Electric dryers span a wide range of wattages, from about 2,000 to 6,000 watts. That translates to about 2 to 6 kWh of electricity. Based on the national average rate of 12¢ per kWh, each hour of electric drying will cost somewhere between 24¢ and 72¢, depending on the model.
How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer for an hour? According to Heatable, a 2500W tumble dryer costs about 85p to use for an hour. However, the tumble dryer cost per hour depends on the energy efficiency rating of your tumble dryer and the cost of energy at the time.
Your average 9kg vented tumble dryer will use around 5.30 kWh for a full load cycle. Using your dryer two times a week will give you an average annual usage of 636 kWh – which translates to £1.54 for each cycle and £184.44 a year. Your average 9kg condenser tumble dryer will use around 5.2 kWh for a full load cycle.
How can I lower the cost of drying clothes? In the U.S., it costs approximately 45 cents to dry a load of laundry in an electric dryer, based on a 5,600-watt dryer, 40-minute run-time, and a 12-cent-per- kilowatt-hour rate.
As with any heated drying device, heated airers use electricity to help dry your clothes. Despite this, many heated airers use very little electricity in comparison to a traditional tumble dryer, making them more cost-effective and better for the environment than a traditional dryer.
Disadvantages of tumble drying
One significant disadvantage is its high energy consumption, which can contribute to increased electricity bills. Also, it is essential to be mindful of potential fabric damage, as the heat can cause shrinkage or damage to delicate fabrics if not used correctly.
Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.
On top of this, off-peak electricity is also available between the hours of 10pm and 8am, which can make all the difference when running your tumble dryer. However, it is important to keep in mind that you shouldn't leave your tumble dryer running for hours during the night unattended as this could become a fire risk.
Dryer Costs:
Once your clothes are washed, the drying cost comes into play. Typically, you'll find that dryers charge by time, with a standard drying cycle lasting around 30 to 45 minutes. The cost of drying a load ranges from $1.50 to $2.50 per cycle, depending on the dryer's size and location.
Saving energy and saving money go hand in hand here. The most energy-efficient tumble dryers – hence the cheapest to run – are heat pump tumble dryers. Condenser dryers come next, closely followed by vented dryers. Gas tumble dryers are comparable to heat pump dryers in terms of energy efficiency and cost.
If you have a 2100W (2.1 kW) washing machine and you run it for an hour, it'll use 2.1kWh of electricity in that hour. If electricity costs 34p per unit, multiply 2.1kWh by 34p and you get a grand total of 71p.
Do dryers use a lot of power? Yes, though they do so over a shorter period of time than many other popular appliances. For example, let's compare your dryer to your TV, which (if relatively new) will use between 100-300 watts. Your TV could cost you a tenth of what your dryer costs you in the same period.
The majority of kettles have a 3kW element. An example 3kW kettle boils one cup of water (235ml) in approx 45 seconds. This means it uses 1p to boil a cup of water in a kettle.
Don't leave appliances unattended – don't turn the tumble dryer on before you leave the house or go to bed. Tumble dryers contain powerful motors with fast moving parts that can get very hot. Keep your dryer well ventilated, make sure the vent pipe is kink free and not blocked or crushed in any way.
Washers and Dryers
Save by doing the following: Try to do laundry on weekends when there are no Peak hours. On weekdays, run washers and dryers during Off-Peak hours: before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m. Wash full loads, but don't overfill.
Off-peak hours are when electricity demand is low, usually in the afternoon and at night. They typically span from 8 PM to 4 PM and are when electricity is cheapest. Electricity tends to be cheapest at night because large power plants and wind turbines continue to produce electricity at night, even when demand is low.
Unplugging appliances has the potential to save you money on expenses, and this practice can also increase the life of your belongings. The more items you have plugged in around the house, the more susceptible your devices are to damage through an unexpected power surge.
A clothes dryer (tumble dryer, drying machine, or simply dryer) is a powered household appliance that is used to remove moisture from a load of clothing, bedding and other textiles, usually after they are washed in the washing machine.