Using a washing line is the most efficient way of drying your clothes, however in the Winter, this is not always a viable option. The majority of tumble dryers in the UK have a C-class energy rating, which can cost up to £95 a year in energy costs, but the energy they use can vary by around a third [1]. There are a million tumble dryers sold in the UK every year, so if everyone bought the most efficient one, there would be enough energy saved to power hundreds of households for a year each time a load was put on.
Types of Tumble Dryer
Electric Condenser
Electric condenser tumble dryers remove moist warm air from the drum, which is then cooled inside the machine and the resulting water is collected in a removable reservoir. As the reservoir is emptied regularly, these tumble dryers can be installed anywhere as steam isn’t an issue, therefore they can be placed near windows or walls. Make sure you choose a good model though, or you may have to cope with damp air and the possibility of mildew [2].
Prices: About £150 will get you an entry-level condenser tumble dryer, whereas about £800 will get you a top-of-the-range model.
Electric Vented
Electric vented tumble dryers take warm, damp air from the drum and vent it out through a hose. These models are generally cheaper and use less energy than a condenser model, however they need to be positioned near a window or door to vent the hot air away [2].
Prices: You can buy an entry-level vented tumble dryer for about £100, whereas a top-of-the-range model will be about £700.
Gas Vented
Gas vented tumble dryers use gas as their heat source, yet work in the same way as electric vented dryers with damp air being vented away through a hose. These models have cheaper running costs than electric vented tumble dryers and have good drying performances, however they do need to be professionally installed by a Gas Safe engineer. They also need to be positioned near a door or window to vent the air away, like electric vented models [2].
Prices: Gas vented models cost around £300.
Heat Pumps
These models are condenser dryers that use heat pumps to reheat warm air and conserve heat. This design feature is estimated to provide energy savings of up to 50% when compared with some machines on the market. The two main manufacturers, Bosch and Miele claim that the technology works like a “fridge in reverse” [3].
Prices: Models start at around £300 and top-of-the-range models can reach over £1000.
Choosing an Energy Efficient Tumble Dryer
When looking for an energy efficient tumble dryer, the best option is to check the energy labelling. There is often a huge difference in energy running costs between ratings, so it’s worth investing in an A rated appliance if you can afford to. An example of the savings are shown below:
| Energy Ratings: A vs. C rating [4] | |||
| Rating | Model | Cost per 7kg Load | Annual Cost |
| A | Siemens WT46W560GB | 25p | £45.62 |
| C | Hotpoint TCL770G Aquarius | 62p | £113 |
It’s not only important to have an energy efficient tumble dryer in the first place, but using it efficiently will also save you money. Here are some tips to reduce your energy bill:
- Clean the lint filter before every load – a blocked filter prevents the hot air from circulating freely, meaning your clothes take longer to dry.
- Try to fill your tumble dryer to the maximum every load.
- Using the spin function on your washing machine will mean your clothes need less time in the tumble dryer.
- Keep your tumble dryer in a well ventilated room – this will stop it from over heating.
- If your tumble dryer has a sensor, dry your clothes for ironing with other clothes. Start by using the iron-dry setting, remove the clothes for ironing, and then put the rest on a cupboard-dry program [1].
[3] http://www.which.co.uk/news/2011/07/which-verdict-on-energy-saving-tumble-dryers-258217/
