How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer?

cherrypip

Hi, I have a tumble dryer, which has a vent tube that I stick out the garage door. I cant remember if it is a condenser or not but I know that it was the cheaper option, if that helps.
To dry about 4 bath towels would take around 1 hour and as my kids all swim a lot I have around 9 towels on a Monday morning. If I cant hang them out they get draped around the house or put in the dryer, which would take about 3 hours.

This week I went to a laundrette and dried all the towels in a big drier for 45 mins, costing £3.

Does anyone know, roughly speaking, is the laundrette working out cheaper than the cost of electricity if I am drying them at home. I have no idea how to work it out.

Thanks.

espresso

It varies considerably, see if you can find your particular dryer here

james2012_2

My tumble dryer (well the OH's) has a 1 kWh heater so allowing for the motor usage I would say about 13p an hour, depending, of course, on your tariff.

It is cheaper than going to a launderette, especially if you have bought a tumble dryer. You also need to factor in the cost of going to the launderette.

TheSaint_2

Get yourself the white knight A class - it is the only one that has an A rating (though if you run it in A mode your drying cycle will take around 4 hours). It barely heats the stuff it dries in that mode and instead relies on air movement and evaporation to dry the stuff.

cherrypip

Thank you for the replies. It is a Whirlpool Solutions and about 5 years old. I thought it would cost a fortune to run so if it is anything like 13p an hour then it is actually much cheaper than the laundrette.
If I cant dry outside then it is very quick on light things like shirts but the towels take ages which is why I came up with the laundrette plan.

cherrypip

Espresso - thanks for the link to that website. I think my husband will thoroughly enjoy reading that tonight.

moonrakerz

james2012 wrote: »

My tumble dryer (well the OH's) has a 1 kWh heater

Are you sure ? That is a very low figure for a tumble drier, most are 2 - 3 kW.
Just had a look at my Bosch; heater is 2.3kW, motor is 300W.
Of course, when the machine is running the heater isn't on all of the time as the thermostat switches in and out.

Sweey_as_a_nut

I have a AEG dryer it also is class A, what I have read about it, it works like a fridge only in reverse it produces warm air instead of cold.
I also have a Miele washer and on the hottest wash 90deg and drying a full load it takes just under 2 units. The two items are quite expensive, and the dryer takes a bit of cleaning of filters,however, they are efficient.