DRY ANOTHER DAY: SWAP THE TUMBLE DRYER FOR A HEATED AIRER TO SAVE £85 A YEAR

With energy prices higher than ever - and more households delaying turning on their central heating, bill-payers can save £85 a year by swapping a tumble dryer for alternatives like a heated airer[1]
Almost 11 million households — 39% of homes — own a tumble dryer, using it for almost two hours a week[2]
Dehumidifiers can reduce condensation caused by letting clothes dry on a rack while saving £93 a year in electricity compared to a tumble dryer[1]
Plymouth is the UK’s tumble dryer capital, where 50% of households have one, compared to 29% of homes in Edinburgh[3]
To help with rising bills, Uswitch.com has launched Utrack, a free mobile app that connects to your smart meter to help track home energy use and find ways to save money.

Households can cut their power bills by up to £85 a year by ditching their tumble dryer and using more energy efficient methods to dry their clothes[1], according to new analysis by Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.

With more and more households delaying turning on their central heating this year due to rising bills - Brits are instead faced with the dilemma of not being able to dry clothes outdoors, and yet not being able to dry them effectively indoors without resorting to their trusty tumble-dryer.

Tumble dryers are owned by 11 million households[2], and an average model uses 3kWh per cycle – costing almost £1.03 a load under the energy price guarantee[1].

A household that dries two loads of washing a week in an average tumble dryer will run up a £106 a year energy bill[4].

Ditching the tumble dryer altogether and drying clothes on radiators and racks will save money on energy, but will result in increased condensation in the home, which can lead to mould. Dehumidifiers that remove the extra moisture from the air typically use 185W, which will cost 25 pence if used for two hours. Doing this for every load of washing would save £93 in electricity costs over a year compared to a tumble dryer[1].

Heated airers are drying racks with a heating element that helps speed up the process. They typically use 300W, which will cost 20 pence if used for two hours per load of washing, and adds up to a £84 saving compared to relying on a tumble dryer[1].

Drying pods enclose the clothes racks inside a material cocoon, which keeps the hot air inside and speeds up the drying time. A typical device uses 1kW of power, which will cost 34 pence per hour. Based on using a drying pod for an hour with each load of washing, a household would save £70 a year compared to a tumble dryer[1].

Table: Cost of drying your clothes

Device	Power (kW)	Cost per load (p)	Cost for two loads (p)	Yearly saving compared to tumble dryer for two loads a week
Drying rack	0	0	0	£106.08
Dehumidifier	185W	13	25	£93.00
Heated airer	300W	20	41	£84.86
Drying pod	1	34	68	£70.72
Tumble dryer	3kWh per cycle	102	204

Source: Uswitch.com. Drying pod runs for one hour, heated airer and dehumidifier for two hours per load.

Households considering buying a tumble dryer should compare both the purchase cost and the running costs of the devices. The most energy efficient A+++ tumble dryers use a third of the energy per cycle compared to lower-rated devices, with a typical A+++ model costting 52 pence a load to run, compared to £1.52 for a C-rated appliance[5].

To help households track and reduce their energy usage, Uswitch has launched its new app, Utrack, which could help users find ways to save money on bills.

The free mobile app is designed to be linked to a home smart meter to help consumers understand their home energy consumption, monitor when they are using the most power and find ways to cut costs around the home.

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “During the summer it’s easy to dry clothes cheaply on the line, but as the colder months of winter draw in it’s harder to avoid using the tumble dryer - especially if you’re one of the many households delaying turning on your central heating this year.

“Using a drying rack or heated airer will help reduce your energy bills, while dehumidifiers can also help to speed up your drying time - while also reducing the amount of moisture and condensation created by drying clothes indoors.

“You can also make the most of your washing machine’s spin cycle to squeeze out as much water as possible before hanging them up.

“Tracking apps such as Utrack will help you see how much you can save from making small changes around your energy usage at home - such as swapping the tumble-dryer for an alternative.”

How to dry your clothes without using tumble dyer

Clothes airers: Lightweight drying racks take up little space and prices start from only £12. They let your clothes dry naturally, which can take a while but costs you nothing in electricity. Position them near an open window if it’s warm, or near a radiator if it’s cold. The kitchen is usually the warmest room so consider making the most of this for your dryer.
Dehumidifiers: One drawback of using a drying rack is that it can create damp air and result in condensation and mould. Using a dehumidifier removes the moisture from the air, letting the clothes dry faster and eliminating damp problems. Prices start from £34.99, and a 45W model will cost less than two pence an hour to run.
Heated airers: These racks are heated to speed up the drying process. They cost upwards of £40 and use 220W of power, costing about 7p an hour in electricity. Higher powered versions are available that dry clothes more quickly for £60, but these use 1,000W, costing 34p an hour.
Make the most of the spin cycle: The more water you can remove from your clothes before hanging them up, the faster they will dry. Use your washing machine’s spin cycles to squeeze out as much water as possible.