DryHomeLab
Methodology

How DryHomeLab works

This page explains how DryHomeLab produces its calculations, where tariff data comes from, and how articles are researched and reviewed.

Calculator formulas

Every running-cost calculator on DryHomeLab uses the same base formula:

Watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × electricity rate (pence/kWh) = cost in pence

Weekly cost is then multiplied to give monthly estimates using weekly × 52 ÷ 12, and annual estimates using weekly × 52. This monthly conversion method is used consistently across all calculators.

Why weekly × 52 ÷ 12

This converts a weekly cost to a monthly average by accounting for the fact that months are not exactly four weeks. A year has 52 weeks and 12 months, so dividing by 12 gives a true monthly average rather than the simpler but less accurate weekly × 4.

Standing charges

Standing charges are excluded from all appliance running-cost calculations on DryHomeLab. Standing charges are payable regardless of how much electricity you use, so including them would not reflect the true cost of running an individual appliance.

Energy tariff data

DryHomeLab maintains a database of energy tariffs sourced from Ofgem, the UK energy regulator. Default rates are updated when new quarterly price cap determinations are published.

The default electricity and gas rates shown in calculators are clearly dated and attributed. Users can always override the rate in any calculator to match their actual tariff.

Rate source and overrides

When a database rate is available, calculators display the source name, effective period and rate. When no database rate is available, the site falls back to configured defaults from .env. Users can override the rate at any time inside the calculator.

Article research

Articles on DryHomeLab are researched using UK government publications, regulator data, manufacturer specifications and reputable UK sources. Every factual claim must be traceable to an identified source.

Citation system

Articles use numbered citations [S1], [S2] and so on. Each citation maps to a specific source listed at the bottom of the article. This allows readers to verify claims independently.

Review process

Every article on DryHomeLab follows a structured review process before publication. Key steps include source verification, calculation checking, editorial review and freshness classification. Articles are periodically re-reviewed based on their freshness class.

Limitations