The Rough And Tumble Of Drying Clothes
Sun Herald
Saturday September 2, 1989
WINTER electricity bills can be unpleasant surprises for many householders.
And this year, the bill could be significantly higher because of the big wet.
Grey, wet days can affect your energy consumption in ways which at first might not be apparent.
Clothes dryers and heaters all come into play in a big way.
In extended wet periods, you may need to dry two full loads a day. Using a conventional tumble dryer, this will cost about $5 for the week. The cost adds up over several weeks.
To save money, make hay while the sun shines. Take advantage of every sunny break to hang out clothes, even if they only partly dry. Then put them in the dryer. Part-drying clothes inside on a clothes horse can also save energy and therefore money.
Take care as well to dry in full loads. The following figures show why:
Drying a full, five kilogram load of wet clothes in a small-to-average size dryer takes about two hours, costing about 44 cents (8.8 cents a kilogram, assuming the dryer uses 4.8 kilowatts (kW) to do the job).
To give you an idea of what a standard five kilogram load might contain, here is an estimate: three tablecloths, four shirts, four bath towels, three T-shirts, four pillow cases, three pairs of shorts, two wash cloths and four handkerchiefs.
To dry a 70per cent load will cost about 37 cents (10.5 cents a kilogram, assuming the dryer uses 4kW).
To dry a 40pc load will cost 28 cents (13.8 cents a kilogram, assuming a power consumption of 3kW).
The figures show it is not economical to use a dryer less than 70pc full. It is also important not to overload the dryer because efficiency drops rapidly.
Read the manufacturer's instructions on recommended load size to find out how to estimate a full load in your dryer.
This is how much tumble drying will contribute to a quarterly electricity bill, on the basis of 13 weeks a quarter:
To dry seven full loads a week will cost about $39 a quarter; four full loads a week will cost $22 a quarter; one full load a week about $6 a quarter
To relieve the financial strain here are a few more clothes drying hints:
* Tumble dry in consecutive loads. By re-loading when the dryer is already warm, you save on initial power consumption.
* Never place dripping wet clothes in a dryer.
* Dry sheets by themselves, otherwise they ball up with other items, which remain damp inside. In this case, the rule for overloading can be broken.
* To save on ironing, remove clothes from the drum the moment the dryer stops so that clothes don't have time to crease.
* For greater efficiency, always wipe out the dryer and clean the lint filter after each use. However, don't close the door immediately. The circulation of outside air clears residual moisture and also removes many lint particles.
* Always ensure that the warm, moist air from the dryer is vented outdoors. If you allow the air to remain inside you will have problems with condensation, especially during extended periods of rain. Remember, the water from your clothes has to go somewhere. Don't let it dampen your house and stain the walls and ceiling with mould.
Wet weather may increase your energy consumption in other ways as well.
When it's wet we tend to stay at home more, using energy for cooking, heating, lighting and entertainment.
An added outlay on energy bills is unavoidable during rain. The only consolation is knowing where the extra energy is going and how to minimise the cost.
For more free information and advice about clothes dryers, or about any domestic energy issues, contact Chris Power at the Minerals and Energy Information Centre. Phone (02) 234 4466 from 9.30am to 4.30pm weekdays.
© 1989 Sun Herald