One of the nice things about spring, if you’re lucky enough to have a garden, is that you can start hanging out the washing again. And the cost benefits of the washing line are even greater this year, as the war in Iran is pushing up the price of tumble-drying – along with just about everything else.
At current electricity prices, traditional tumble dryers currently cost an average of £130 a year to run, based on a typical household washing three loads a week, according to Which?.
That expense is set to rise considerably in July, when the next energy cap is introduced and costs are forecast to jump by 13 per cent.
While we have already seen a rush to buy solar panels, electric cars and heat pumps, a good place to start cutting your bills is by switching from a traditional tumble dryer to one driven by a heat pump. They are much more energy efficient, and will help the environment at the same time as your wallet.
These kinds of tumble dryers cost an average of £51.50 a year to run (based on today’s energy prices for three loads a week), well under half the cost of traditional dryers. Rather than continuously generating heat, they use recycled hot air and run at a lower temperature of 50C. This closed loop means a cycle will only use around half the energy needed by other dryer types – but they can take up to half an hour longer to dry your clothes.
By contrast, condenser tumble dryers (one of two main types of conventional dryers) work by heating cold air to about 70C, which passes through wet clothes and removes moisture. This moisture is then condensed into water and collected before being drained. The other main type, known as vented tumble dryers, send the moist, hot air outside through a long hose.
While heat pumps are much cheaper to run, they do cost a fair bit more to buy. You can pick one up for around £350, but most cost more than £550, and top-of-the-range models can be more than £1,000. By contrast, a condenser tumble dryer typically costs around £333, and a vented one around £220. However, over time, the savings made in reduced energy costs will more than offset the higher purchase price.
The Government estimates that households opting for a heat pump tumble dryer will make a net saving of £200 after 12 years – the average lifetime of a traditional dryer. At this point, the savings soar, as heat pump dryers tend to keep going for around 20 years. The government estimates the same owner would see a far bigger net benefit of £910 over the 20-year lifetime of a heat-pump dryer, thanks to energy bill savings and the deferred cost of replacement.
In recognition of their greater efficiency, energy secretary Ed Miliband is stepping up his campaign to slash Britain’s energy use with plans to ban sales of new traditional dryers, so that UK households will have to buy one powered by a heat pump instead. As now, these can be purchased either as a standalone dryer or built into a washer-dryer, and already account for an estimated 35 to 45 per cent of tumble dryer sales in the UK.
The plan was met with a predictable outcry among opponents of Miliband’s drive to net zero. But people will not be required to get rid of existing traditional dryers.
There are other options too. If you can, air drying (preferably outside) is by far the best way to dry your clothes – especially as tumble dryers can release between 90 million and 120 million microplastics a year – but it takes a long time. A heated indoor airer can speed things along – although these can often be slightly more expensive to run than a heat pump dryer, costing around £70 a year to dry three loads a week (although with considerably lower upfront costs, of around £40 to £200).
If you’re doing multiple loads a week in a busy house, a tumble dryer is usually the most efficient solution. But if you don’t have one, or only wash small amounts of clothes, a heated airer will speed things along.
It also makes sense to use a dehumidifier when drying clothes – it not only helps to dry your clothes more quickly, but also helps deal with the moisture that evaporates into the air.
Finally, however tempting it may be, try to avoid drying clothes on radiators unless it’s really necessary. This can really increase the humidity and can then lead to dampness. And it can also significantly increase your energy bills, because it makes the radiator less efficient.
Now that the weather’s a bit better, it’s a good time to experiment with the best way to keep your clothes drying bills down. And if you have an outdoor space, that would be the best place to start – providing, of course, that the great British summer cooperates.
Hence then, the article about your tumble dryer is costing you more and more money here s how to save was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Your tumble dryer is costing you more and more money – here’s how to save )
Also on site :