Approximately two-thirds of UK households own a tumble dryer, and many will limit its use to save money this winter.
While it’s a surefire way to lower your energy bill, experts have shared even better ways of improving your tumble dryer’s efficiency to save money. One lesser-known method is to select the best location for the appliance in your home.
The cost of using a tumble dryer varies depending on the type. Three main types are available: vented, condenser, and heat pump, which is the most energy efficient.
According to Ideal Home, a 9kg vented tumble dryer costs £1.23 per cycle and £146.28 per year on average, while a 9kg condenser costs £1.20 per cycle and £141.91 annually. A 9kg heat pump tumble dryer costs just 50p per cycle and £59.57 per year.
Despite the varying running costs of each model, experts at Hoover emphasised the “universal rules” that households should follow to keep their dryers “well-maintained” and efficient.
There are several potential locations for a tumble dryer in the home, with many people choosing under kitchen counters, in a utility room, or in an outdoor garage.
Many prefer a concealed yet accessible location, but the appliance experts at Hoover pointed out that the room’s temperature should also be considered.
They said: “Many people might not realise that the placement of a tumble dryer can actually impact its efficiency. When you place your dryer in a warm location in your home, it’ll require less energy to heat the air up to the necessary temperatures, therefore reducing your energy costs.”
This is called the “ambient temperature,” which directly affects the equipment’s resultant temperature and power dissipation.
According to Zanussi, a white goods and appliances retailer, the tumble dryer may not function properly if the ambient temperature is too high or too low.
They stated: “The optimal room temperature to achieve the best drying results is between 19C-24C. If the ambient temperature is too low, the drying time will be longer.”
When the room temperature is between 10 and 15C, the drying time can be extended by as much as 30 percent. Minimal effects on cost per load are seen initially, but annual expenses mount if the appliance is positioned in cold areas.
The ideal spot to place a tumble dryer during winter months is in the kitchen or rooms with constant heating, utilizing heat from ovens and radiators to maintain “optimal” conditions and shorten drying duration.
In spaces as cold as 5C to 10C, like some outdoor garages, it could take 45 to 60 minutes to dry the same load of clothes as if they were dried in a warm room.
For heavy fabrics such as towels and bedding, which typically dry in one hour at over 16C, the time could rise to about 1.2 hours when the ambient temperature is between 10C and 15C.
This rises again to around 1.5 hours when the temperature is even lower (5C to 10C).
