What Kind of Tumble Dryer saves Money?

As the weather gets colder, more of us will be relying on tumble dryers to dry our clothes.

The purpose of a tumble dryer is to dry washed clothes by spinning them in hot air inside a rotating drum.

Although on the surface these appliances look the same, some are more cost-effective than others.

And with the rising energy costs, we need to look at ways to lower them.

As of November 2022, the average prices for gas and electricity as follows (according to Ofgem).

• 10.33p per kWh for gas
• 28.49p per day for gas standing charge (£103.98 per year)
• 34.04p per kWh for electricity
• 46.36p per day for electricity standing charge (£169.21 per year)

When it comes to tumble dryers, there are three types – condenser, vented and heat pump.

Condenser

Condenser tumble dryers remove moisture from your clothes and store it in a removable tank.

This kind of dryer is ideal if you can’t vent the moisture outside using a hose, but you’ll need to empty the tank after each cycle ends.

Heat Pump

Heat pump tumble dryers recycle hot air created inside the drum to dry clothes, which makes them really efficient.

This saves a lot more energy, but programmes may take a little longer to dry laundry, so bear this in mind when you’re shopping.

Vented

Vented tumble dryers remove moisture from your clothes and feed them outside through a vent.

They come with a long hose to help you do this, but you may need to get it installed by a professional if you want to vent the moisture out through a wall.

While vented models tend to be the cheapest on the market, they’re also the least energy efficient.

When buying any new appliance, the ongoing running cost must be considered.

The average running cost will depend on the size of the load.

When based on a 9kg tumble dryer running an average of twice a week, the figures are as follows:

Condenser tumble dryers have a B rating and while they must be installed in a well-ventilated area, it is versatile as they can be placed anywhere in the house.

This type of appliance uses about 5.2 kWh of electricity for a full load of laundry.

Over the course of a year, the condenser dryer will use 624 kWh if used 120 times.

With current average electricity prices of £0.34 for the price cap period from October 1 to December 31, 2022, this means that the average cost of running a condenser dryer in the UK is £1.77 per cycle and £212.16 per year.

On the other hand, a heat pump dryer is the most eco-friendly tumble dryer on the market as it generally comes with an A+++ rating.

On a full load, it uses about 2.16 kWh of electricity. This works out at around 259 kWh per year if you use it 120 times.

Under the current average prices, the average cost of running a heat pump dryer in the UK is £0.73 per cycle and £88.13 per year.

This means you could save £124.03 a year.

It can be placed anywhere in the house, even in a garage, as it does not require a hose or needs to be placed in a well-ventilated room as this type of appliance does not create hot air or moisture externally.

When it comes to the upfront cost, heat pump tumble dryers are more expensive, with the average price nearing £675. This is in comparison to condenser tumble dryers which average around £300.

But the amount that you can save on running costs does mean that a heat pump tumble dryer can make your investment worthwhile.

If you save £124.03 a year by owning a heat pump tumble dryer, it would take approximately three years for the investment to pay off.

But if you use your tumble dryer on a regular basis, you will start to see the benefits of the investment much sooner.

Also, if energy prices continue to rise so quickly, the idea of owning a more energy-efficient dryer becomes more appealing.

There are other benefits to heat pump dryers as well.

Not only are they more efficient, but they also tend to have features such as moisture sensors, and they are gentler on fabrics because they don’t run as hot.

That’s all on top of the convenience of a condenser dryer.