Tumble Dryer vs Radiators

squiggles

Ive just baught the plug in watt meter from maplins and have been experimenting with it.This is my drier

http://www.additionsdirect.co.uk/AddNet/shop/Additions/-c22377-kAboundXmas06-n474-y4-p156110/-White-Knight-Tumble-Dryer/product.aspx

C rated 6kg with no reverse tumble and it says that energy costs are 4kwh per cycle,so if your kwh are 10p per unit that would be around 40p per cycle.I used my watt meter and for 80 mins it was 2.35 kwh,around 23p per cycle(if the watt meter is acurate).I have to use the dryer for 80 mins as the last 20 mins is cool down so quite useless.So i am asuming if your dryer is A rated it would cost less.

Alfietinker

What's this Watt meter? That sounds interesting! I've not heard of Maplins - is it a shop or a brand?

HappyIdiotTalk

Thinking about it we do have a small outhouse where the cats live that we could bung a tumble dryer into. Its already got a power outlet so it could just be whacked in there. Will need cleaning up in there though as it full of obwebs and a bit cold and damp. Infact I wonder what it'd cost to do the whole thing out as a laundry and connect it to the house...

Thanks for the comments and suggestions everyone.

Lil_Dee_2

One thing I was told when I was looking for a dryer recently, was that the A rated ones are only A rated when you select the 'cool' option. Basically, it's A rated because there's very little heat produced on the cool cycle (it's the heat producing part of the dryer that uses the elctric). However, the down side of this is that it can take the best part of of 7 hours (so I'm told....) to dry one load.

I was also informed that the B rated dryers were again, only B rated when on the 'cool' cycle. If you used the hotter cycle, then the increased heat meant that the electric consumption went up too - and they are in fact a C grade on the hotter cycle. (Hope this is making sense!?)

This information was given to me even though the A rated dryer I was looking at was far more expensive than the one they then went on to recommend. I didn't by either as it happens, but I thought the information seemed pretty interesting....never bothered checking it out but thought I'd mention it here.

To be honest, I only ever use my dryer to par-dry my clothes anywa - I have a B rated one, that I use on the cooler cycle, and I always take the stuff out whilst still damp (but, nice and soft cos it's been in the dryer) so I only ever use it for max 30 mins per load, so I don't think it costs that much to run for us. There's only me and him indoors, so max four loads a week...

skintlass

I have a condenser tumble dryer that I got for around £135 (I think) in Costco and its great (my leccy bills have shot up using it tho :-(). I takes quite a big load too which I find useful as I got an American toploader washing machine from Costco at the same time (they even delivered) which is huge and also great.

Bargain_Rzl

On a related note,

I know washer-dryers are generally less energy efficient than separate washers and dryers. I don't have room for separates and when I had to kit out my flat recently, the one thing I decided it was worth spending SERIOUS money on was my Miele washer-dryer as the energy consumption and water consumption are waaaaay lower than any similar product (plus it's soooo quiet, came with a free 5-year warranty and has an estimated 20-year lifespan ). It is possibly the only A+ rated domestic washer-dryer on the market (I certainly didn't find any others that came even close, most of the other decent makes i.e. Bosch and AEG were B or C rated).

Here comes the question: is an A+ rated washer-dryer rated in relation to other washer-dryers, or in relation to all laundry appliances?

Kazonline

There's some helpfull information in this leaflet re energy ratings.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/Environment/consumerprod/energylabels/energylabel.pdf
Also gives a guide as to consumption for a washer drier - but I think it's based on the wash cycle?
Also did a search on the power meter and found this
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Home.aspx

Nelski

I dont know the cost im afraid but do use mine a lot in winter cos I hate having damp clothes everywhere. I dont think it can be that much as my bills are well below average although i guess being single means i dont use it that much relatively anyway.

Gingham_Ribbon wrote:

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.

I keep mine in the garage GR and its not problem at all so Im sure the cellar will be fine

frosty

During the winter I dry most things on the radiators,then I put them in the dryer for about 10 mins,fold them straight away and I have no ironing,I hate piles of clothes everywhere,I would be lost without my dryer.It cost about £30 a month to run (A Rated).

henhog

I have a condenser tumble drier ( AEG Lavertherm 57560) and I would recommend it to anyone who can't have an ordinary tumble drier. Very easy to get rid of the water and clean the fluff. Also has a timer, so I do all my tumble drying on Economy Seven and it is very quiet. Mine is in a specially built cupboard, but as long as I leave the door open there isn't hardly any condensation.