WORTH A DRY
Little-known button on tumble dryer that could cut energy bills by £35 a year – and it’s better for your clothes
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A SAVVY saver has revealed a little-known button on tumble dryers that could cut energy bills by £35 a year.
As temperatures drop, many households will be worried about the lengthy and sometimes costly process of drying their clothes indoors.
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Tumble dryers are household staples for many, but they can become pricey to run.
Especially now Ofgem's new energy price cap has come into effect, leading the average bill to rise by £149 a year.
But there is a little-known feature that could help curb the cost of running the device.
The Sun spoke to Fiona Peake a finance professional at Ocean Finance, who explained that by using the "sensor dry" function households could save up to 20% on costs.
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Fiona said this setting "detects" when your clothes are dry and automatically stops the machine.
She explained: "This prevents over-drying—a common issue that wastes energy and can damage fabrics
"By making the switch to this setting, households could save as much as 20% on their drying costs, making a noticeable difference in monthly energy expenses."
So for example, a vented tumble dryer can cost up to £179.21 to run per year, according to analysis by consumer website Which?
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But using the sensor dry feature could shave up to 20% or £35 off the yearly bill.
This would mean a household would be left with a bill of £144.21.
Martin Lewis explains how to slash your energy bills
But this could be higher or lower depending on your model and how often you use the machine.
For example, a heat pump washing machine usually costs less to run than its vented counterpart.
On average the annual cost to run one of these tumble dryers is £76.09.
With this in mind, a household could save £15 on their yearly bill by using the sensor dry feature.
To make the saving you will also have to ensure that your washing machine has the sensor dry feature.
Some tumble dryers will have the sensor dry feature built-in meaning it runs automatically without you having to do anything.
Otherwise, it can be found on the dial of your tumble dryer where the other settings can be found.
If you are confused it may be worth digging out your manual to see if your tumble dryer has the feature or searching the details of your model online.
Fiona added that cleaning the lint filter regularly can also help save money.
She added: "A blocked filter can cause your dryer to work harder and prolong drying time, wasting both energy and money.
"Keeping your dryer well-ventilated allows the machine to operate more effectively, helping you save more money."
Other ways to save money drying your clothes
There are plenty of other gadgets which can help dry your clothes quicker this winter.
For example, heated airers can be a cost-effective tool that costs a few pennies to run.
Heated airers can save money on your energy bill as it offers a cheaper alternative to drying your clothes on the radiator.
This method can become costly as it requires you to turn on the central heating.
Heated clothes airers are like traditional ones, but you plug them in, with the bars of the dryer heating up.
You can buy covers for some as well, which speeds up the time it takes to dry your clothes.
Aldi launched an upright heated airer across its stores on October 20, for £79.99.
It was part of its Special Buy range meaning once stock has been cleared it will not be coming back.
The retailer also launched a smaller version for £34.99.
You can find a similar version on Amazon or Dunelm if you can't find one at Aldi.
Another hack for keeping your clothes dry is using a dehumidifier.
These devices can help remove dampness from your home and can prevent the growth of mould.
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They can also be great for helping clothes dry quicker when placed near your airer.
This is because it can help suck the moisture of your clothes helping them dry at a faster pace.
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.
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