Saving on A rated applainces vs B?

pbutterworth

Hi,

I need to buy a new tumble dryer, and there are a few new A rated ones around. Does anyone have a real grasp on the actual energy saving by buying an A rated vs B rated, the A rated ones are a lot more expensive.

Thanks

Paul

richardw

There's also gas tumble dryers http://www.gastumbledryers.co.uk/gastumbledryers.html

As the price of fuel escalates the pay back period for the difference in price shortens and if you use the dryer frequently the pay back period is even shorter.

economiser

According to Southern Electric a "typical" tumble dryer costs between £18 (light use) and £36 (heavy use) a year to run. So I guess the saving between A or B rating would be a single digit saving per year.

1jim

I would be careful before buying an A rated tumble dryer....a couple of years ago I looked into buying a condensing one and on the surface they do have a lower kw/hr usage but when I looked into cycle time the booklet (cant remember the make) suggested that the drying time could be up to 7hrs (yes seven hours), when you compared that with approx 1.5 or so drying time of a C rated dryer the C rated dryer used less overall electricity and therefore cost less to run
This may be different now so have a good look around and check out expected drying/cycle times
hope that helps a little
Jim

TimBuckTeeth

An 'A' rating might be good for something like a TV, or a fridge, where one that uses less power is more efficient and will cost less to run.

I agree with 1jim that the rating is not really helpful for something that heats like an oven or tumble dryer. As an A rated one will use less power than a B rated one but that means it is less effective or slower, so A is not necessarily best, and may use the same power overall.
I would look carefully at the specifications before deciding, and bear in mind that your usage of the machine will have the largest effect on cost of electricity, eg. using a washing line instead when the weather is suitable.