Heat-pump tumble-dryer payback examples
Compare simple payback from 1 to 10 dryer cycles per week, with electricity-price sensitivity and editable energy assumptions.
Usage frequency drives dryer payback
The cycle-frequency range above is intended to show the central trade-off. A heat-pump tumble dryer can use less electricity per cycle than a conventional dryer, but the purchase-price premium is recovered only through repeated use. A household drying one load each week has much less opportunity to recover the extra cost than a household running several cycles.
Per-cycle energy is the most useful comparison input because dryer power varies through the programme. Load size, moisture level, programme choice and maintenance of filters can all change consumption. Manufacturer energy-label data or a measured cycle is usually better than multiplying nameplate watts by programme duration.
Include the purchase decision you are actually making
If an existing dryer is still serviceable, compare the extra cost of replacing it now with expected electricity savings. If you already need a new dryer, compare the price difference between the models you would realistically buy. Those are different payback questions, and the calculator allows the purchase-cost difference to be edited accordingly.