MILLIONS of customers are facing rising energy bills – but there are ways to cut costs.
A tumble dryer is a handy appliance to have in your home, especially during the winter when you can’t dry clothes outside.
However the common device can be costly run, using around 4.5kWh of energy per cycle.
That works out at around £1.12 per hour to use under the current energy price guarantee.
This rises to £7.84 a week if you use the item for an hour every day each week or £31.36 to your energy bill if you intend to use your tumble dryer every day each month.
That means if you use your tumble dryer every day for it a year it could add £376.32 to your yearly energy bill.
However an energy expert has shared a hack which could help you save £32 a year on tumble dryer costs.
Will Owen says households should put their clothes on a spin cycle if there clothes are still very wet when they take them out of the washing machine.
He said using the spin cycle will remove excess water, “meaning your clothes will dry faster in the tumble dryer or on an airer”.
“If your clothes are still very wet when you take them out of the washing machine, you could make use of the spin cycle setting.
“Using the spin cycle will remove excess water, meaning your clothes will dry faster in the tumble dryer or on an airer.
He said using the spin cycle could cut your bill by a quarter and save you 23p a load.
“So if you’re doing three loads a week, it could add up to £36 a year,” he added.
The spin cycle on a washing machine is a setting which rotates wet clothes at a high speed to remove excess water from the clothes after washing and rinsing.
You find the setting on dial of your washing machine, if you are confused you can read your manual.
This should also be the case if you have a combines washer/dryer.
OTHER HACKS TO SAVE ON YOUR TUMBLE DRYING BILL
Will added that households should avoid overloading the drum as it mean your machine has to work harder and may end up costing you more money in the long run.
Meanwhile underloading your tumble dryer will also waste energy.
It is generally recommended that your washing machine be 75% full when you use it.
HOW ELSE CAN I SAVE ON MY BILLS?
Heated clothes airers can be a great alternative to tumble dryers if you’re looking to save more money.
That’s not all. Buying insulation will prevent heat from escaping through your loft, and it could save you hundreds on your bills.
You should insulate your loft hatch as well – that will prevent further heat from escaping.
Closing your curtains in the evening when temperatures drop naturally drop will keep the heat in too.
And opening them up in the morning to let the sun in will warm you up
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.