heat pump dryer would apparently cost ~50p per cycle.

So £500 now for a better machine would pay for itself in 10-24 months. Tempted.

I knew there was a difference but thought it was a small difference. It took me 15 minutes tracking down the performance data and doing the maths to come up with those numbers.

I use mine a lot due to dogs, dodgy spine etc. So that’s potentially a massive saving.

Did everyone else know the difference between condenser and heat pump dryers was so dramatic?

YANBU = I had no idea.
YABU = Doh, it’s common knowledge.

I’ve seen on a few threads that many MNs are buying heated airers to use instead of a tumble drier with a view to saving money. My DH looked up the units per hour each used (based on our fairly new washer/drier) and found surprisingly, there is little difference. Then there is the (equally surprising) cost of purchasing the airer. I see you have had yours for @endofthelinefinally 20 years, so you don’t need to concern yourself with that, but so many people are buying one to save money. I don’t have a heated airer, but I’ve avoided using my tumble drier for months. Given the huge increases in costs of household fuel, I’ll be avoiding using it AMAP during the winter too. It makes me so angry that ordinary, often working, people are subject to worrying about this whilst millionaire executives in privatised companies supplying essential services are coining in it with 40% or more bonuses 🤬

I have a heat pump drier and not noticed a huge saving to be honest. I don’t use it at all any more. The biggest saving I made was not using the electric shower, I couldn’t believe how much electricity it was using.

YANBU. In fact you've blown my mind. I'm thinking of getting a new tumble dryer, but was terrified of racking up the electric bill. Thank you for sharing this. I will make my decision based around this knowledge now.

This is very interesting to me. I have never had any kind of drying machine, nor did my parents. Slightest sign of sun and the clothes go out on the whirlygig. In the winter I dry clothes indoors on an airer in whichever is the sunniest room, or on radiators. My DH likes to put the airer in front of the oven but as we are cutting back on using that not sure it will work in the winter months.
I also iron damp clothes dry as it gives a good finish as well as drying faster. I am now wondering how much energy I use ironing damp clothes! I have often looked at those heated airers with the bag over them. Interested to know if they really are a cost effective solution.

I have a Bosch heat pump dryer and it's brilliant. I can't see it takes that long to dry items. Usually less than the standard cycle time. Didn't notice any real increase in our electricity usage when we started using it.

Ooooh we just invested in a heat pump dryer because they’re more effective so double sink for us! I didn’t know that. Thank you!

• Double win

I think it's one of those "if you know, you know" things. I've had one for 7 years now (one of the early ones - it was £799!) and it has definitely worked out cheaper! Mine was on a 3 year "payback", and had a 5 year warranty - it's now getting on for 7 years old and still going strong.

I'm just going to stop washing my clothes

underfloor heating is much less environmentally friendly than a tumble dryer surely! We’ve got it on out bathrooms and we’re astonished by the difference in our electricity usage when we turned them off. Or does yours run on gas?

I hate my heat pump dryer it is absolutely useless and was not cheap! I can't wait to get rid of it, everything seems to take hours to dry.

Only use now to dry towels at night/weekend (eco 20:20).
I have invested in a portable camper rotary line that I will put in the conservatory in the winter.
Sheets and duvet covers get draped over the bannister
There are only three of us at home so I guess I am lucky not to have too much washing to do.

There’s always that option!

You’re welcome! 🙂

You sound nice. 😄

😂 Perfect response!

I bought a heat pump tumble dryer 2 years ago and I have found it to be very economical energy cost wise. I try and limit its use but sometimes you just need something to dry quickly. Plus nothing feels as good a tumble dried towel.

I bought this model - Candy GVS H9A2DCEB 9KG Heat Pump Tumble Dryer - and it's been really good over the two years I've had it. Pretty quiet too. It was only £379 at the time.

😏 People eh?

We have a Miele heat pump, just bought this year through work discounts and vouchers. Definitely doesn’t take 8 hours to dry a load 😅 maybe 1-2 max.
couldn’t be without it as I have a 2 year old and baby on the way so lots of washing and not enough line space indoors in winter to dry everything 🙈

Thanks Ivy. I’m doing a shortlist now so I’ll have a look.

Tumble dryers could ignite during the night if left on until morning and you risk having a fire.
They also ruin clothes. Where do you think all the fluff comes from? It wasn't on your clothes when you put them in the wash. It's the friction during drying which sloughs off some of the fibres..

Oh I remember a winter with two under two and no dryer in our tiny Victorian terrace. Not fun.

You don’t happen to know what model you have do you? I’d rather shortlist models that real people can vouch for.

I never use a tumble dryer I put it all
on the drying rack it saves me loads of money

I’m very happy to have read this. I actually didn’t know what tumble drier I have, but just checked and it’s heat pump. I’ll keep using it and won’t feel as bad. Thank you!