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Original poster

Another electric one!

46 replies

Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 11:26

Sorry to add to the already numerous threads about electric but here we go!

I live in a old rental property, it has an immersion heater for water (which I currently don’t use - at all),old storage heaters for heating, one of which is dented, these do not work particularly well!
Windows are old single glazed sash windows so any heat from the strange heaters doesn’t really make a difference!
I got rid of my condensor tumble dryer months ago.

So my questions are how do I heat and dry clothes without spending crazy amounts of money?

I have a dehumidifier but it seems to not be working great and still costs a fair amount as it needs to be on for ages! ( even in a small room with door closed, room is also cold!)
Do I accept I actually do need a tumble dryer and just deal with the cost? Some clothes are were shrinking so not sure if I was using it wrong (It was a Beko If that makes a difference)
Buy an oil filled radiator?
Moving also not really an option at the moment!.

OP posts:
PinkButtercups · 04/10/2022 11:27

Put a sheet behind the radiator and pull the rest over an airer.

PinkButtercups · 04/10/2022 11:28

Ignore me just seen you said you had storage heaters so definitely don't do that!

Buy a heated airer is your best bet.

GlitteryFarts · 04/10/2022 11:29

Heated aircraft. Aldi have them on special buy soon. Apparently they work really well and cost penniesnto run whilst also warming the room up whilst your clothes are drying

GlitteryFarts · 04/10/2022 11:29

Sorry that should be heater airer not aircraft!!

Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 11:29

Would I also not need to run the dehumidifier as well?

OP posts:
Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 11:30

I’m worried about potential damp issue in a cold and old building with using a heated airer.

OP posts:
DoodlePug · 04/10/2022 11:35

The dehumidifier should work well, I used the same set up before I got a dryer and it dried well and heated the house.

I wouldn't dry many clothes indoors, you will get damp unless your house is well heated and ventilated.

You can dry outside in any weather other than rain and mist. Or at least get it reasonably dry then on a heated airer with some sort of cover

Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 11:36

DoodlePug · 04/10/2022 11:35

The dehumidifier should work well, I used the same set up before I got a dryer and it dried well and heated the house.

I wouldn't dry many clothes indoors, you will get damp unless your house is well heated and ventilated.

You can dry outside in any weather other than rain and mist. Or at least get it reasonably dry then on a heated airer with some sort of cover

No outside space at all unfortunately.

OP posts:
NippyWoowoo · 04/10/2022 11:47

Sorry if this sounds silly, and this isn't the point of the thread, but how do you get hot water? I also have an immersion heater as well and can only get hot water if it's on

Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 11:49

The Only hot water I have is from my electric shower.
My immersion is now always off as It takes hours and hours to heat up to give even a little bit of hot water, my landlord suggested leaving it on full time - the bill I got after following this advice was insane and this was before the price increases.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 11:51

I wash up with cold water and wash my hands with cold water. Everything here is very old and will not be replaced as it is technically working but they do not understand it costs a fortune!

OP posts:
GasPanic · 04/10/2022 11:59

Do you have any outside space ?

I have a conservatory. Even in winter because it is south facing it gets pretty warm. If you can put your clothes in something like that it might help dry them a bit before finishing off on the radiator.

Secondly, do you have anywhere outside that is under cover (carport etc) that is shielded from the rain ? windy is better but you can string up a line in a garage.

Thirdly (and this is a bit extreme) I have found having clothes that don't hold water (artifical fibres/polyester) come out of the machine practically dry ! This is hard core though. I laze round the house in polyester stuff and keep the stuff that requires heavy drying for going out. You can wear a thin cotton layer underneath if you don't like the polyester fibres on your skin.

Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 12:04

GasPanic · 04/10/2022 11:59

Do you have any outside space ?

I have a conservatory. Even in winter because it is south facing it gets pretty warm. If you can put your clothes in something like that it might help dry them a bit before finishing off on the radiator.

Secondly, do you have anywhere outside that is under cover (carport etc) that is shielded from the rain ? windy is better but you can string up a line in a garage.

Thirdly (and this is a bit extreme) I have found having clothes that don't hold water (artifical fibres/polyester) come out of the machine practically dry ! This is hard core though. I laze round the house in polyester stuff and keep the stuff that requires heavy drying for going out. You can wear a thin cotton layer underneath if you don't like the polyester fibres on your skin.

No, no outside space at all :-(.

Part of me is wondering whether to just give up and buy another tumble dryer.

I could probably deal with the lack of heating but the clothes drying is the real issue (is it going to really save money if I need to run a heated airer and a dehumidifier)

I live alone so at least I’m not doing laundry for a family.

I really wanted to cut down on energy usage but I don’t know how much is possible in a rented property with the heating/water situation I have.

The meter itself has a day rate, a night rate and a stored rate which is something I hadn’t cond across previously.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 12:05

*come

OP posts:
InterestQ · 04/10/2022 12:10

I used to use a heated airer but actually I ran the tumble dryer the other day (to be specific it is a washer dryer so I let it do the dry long for the first time in about a year) and I think it’s about level pegging on energy use. I do run it overnight though for E7 and you’re not really supposed to.

with the immersion, can you ask your landlord about a internal thermostat? I have mine on 24hrs a day and it uses about 2 kw in that 24 hrs as it comes up to temp and turns itself off and only reboils (for want of a better expression) if I’ve a) used up the water or it’s cooled enough to trigger itself again. You need a well lagged tank.

Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 12:18

InterestQ · 04/10/2022 12:10

I used to use a heated airer but actually I ran the tumble dryer the other day (to be specific it is a washer dryer so I let it do the dry long for the first time in about a year) and I think it’s about level pegging on energy use. I do run it overnight though for E7 and you’re not really supposed to.

with the immersion, can you ask your landlord about a internal thermostat? I have mine on 24hrs a day and it uses about 2 kw in that 24 hrs as it comes up to temp and turns itself off and only reboils (for want of a better expression) if I’ve a) used up the water or it’s cooled enough to trigger itself again. You need a well lagged tank.

I could but as they haven’t done what was advised on the latest fire safety inspection I doubt they will.

my dehumidifier has been on for hours and hours now and the towels on the airer are still wet which is what made me wonder if the hour or so in a tumble dryer would actually cost more than what I will have used when they are eventually dry!

I regret moving into this property but a lot of rentals in my area appear to have similar water/heating issues so choice was limited. Don’t get me started on the cost of rent! 🤣

OP posts:
TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 04/10/2022 12:20

(((HUG)))

that sounds utterly miserable.

I know you said you can't really move, but is that due to cost/difficulty of finding another rental? If it is would you consider moving in with family/friends/room share or lodger? Lots of people are starting to look for lodgers.

Your Electric shower will cost you a lot of money to use. You might even be better off getting one that pushes onto the taps & using the immersion tank.

once the immersion is up to heat, it might not be too bad to keep warm enough on a timer, not on 24/7.

but for clothes drying oil filled radiators aren't too expensive to run. And if you keep a window slightly open in the room you shouldn't create a mould problem.

if you get a dryer, get a heat pump one. They're more expensive to buy, but cheaper to run & don't cause damp/mould. The only thing is you need to check what temperature they'll run at & how cold your flat (?) is.

but seriously, you should look at alternative accommodation 💐

Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 12:26

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 04/10/2022 12:20

(((HUG)))

that sounds utterly miserable.

I know you said you can't really move, but is that due to cost/difficulty of finding another rental? If it is would you consider moving in with family/friends/room share or lodger? Lots of people are starting to look for lodgers.

Your Electric shower will cost you a lot of money to use. You might even be better off getting one that pushes onto the taps & using the immersion tank.

once the immersion is up to heat, it might not be too bad to keep warm enough on a timer, not on 24/7.

but for clothes drying oil filled radiators aren't too expensive to run. And if you keep a window slightly open in the room you shouldn't create a mould problem.

if you get a dryer, get a heat pump one. They're more expensive to buy, but cheaper to run & don't cause damp/mould. The only thing is you need to check what temperature they'll run at & how cold your flat (?) is.

but seriously, you should look at alternative accommodation 💐

A lot of rentals here are in similar type of (old) buildings and have storage heaters/immersions, they are also considerably more expensive, the only cheaper one I have seen was basically a bed sit with a shared bathroom 🫣

Are heat pump dryers better in general? The Beko condensor one I had shrunk things quite a lot but I found I was always putting it on “extra dry” as that was the only setting that didn’t mean I had to put it on more than once, I had never had a dryer before I got it so happy to accept I may have been at fault!

I have actually just noticed as well that some clothes I thought were dry by using the dehumidifier now smell a bit so I think they may have still been damp when I put them away! 🙄.

OP posts:
AntikytheraMech · 04/10/2022 12:28

Condenser dehumidifiers do not work very well at temperatures below 20 degrees centigrade. Get a desiccant one.

GasPanic · 04/10/2022 12:32

Does sound like you have limited options. I suppose you could try something like an over the bath line and keep the bathroom window open but door shut and put something at the bottom to stop any drafts. That might do it.

I am pretty lucky because I never really need to dry stuff on radiators in my house. Just put it over the stair bannisters or in the conservatory and it dries eventually. But I do have a pretty big space, so there is a lot of space for all that water vapour to spread itself around in without making the house that damp. Plus my washing machine seems to be really really effective at getting the clothes dry without any further effort - 1600 rpm spin I think.

Orangesare · 04/10/2022 12:34

The heat pump dryers are much cheaper. I think tumblers dryers were in the last which magazine which you should be able to look at in your local library
Do you know anyone close by with a garden who would let you peg out sheets and towels?
storage heaters should be serviced every so often to ensure they are as efficient as they can be

Orangesare · 04/10/2022 12:36

A spin dryer ro spin the clothes in after the washer as they spin at 2800rpm. Will cut the drying time down

Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 12:38

AntikytheraMech · 04/10/2022 12:28

Condenser dehumidifiers do not work very well at temperatures below 20 degrees centigrade. Get a desiccant one.

The dehumidifier I have blows out cold air but I don’t know which type, it’s a challenge one from Argos but it doesn’t say the type on the description.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 12:39

GasPanic · 04/10/2022 12:32

Does sound like you have limited options. I suppose you could try something like an over the bath line and keep the bathroom window open but door shut and put something at the bottom to stop any drafts. That might do it.

I am pretty lucky because I never really need to dry stuff on radiators in my house. Just put it over the stair bannisters or in the conservatory and it dries eventually. But I do have a pretty big space, so there is a lot of space for all that water vapour to spread itself around in without making the house that damp. Plus my washing machine seems to be really really effective at getting the clothes dry without any further effort - 1600 rpm spin I think.

No bathroom window just a small extractor fan 🙄😣🤣

My washing machine is an old Beko and I think the spin is 1200? I do an extra spin but the clothes are still Almost as wet as if I hadn’t.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sparkle900429 · 04/10/2022 12:40

Orangesare · 04/10/2022 12:34

The heat pump dryers are much cheaper. I think tumblers dryers were in the last which magazine which you should be able to look at in your local library
Do you know anyone close by with a garden who would let you peg out sheets and towels?
storage heaters should be serviced every so often to ensure they are as efficient as they can be

I’ve been here a couple of years and neither the. Immersion heater or storage heaters have been serviced, previous rental property someone came round each year without fail.They never do inspections either, they just leave everyone to it!

OP posts:
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