ENERGY bills are on the rise and they’re putting a strain on Brits’ finances.
Something as simple as the way you use your tumble dryer and washing machine could be making a big impact, and even driving up costs.
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It’s all because energy bills are due to rise a record £693 in April, and millions of people are worried about what that’s going to mean for their own bills at home.
Only last week it emerged that the energy price cap, in place to stop households from overpaying on their bills, would rise to £1,971 a year in April.
And on top of the imminent hikes, many households have been struck by soaring food costs.
There are tax increases and other bill rises to come too.
It’s even left some Brits having to choose between heating and eating.
So some people are coming up with their own innovative ways to cut costs – many have banded together on online forums to share smart ways to slash spends.
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On Facebook group, Reduce your Supermarket Spends, one user has shared a handy hack for reducing the amount of energy your tumble dryer uses.
Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “Tumble dryers are one of the most energy intensive devices in the home, so it’s important to use it properly so you don’t waste money.”
Over on Facebook, the savvy saver said: “Once you have done your wash in the washing machine – I use the quick wash – put the dial to spin and drain.
“It takes around 12 minutes and leaves your clothes almost dry.
“And because they’re almost dry, it can cut the drying time down in your tumble dryer afterwards by two thirds, saving you electricity and money.”
Essentially, the hack is to let your washing machine do all the hard work, as it’s cheaper to run than the tumble dryer.
Energy experts at Energyhelpline estimate that a tumble dryer uses around £1 worth of electricity per cycle – but a washing machine uses onl around 15p.
That means it can be worth doing the extra cycle on the washing machine to spin out some of the water from your clothes at another 15p, reducing the amount of time you need to use the tumble dryer.
Other users were quick to agree the hack had worked for them, saying it helped save money on their energy bills as the tumble dryer was only having to do a third of the work.
A typical tumble dryer uses 4.5kWh per cycle.
Under the new price cap, which comes into effect in April, the average cost for electricity is 28p per kWh, adding up to £1.26 per tumble dryer cycle
If you use the dryer once a day, that’s £459.90.
So if you can reduce the time you use the dryer by a third, you’ll save £153.30 – bringing your annual cost down to £306.60.
Owen said: “The longer your tumble dryer’s cycle, the more money it will cost you.
If your clothes are dripping wet, it will have to run much longer to get them dry, increasing your energy bill dramatically.“
How else can I save on my bills?
It’s not only how long or how many times you use your tumble dryer that could impact costs.
Owen also suggests using energy-saving dryer balls, but you have to read the fine print to see if they actually work.
“Many websites make bold claims about dryer balls and how much energy they can save you by increasing airflow through the tumble dryers and shortening your drying time,” he said.
“Reliable evidence to back up claims that these balls can cut drying time by a quarter is in short supply, so if you’re thinking of investing in some, do your research.
“Also keep in mind that overloading the drum is likely to put your machine under strain and end up costing you more in the long run, while underloading the device will waste energy.”
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