Warning issued to anyone with a tumble dryer

Millions of households up and down the UK who use tumble dryers to dry their clothes in winter are being warned of two key problems they should be aware of which could put their homes – and their wallets – at risk.

While tumble dryers are notorious for running up high energy bills, many households rely on them to dry their clothes quickly, especially properties like small houses or flats which may not have a garden or any space indoors to set up a clothes horse or airer.

In winter in particular, many homes struggle with wet, damp laundry causing mould and condensation when dried in the air or on radiators, with many having no choice but to resort to a tumble dryer to keep on top of the washing cycle without fighting black mould spores on walls.

Many will run tumble dryers overnight, “when rates are cheaper” but households are being told that this is not actually the case unless you’re on a specific tariff which actually offers different rates based on the time of day, or a flexi tariff which changes every hour based on usage patterns such as those offered by Octopus Energy.

Moreover, you could be risking your safety by leaving a tumble dryer switched on overnight while you’re in bed, with fires possible when left unsupervised and fire services warning people ‘never’ to do this.

Gordon Wallis, an energy expert at Your NRG, said: “While it’s true that some energy tariffs offer cheaper rates during off-peak hours, this doesn’t apply to all households.

“Check your energy plan before assuming night-time usage will save you money.

Gordon also warns against running high-energy appliances like tumble dryers unsupervised at night due to fire risks. “Safety should always come first,” he stresses.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service warns that households must ‘never’ run a tumble dryer at night.

They said: “Our advice is to never use tumble dryers and washing machines overnight; there is a risk of fire if these appliances develop a fault, and if this happens when people are sleeping, the risk to life is far greater.”

Energy regulator Ofgem says Economy 7 tariffs offer seven (hence the name) off-peak hours per night, with cheaper rates.

It says: “Consumers on an Economy 7 tariff will pay one rate for electricity used during a specified off-peak period, and another, more expensive rate during peak hours.

“You’ll find out what your tariff’s seven off-peak hours are when you sign up.

“Usually, this period runs from midnight to 7am, but it may vary depending on your location and your supplier.

“An Economy 7 tariff could help you save money if you use more electricity at night, for example for electric storage heaters, or to charge an electric vehicle (EV).

Available on- and off-peak rates may vary, so you should shop around for the right deal.

“If you don’t use much electricity at night, then you’re likely to be better off on a single rate tariff.”

You can still use an Economy 7 rate to tumble dry – but don’t go to bed until it’s done.