Are Tumble Dryers Really That Expensive to Run?

Are Tumble Dryers Really That Expensive to Run?

Before the sudden skyrocket of energy prices, many of us were using our tumble dryers to dry clothes willy nilly. But now, a lot of us are feeling the pinch. As of the 1st of October 2022, energy prices reached an all-time high, causing the majority to second guess the amount they use their home appliances.

With winter on the rapid approach, drying clothes is at the back of many homeowners’ minds. With a lot of us questioning: ‘What is the cheapest method of drying our pants?’ and ‘Are tumble dryers really that expensive to run?’ We’ll be diving into the average pricing to run a tumble dryer, and the best energy saving tips.

Before making a decision on a tumble dryer, research the most cost effective and best model and brand for your lifestyle. Searching for a tumble dryer review is a great way of gathering information and making an informed decision before making a large investment.

How Much Does it Cost to Run a Tumble Dryer?

In the UK, around two thirds of homeowners have a tumble dryer. With the recent price cap rise, we are now looking at an 80% increase in our energy bills – a disastrous inflation. To balance our energy costs, it’s vital that we estimate the usage of our most loved home appliances, and there are multiple ways to do so.

On average, Uswitch estimated that one cycle of your tumble dryer costs around 67p. This is based on the use of a 4.5 kWh per cycle machine. Estimating that larger families doing 3 loads of washing per week could end up spending around £104.52 per year on drying clothes alone. However, these figures were before the increase in energy pricing.

With new pricing, it’s been estimated that running a tumble dryer for just 2 hours a week could result in costs of around £92 per year. A huge jump up from the £72 per year we would normally pay.

The price of using your tumble dryer depends on multiple factors: the type of tumble dryer you own, the amount of wattage the appliance uses and the current cost of energy. When talking tumble dryers, the easiest way to check your usage is through a smart meter. But don’t worry, if you don’t have one, we have an easy hack to figure it out manually.

To find out our tumble dryer usage costs, multiply the current energy costs (34p/kWh) by the wattage of your appliance per full cycle. This allows you to work out the cycle costs to run your tumble dryer. Once you have this figure, you can multiply it by the number of times you use your appliance in a week, month or even year.

An example of this is:

• A 9kg vented tumble dryer has a wattage of 5.35 kWh for a full load cycle. This machine would estimate to around £1.82 when used twice weekly, averaging at around £216 per year.

Which Type of Tumble Dryer is Best?

There are 3 types of tumble dryer available on the market. If you’re looking at buying a tumble dryer, or switching to something more energy efficient, here are the facts:

• Vented Tumble Dryers

Out of the bunch, vented tumble dryers are the least cost effective when it comes to saving energy. Vented tumble dryers also need to be fitted near a wall or window. This is due to their venting design, which needs to expel moisture through a vent to the exterior of your home.

• Condenser Tumble Dryers

Condenser tumble dryers are slightly more cost effective than vented tumble dryers, due to the way they work. Condenser tumble dryers collect the moisture from your clothes into a container inside the machine itself. It then either self-empties through your plumbing or requires you to empty the tank. This type of tumble dryer is suitable for all homes.

• Heat Pump Tumble Dryers

Heat pump tumble dryers are the most energy-efficient of the lot, making them the cheapest to run. They work in a similar way to condenser dryers, however, the air in the drum is re-heated by the machine and recirculated in an attempt to use less energy. This also makes them suitable for all home layouts.

Ultimately, vented tumble dryers are the least expensive model to buy, so you may want to way up the costs of your purchase versus your yearly energy costs with the machine. However, we always recommend spending a little extra upfront to save on future costs. Heat pump tumble dryers are the most expensive to buy, but the least expensive to run.

Guest Article.