Dryer Electric Question

[HouseHopeful]

I'm curious. I use my clothes dryer once every 3 weeks because mostly I airdry my laundry. Does anyone unplug the dryer when not in use? Because of the special plug involved, I've never though of unplugging it, but it would make sense, unless it would harm something. Let me know what you think.
Thanks!

[irmanator]

I don't I didn't think they used electricity when not in use. And the plug on mine is hard to get to.

[jeffmem]

You know I tested that a few months ago. Indeed you do draw power, but... it would cost you like 1 cent a year to leave it plugged in. I would have to go back and actually look at my notes or do the test again to give you a real idea, but the number is so small it is not worth to worry about it. However, now if your dryer is like full out LCD displays and stuff like that, when it is plugged in it may draw more power. Mine is push button only, washer/dryer in one, nice panasonic model, don't think you can buy this type in the US yet, and it runs on 110. One load of wash and dry costs me about $2, that's for like 5 hours, 1.5 hour washing, and another 4 hours to dry. I would say not bad.

[jamiefic]

That's a unique washer/dryer. I don't think I've ever heard of that. So, it washes and drys all in the same machine?

[Judi Dial]

(combination washer/dryer). When I was working for Sears fixing washers (1974) they existed, so they aren't new.

At least then, there were two major downsides to them: you can't wash/dry simultaneously and they were more expensive to work on.

The machinery (at least in those) was so tightly packed into the case that in order to fix anything it required a lot of labor.

I don't know if that's still true, it was 30 years ago, but I've never bought one because of it!

JD

[jeffmem]

Basically the same machine washes and drys your clothes, and it is self contained, there is no vent for the hot air. This is very similar to what we have. NA-V80GD-Feature you can have a look. You have to go through the top links for features and specs. But it will give you an idea.


As for maintanene at this time I can't say because so far no problem, but it's only been about a year. It appears from diagrams I have seen it is not that tightly packed, but for you guys maybe it is.

[leighangela]

We unplug everything that is easy to reach, except for the cable box and the cable modem, as both take quite a while to restart. So yeah, we unplug the washer and dryer. Probably doesn't make much a difference, but everything unplugged at once does make a difference.

[Fern]

I believe the only appliances you should unplug to save on phantom energy use are those items that have a digital display, like a microwave or stove clock display, or those that have the big black box plug, like a batteryrecharger, for example.

I do, however, turn the water supply to off when not using my washing machine so as to avoid flooding my basement in the event of a leak.

[jimbo970]

The best way to determine if an appliance or something is drawing current when plugged in but not running is to feel the plug close to the outlet. if it is warmer than surrounding area it is drawing something. if it is cool to the touch it is not using anything. I cant imagine a dryer is using anything unless it has an electrical clock or digital panel assoicated with it.