Exact energy price difference between using tumble dryer and heated airer to save on your bill
January is one of Ireland's dreariest months, and one major issue in winter is how to get our clothes dry after they are washed.Many people use a tumble dryer in the winter months, waiting longingly until drying weather returns and they can be hung out on a line or airer, but tumble dryer usage can be an expense on the energy bill. While clothes may emerge warm and cosy, it comes at a cost.In recent years, electric airers have grown in popularity as a way of drying clothes indoors during the winter. They have heated aluminium bars to dry clothing more quickly.More affordable heated airer models have entered the market, making them a noteworthy alternative to using the tumble dryers. They are available from a number of different home and garden outlets.They dry clothes faster than a regular clothes horse, but not as quickly as a tumble dryer, making them a cost-effective option for people who need their clothes dried but can't wait the multiple days it can take in winter on a non-heated airer.A tumble dryer is often cited as one of the biggest energy consumers when it comes to appliances. For that reason, some households might want to switch to a heated airer to get their clothes dry in the winter without tacking extra euros on to the energy bill by using the dryer.While avoiding the tumble dryer will make a dent in any electricity bill due to its energy consumption, electric airers also use energy, so how much of a saving can be made?Our example product, which is the Haden Lightweight Foldable Heated Airer, uses 230W of energy per hour. It can hold up to 12kg of clothing.Energy is priced by the kilowatt in Ireland - aka, 1000 watts. Running the heated airer for around four hours consumes just about one kilowatt-hour of electricity.Depending on the model, a tumble dryer can use between 1800 watts and 5000 watts of energy per hour, an average of 4.5 kilowatts per cycle. The power consumption depends on your tumble dryers energy rating which is why experts suggest upgrading your tumble dryer every ten years. This allows you to benefit from better energy ratings.In January 2026, the average price of electricity in Ireland per unit is 36.34c per kWh, according to Selectra. This is based on a standard, 24hr urban rate comparing all providers with VAT included.The average drying cycle of a tumble dryer machine is roughly two and a half hours long, using 4.5 kWh. Rounding up to the nearest cent, this can cost approximately €1.64 per cycle. Note that these prices may vary appliance to appliance.Running the heated airer for around four hours consumes just about one kilowatt-hour of electricity. This will cost 36.34c, as per the latest average electricity price. While four hours is sufficient to dry a load of laundry if you have the patience to move the clothes around in order for them all to dry properly, many people will find that it can take a full day to dry one load on a heated airer, making 8 hours of use cost 73c on your electricity bill, if you round up to the nearest cent.This means you are saving somewhere around one euro each load of laundry by using a heated airer For busy households where at least one load of laundry needs to be washed and dried per day, the switch could lead to big savings. However, for many, the quickness and convenience of a tumble dryer cannot be beaten.For accurate calculations on your own savings, make sure you confirm how much energy your machines use by checking the user manuals, and comparing them to establish your own results.To help clothes dry faster on a heated airer indoors, you can use a dehumidifier to protect your home from dampness and extract the moisture from the air. However, running a dehumidifier has its own energy cost too.Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
