Latest Home Improvement, Renovation & Remodeling Trends

Each time you put your clothes in the dryer you are using an immense amount of power. In fact, clothes dryers are the second biggest power pig in your home. An average household uses between $70 and $100 a year in electricity to dry - and shrink - your clothes.

There are many add-on attachments like a heat recovery unit which diverts the hot air back into the basement or laundry room. But this adds unwanted moisture into the home and unless you have a good exchange unit this moisture could cause problems. Also, lint can get through even the smallest screen so there will be lint dust pouring into the home. To save money you might want to look at what dryer you buy.

Here are some tips when buying a dryer:

1. Moisture Sensors: dryers with these will shut off when the clothes are done saving energy and reducing wear on the clothes. You save about 15% of energy.
2. Temperature Sensor: Another 10% savings.
3. Cool Down or “Perma-Press” Cycle: Switches to cold air in the last minutes of the cycle.

Tips for Energy Savings:

1. Place in Heated Space: The dryer will not work as hard.
2. Venting: Do not use flexible pipe as it restricts air flow and lint can pile up in the grooves. Always go with smooth ductwork and go the shortest and straightest way out.
3. Check Air Vent: this should be done monthly to check for blockages and that it shuts tight. Air can get it and cool the home.
4. Clean Lint: Check inside the dryer for lint build up. Also take apart the ductwork if you can and vacuum it out.
5. Full Loads: Small loads are uneconomical.
6. Similar Loads: Sort clothes for drying by similar material because they dry at the same rate.
7. Two Loads: The dryer is already warmed up after 1 load so the second one costs you less.
8. Cool Down: Residual heat in the dryer for continue drying for a few minutes. In effect this is “free heat.”

Check the Energy Factor before making any dryer purchase.