Dear All,
anybody got any information on the cost of using a tumble dryer? I'm looking for approximate costs, i.e. cost to dry 5KG of washed towels.
Then, are there any comparisons the show the cost of drying with a condenser dryer compared to a vented dryer. I guess that the condenser should be more efficient as it isn't pumping wet heat out of the dryer, but some example figures would be good
Thanks for any help
Davy
When I was looking for a tumble dryer I noticed that on the enery efficiency chart thingy each machine has one it (you know, the thing with the coloured A-G bands) there is a box which lists the energy consumption of a load. A lot of dryers said 4.2kWh (I think) - the one I bought said 3.4kWh (these figures are from memory). This is for a stardard weight load with a standard amount of moisture left to remove.
When I received our dryer the manual also listed 'real world' figures for drying time and energy consumption for different sized loads having been spun at different speeds in the washing machine. Many of these had energy consumption in the 2-2.5 kWh range.
HTH
Neil
"> anybody got any information on the cost of using a tumble dryer? I'm
Too many variables in that question really. What spin speed will determine residual water content remaining in the towels. We did measure consumption over 5 wash/dry cycles. (Separate washer and tumble dryer)
Averaged about 3 units for combined operation. Not have a clue prior to this costing about the wash cycle consumption.
Drying consumption is fairly easy. If you have the timer set to 70 minutes and it has a 10 min cool cycle then it would normally be 2.2 kWh for the 60 minutes and 200 watts for the 10 min cool time.. Price would be ( 2.4 x .07p) approx. 17 pence. (Check the plate for the rating of your machine.)
Bit cheaper than the launderette
Less at night if you have economy 7!
Si
Random estimates would be between 2-6 kWh. 5kg of terry towelling would be at the higher end. It depends a lot on the material, size of a "load" and mainly on how wet it is when it goes in. A tumble drier is a lousy spin drier - if your spinner has lost its whizz, then just throwing the wet clothes into the tumbler instead is an expensive alternative to fixing the spinner (would she listen ? Oh, no, what would _I_ know about laundry).
In all cases, it's usually worth bunging the load in for another spin, especailly for towels and stuff. The problem with most machines is that the load ramps up to a speed, and sticks there. At that speed, all the clothes are plastered to the outside of the drum, and don't move at all. If you put them in again, it may take several hundred grams of water out.
Take a scale, a few towels, weigh dry, after one spin, and after two or three. (three is generally not worth it)
Very roughly, it costs a minimum of about half a Kwh just to boil/evaporate
1Kg of water. And it's never going to be that cheap unless you use a model with a heat pump, and I don't think there are any.Personally. I think a closely sealed cupboard with a bit of insulation, and a dehumidifier and a fan would be ideal. (currently use a dehumidifier and a fan in a second bathroom, which isn't optimal) Gets clothes dry for a fraction of the money, and bashes them around less.
I once lived in a housing co-op, we had a shared laundry, it had a stand alone spin dryer that worked much more effectively than the machines. They can't be that expensive, I have considered getting one when we get a bigger house with a decent utility room area (it really needs to go on the floor and have a floor drain to drain into.)
Not exactly an answer to the question you are asking but...
Used to have a washer/dryer, utterly rubbish - as I had been warned. Instead I now use a 'Z-shaped' clothes-horse/dryer/maiden (what is the accepted name?) and merely point an 8 inch desk fan (30W?) at the clothes. Arrange it all for maximum exposure to the breeze, i.e. nothing folded just 'pleated' and you'll be astonished how quickly things dry even in a cool room. With occasional rearranging/turning we can get a whole pile of washing, including towels, dry in a few hours (albeit in a fairly warm room) - quicker than our crappy dryer. No noticeable condensation problems either for the occasional use it gets, and it's certainly cheap. Big thick fluffy towels for some reason seem to dry quicker than most other things too.
Second that. We have a spin dryer purchased second hand for about £10. It gets loads more water out than the washing machine spin. Curiously although a more modern design it has exactly the same nozzle as my mother's one that was 35 years old when she scrapped it.
-- Malc
Thanks all for your advice
regards
Davy
Less than that surely - it will have a thermostat, so the power will be kicking in and out for the 70 minutes? David
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