Tumble Dryer vs Radiators

HappyIdiotTalk

Does anyone know what it costs to run a grade A efficient tumble dryer for one load? Currently my OH is drying clothes on the radiators. I dont know for sure but I'm willing to bet that it costs more to do this than run a tumble dryer. Also damp air is more expensive to heat than dry air so its probably hitting us twice.

Also we've got a horrid kitchen with no room for a dryer, so I'd need one that doesn't need venting as it'd have to go in the cellar. Are there any good one's that collect the water in a tank?

whatatwit

Don't have one myself, so no ideas on running costs.
You can get those box things that the vent pipe goes into, and the vapour condenses into it.

I put some things onto a maiden, that sits in front of the radiator, I just keep turning it round.
I do agree though, that the damp air is not healthy.

Kazonline

I once read that to save a bit of ele it was cheaper to put your wash on for an extra spin before putting in the tumble (ie the ele used to spin that bit of water was cheaper than if you'd tumble dried it IYKWIM)
A bit of moisture in the air is good - hence the use of humidifiers on rads, but naturally full on steamy rooms can't be too good.
Although I have a tumble drier (no idea on running cost - would be keen to know) I dry as much as I can over the indoor airer (runs along one ceiling) or on hangers on a traditional type airer in front of a rad. Tumble drier is used when desperate - and ironically in the summer (because of hayfever in family and neighbours happen to have the trees that we're allergic to)
Kaz x

iceicebaby

I use those over radiator airer things, they are great, and as I suffer with asthma, I find the little bit of the damp in the air helps my chest. Also the scent from the clothes makes the room smell nice aswell! and as the clothes are not directly on the radiator, they dont go hard either!

Delicate items get dried on a hanger in the airing cupboard or on an airer in the airing cupboard (I have quite a large walk in airing cupboard so have enough room to stand an airer up in there easily)

I do have a tumble dryer, but prefer to use my over radiator airers. only use tumbler for things i need in a hurry, or for bedding which is to large for the airer. Have you seen the way the meter whizzes round when the tumble dryer is on? EEEEEEEP!

Kazonline

Have you seen the way the meter whizzes round when the tumble dryer is on? EEEEEEEP!

It spins way too fast for me to see it

jcr16

we have a a rated tumbly. and the first winter we had it. i was using it once a day. and our winter electric bill was nearly 100 more than usual. ok so over a quarter whats that about 30 a month so a pound a day to use. not alot. but considering the radiators are on anyway 100 extra is alot.


i am trying , yes it is fantastic and if i have loads of washing then it helps out. but for us it isn't something i will use every day again , like i did.

Gingham_Ribbon

We don't have one and can't fit one in our kitchen. However, we'll hopefully be using kushies nappies from February and they're very thick and take a while to dry. I'd like to get a dryer to 'toast them off' as it both keeps them soft and means we won't run out of clean nappies waiting for them to dry.

It will need to go down into the cellar. Does anyone have one in their cellar and how does it deal with the moisture?

Thanks.

angchris

i`d be tempted just to buy more nappies get some 2nd hand off ebay rather than paying out an extra £1 a day for drying. if you are gonna put tumbler in the cellar id be inclined to think it would get quite damp and musty unless you have a vent or some way of circulating the air out of there but im only guessing as i dont have a cellar!:D

Raksha

No idea on running costs I'm afraid, but if you're thinking of putting a condensor drier in the cellar - where would you empty the water tank? If you have to traipse up and down stairs every time you'd pretty soon get fed up with it..........

TheToothfairy_3

A few months ago we bought a Hotpoint Aquarius CDT00. This condenses the water and holds it in a secure tray near the top of the machine. Its easy to pull out the tray and drain the water away without any spillage. This was an ideal solution for us as we have a small kitchen - so the tumble lives under the stairs! The machine cost about £200 online which is cheap for a condenser drier and it is A rated but have to admit that I have no idea on running costs. Saying that, I'd much rather spend a few more pounds on my electric bill and not have anywhere near the amount of ironing to do as I used to.

Alfietinker

I have no idea how much it costs to run I'm afraid but I do admit to using it to finish the towels off - I can't stand them all scratchy. (I do start them off on the ceiling airer first though and they are the only things that go in there)

We've got a condensor one and it just collects the water in a little tank at the bottom that you empty, it doesn't seem to make the air damp so I'd have thought this might be a good bet if you put it in the cellar. For the condensor to work efficiently there must be a good circulation of air around it - ie don't stick it in a cupboard.