When you’re looking for ways to save energy, there are several actions you can take in your laundry room to lower your energy consumption. In another post, I wrote about a few tips for saving energy by using your washer differently. Now I would like to take a look at dryers. It’s interesting to note that there is actually very little difference among dryer models when it comes to energy consumption. In fact, they are so similar that the U.S. government chose to not add EnergyStar labels. There are, however, things that you can do to reign in their power use.
First, check to see if your dryer has a moisture sensor. This is located inside the dryer and it sense how much moisture remains in your clothes as they tumble. When the clothes are dry enough (you can adjust how dry you want them), your dryer automatically shuts off. This saves energy because there’s no point in tumbling dry clothes on and on until the timer runs out. It also keeps your dryer from damaging your clothes by over-drying them.
Next, you need to get into the habit of cleaning your lint filter regularly. Lint filters remove stray fibers that are coming off your clothes as they dry. As the lint builds up, it cuts down on the air circulation within the dryer. This makes it less efficient, meaning it will take longer to dry clothes. In extreme cases, the accumulated lint could actually catch fire. Probably every couple of loads is often enough.
Here’s a new one I read about recently that I had never heard of before. If you use dryer sheets, then you need to actually take your lint filter out and scrub it with a toothbrush (an old toothbrush!). Dryer sheets leave a film behind that, just like lint, cuts down on air flow and makes your dryer work harder. Do this about once a month.
There you have it, three simple actions you can take that will put YOU in control of your energy use. Try them out starting today and see if you notice a difference in your utility bill.
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