Best place to keep a tumble dryer to ‘use less energy’ and save money

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Around two-thirds of households in the UK own a tumble dryer, many of which will limit using it to save money this winter. While less use is guaranteed to lower your energy bill, experts have shared the best ways to improve the efficiency of your tumble dryer to save money. They explained that one of the lesser-known ways to do this is to choose the best location for the appliance in your home.

How much does it cost to use a tumble dryer?

There are three types of tumble dryers – vented, condenser and heat pump.

On average, a 9kg heat pump tumble dryer currently costs £88.06 per year if used twice a week, while a condenser costs £209.78 annually, and a vented model costs £216 per year.

While the running cost of each model varies, experts at Hoover noted that there are some “universal rules” households should follow to keep their dryer “well-maintained” and efficient.

How to make your tumble dryer more energy efficient

There are several possible places to keep a tumble dryer around the house, though most use empty space under kitchen counters, in a utility room, or in an outdoor garage.

Keeping it in a hidden yet accessible spot is the main thing to consider, however, the team at Hoover noted that the temperature of the room is also something to think about.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, they said: “Many people might not realise that the placement of a tumble dryer can actually impact its efficiency.

“When you place your dryer in a warm location in your home, it’ll require less energy to warm the air up to the necessary temperatures, therefore cutting your energy costs down.”

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This is known as the “ambient temperature”, which has a direct impact on the resultant temperature and power dissipated by the equipment.

According to white goods and appliances retailers, Zanussi, the tumble dryer may not operate correctly if the ambient temperature is too high or too low.

They said: “The optimal room temperature to achieve the best drying results is between 19-24C.

“If the ambient temperature is too low, the drying time will be longer.”

The white goods retailers revealed that when the room temperature is between 10-15C, the drying time can be extended by as much as 30 percent.

This is known as the “ambient temperature”, which has a direct impact on the resultant temperature and power dissipated by the equipment.

According to white goods and appliances retailers, Zanussi, the tumble dryer may not operate correctly if the ambient temperature is too high or too low.

They said: “The optimal room temperature to achieve the best drying results is between 19-24C.

“If the ambient temperature is too low, the drying time will be longer.”

The white goods retailers revealed that when the room temperature is between 10-15C, the drying time can be extended by as much as 30 percent.

While this has a minimal impact on the cost per load, the annual figure could quickly increase if used in an even colder space.

When the ambient temperature is reduced to between 5-10C, the drying time can increase by as much as 50 percent, according to Zanussi.

A typical electric dryer should take between 30-45 minutes to dry a full load of clothing in a well-heated room, though this will rise to between 39-58.5 minutes if the room temperature drops to between 10-15C.

In a room with an ambient temperature of 5-10C – such as an outdoor garage, the typical drying time will increase to 45-60 minutes.

A full load of heavy towels and bedding takes around one hour to dry in a room above 16C, though the increase in drying time will rise to around 1.2 hours in a room that is 10-15C, and to 1.5 hours in a room with a temperature of 5-10C.

The best place to position your tumble dryer for use in winter is in the kitchen or any other room with a regular heat source.

The warmth from ovens or radiators is useful to keep the room temperature in the “optimal” zone and reduce the drying time.

Cold garages and rooms with multiple external walls should be avoided as these tend to be the chilliest areas.

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