How Much Does It Cost to Run a Heat Pump Dryer in Nova Scotia? (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$0.18 per hour, or about C$11.06 per month at 2 hours a day in Nova Scotia. Average running cost

Hours used per day
WattagePer hourPer dayPer monthPer year
Low 600 WC$0.12C$0.25C$7.37C$89.70
Typical 900 WC$0.18C$0.37C$11.06C$134.55
High 1,200 WC$0.25C$0.49C$14.75C$179.40

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

Electricity per year at typical use, on a log scale: #76 of 95 appliances, from least to most.

In Nova Scotia, with electricity at 20.5¢ per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical heat pump dryer costs C$0.18 per hour and about C$134.55 per year at 2 hours a day. That is about 46% more than the national average for Canada (C$7.56 per month), because electricity in Nova Scotia costs 20.5¢ per kWh against 14.0¢ nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 5.4 hours of use.

How to lower the cost of running a heat pump dryer

In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh (C$1.79) 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

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Related appliances

Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz