Topic
Heated airers
Heated airers warm aluminium rails to dry clothes faster than an unheated rack. Most draw between about 100 and 300 W, far less than a tumble dryer, but they work best with a cover or a dehumidifier nearby.
- Typical draw
- 100 to 300 W
- Supply
- 230 V mains plug
Compare airers on wattage, total rail length in metres and the stated maximum load. Wings and extra tiers add rail length, a fitted cover traps the warmth and speeds drying.
A heated airer warms the clothes, but the water still has to go somewhere. In a closed room it ends up on the windows, so pair it with ventilation or a dehumidifier. See drying indoors.
Guides on this topic
- Is a heated airer worth it?What a heated airer does well and badly, which loads suit it, how its watts compare with other options, and when a dehumidifier does more for damp homes.Guide
- How to use a heated airer and coverHow to use a heated airer and cover: loading order, cover on or off, timers and where to stand it so clothes dry evenly. General guide, check your manual.How-to
- Do heated airer covers make a difference?How a heated airer cover traps warm air around the rails, why it can speed drying, the trade-off with trapped moisture, and how to use one well.Guide