How many times a week do you use your washer and dryer? If you have a large family, you might need to wash clothes and bed sheets several times. Your laundry room appliances can cause a significant increase in your electricity bill. When you’re washer and dryer are on their last spin, use these tips below to find the most efficient set.
The Washer
Front loading washers and dryers usually use less energy than top-loading ones. Although this is not always the case, you need to determine how much water will need to go into a top-loading washer in comparison to a front-loading washer for your clothes to be submerged. Front-loading washers often don’t require as much water, because the clothes can be circulated through a minimal amount of water.
The spin speed of the washer is also an important feature to assess. Energy-efficient washers will spin clothes at a faster rate, which reduces the amount of time that the clothes will need to be in the dryer.
The water level controls and wash and rinse cycles can also help in energy savings. It costs 5 to 10 times more to wash your clothes in hot water in comparison to cold water. So make sure that the washer you’re looking at has several wash and rinse cycle options.
The Dryer
Depending on what electric and gas costs in your area, one might be less costly than the other. However, at least with gas, the dryer will not be using up electricity just from being plugged into the wall. Remember, appliances draw energy from the outlet even when you they’re not in use. One drawback of gas is that if you don’t have the proper ventilation, it can be dangerous.
One convenient feature on new dryers is an automatic shut-off. Some have sensors that can determine whether or not the clothes are dry. Instead of waiting that full 60 minutes for your clothes, they might be done ten minutes sooner.
In general, look for washer and dryers that have the Energy Star rating. Also, before committing to a set, do thorough comparison shopping so you can choose the best washer and dryer.
