With the ever-rising cost of energy bills, it can be tempting to increase the load in your washing machines and tumble dryers to try to get every drop of value out of every cycle, even going beyond the limits recommended by manufacturers.
To do so can be very dangerous for a number of reasons and can lead to disaster for homeowners. Here are some reasons you should never overload your tumble dryers or integrated tumble dryers and some tips for using them safely.
Fire
Putting too many items in a tumble dryer can lead to an excessive amount of lint. This can build up in the dryer filter and prevent it from properly ventilating. Any heating element of an electric item that cannot ventilate properly is at risk of catching fire, so it is extremely important not to overload your tumble dryer. Doing so can cause catastrophic damage and put lives at risk.
Electrical faults
In addition to the risk of fire, overloading your tumble dryer and overheating it can lead to it tripping your home electrics.
Belt and drum damage
Overloading your tumble dryer can also lead to belt and drum damage, as it will be operating at a capacity and potential heat that it is not designed for. If you do big washing and drying loads, it is worth investigating the purchase of an appliance designed for more industrial loads from a reputable supplier such as https://www.wellingtonshomeelectrical.co.uk/laundry/tumble-dryers/integrated.html.
And finally…
Your washing just won’t dry as well if you overfill your tumble dryer. If your laundry takes up more than half the capacity of the drum, it will take longer to dry the items, won’t be as energy efficient, and will end up taking multiple cycles to dry.