Night-time habit could save households 'hundreds' on energy bills, expert say

As the summer sun continues to blaze well into the evening hours, one expert is encouraging households to make the most of it by tweaking their nocturnal routines which could also help them save money in the long-run by moving their daily energy-consuming tasks to later in the evening.

Gordon Wallis, an energy specialist at Your NRG, revealed that homes with large appliances such as tumble dryers might benefit from operating them during night-time off-peakperiods. Based on your electricity tariff type, this simple shift in your cleaning schedule could slasha substantial amount from your energy bill.

He said: "Tumble dryers are one of the most expensive household appliances to run. But if you're on an Economy 7 or similar time-of-use tariff, running your dryer overnight can cut your costs by up to 50%, potentially saving you hundreds over the course of a year."

Data from Currys shows the typical cost of one tumble dryer cycle stands at £1.54. Whilst this might appear minimal, using five cycles a week can total to £400 annually.

Developing the practice of using your tumble dryer during evening hours now whilst daylight persists later can ease the shift to night-time laundry schedules. This handy strategy proves particularly valuable throughout the chillier winter period.

George continued: "Drying clothes indoors becomes a necessity in winter, especially for those without outdoor space or proper ventilation. But if you're not using a heated airer or drying rack, the tumble dryer quickly becomes one of the biggest contributors to your energy bill."

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It is typically advised not to leave your tumble dryer operating whilst you are asleep due to a minor fire risk. Whichnoted: "Only use your dryer when you're at home and awake and if you use your dryer's delay timer, again make sure to only set it for when you'll be at home and awake. If you smell burning or see smoke coming from your dryer stop using it immediately and unplug it from the mains."

Electricity costs vary throughout the day for people on particular economy or time-of-use tariffs. This approach regrettably will not benefit households on standard flat-rate tariffs that are charged the same price for their power throughout the day.

But, for the other tariffs, using electricity during off-peak hours when there is not as much demand on the national grid can come at a cheaper price. When exactly these off-peak hours are will depend on your energy supplier and tariff.

George added: “Taking advantage of that pricing structure just makes sense, especially if you’re running large appliances like washing machines, dishwashers or tumble dryers. These marginal gains add up fast when you combine smart tariff choices with energy-efficient habits.

"When we shift demand away from peak times, it helps stabilise the energy grid and reduces the need for costly backup generation. So it's not just about your bill, it's about a smarter, more sustainable system for everyone."

To make sure your tumble dryer operates as economically as possible, George also suggested clearing the lint filter after each use, drying similar materials together and putting garments through a spin cycle in the washing machine before transferring them to the tumble dryer to minimise dampness.