How Much Does It Cost to Run a Heat Pump Dryer in British Columbia? (2026)
A heat pump dryer recycles hot air instead of venting it, so it draws about a third of the power of a conventional dryer. Cycles take longer, but total energy per load is about half.
A typical heat pump dryer (900 W) costs C$0.11 per hour, or about C$6.80 per month at 2 hours a day in British Columbia. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 600 W | C$0.076 | C$0.15 | C$4.54 | C$55.19 |
| Typical 900 W | C$0.11 | C$0.23 | C$6.80 | C$82.78 |
| High 1,200 W | C$0.15 | C$0.30 | C$9.07 | C$110.38 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 2 h/day ≈ 657 kWh per year.
One hour of a heat pump dryer (0.90 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 5.0km in an electric car
- 9.0hours of TV
- 20hours of a laptop
- 100hours of an LED bulb
In British Columbia, with electricity at 12.6¢ per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical heat pump dryer costs C$0.11 per hour and about C$82.78 per year at 2 hours a day. That is about 10% less than the national average for Canada (C$7.56 per month), because electricity in British Columbia costs 12.6¢ per kWh against 14.0¢ nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 8.8 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a heat pump dryer
- Clean both the lint filter and the heat exchanger filter regularly.
- Do not overload. Heat pump dryers are sensitive to airflow.
- Use the auto-dry sensor rather than timed programs.
In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh (C$1.10) per year if it is never unplugged.
Is switching from a clothes dryer to a heat pump dryer worth it? Savings and payback
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heat pump dryer cost per load?
About 1.5 kWh, versus 3 kWh or more for a vented dryer.
Why does a heat pump dryer take longer?
It dries at a lower temperature. The energy saving comes from reusing the heat.
Is a heat pump dryer worth the higher price?
For households drying several loads a week, the savings typically repay the difference within a few years.
Compare with
Cost by region
US states
- Alabama
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- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
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- Hawaii
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- Illinois
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- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
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- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
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Canadian provinces
Related appliances
- Clothes Iron1,500 W typical
- Vacuum Cleaner1,000 W typical
- Robot Vacuum30 W typical
- Clothes Dryer3,000 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz