Heat Pump tumble dryers heat pump vs condenser Dryers

Heat pump tumble dryers reuse the hot air they use to dry your clothes instead of venting it out. This is a cost-effective solution for your family, since it helps conserve energy.

John Lewis offers a wide variety of tumble dryers. They include heat pump and vented models. Learn more about tumble dryers in our detailed guide.

Cost

Tumble dryers are excellent for reducing the need to hang laundry outside in the sun, and also for saving space when it comes to storage, but they also often consume much energy. If you are looking to cut down on your energy consumption it might be worth trying the use of a heat pump tumbler. Although these machines have a higher initial cost, they'll save you money in the end due to their lower energy consumption.

Heat pump tumble dryers work by reheating the air that has already been warmed up during the drying process and results in lower energy costs than vented or condenser models. This type of tumble dryer typically consumes about half the energy as a vented or condenser model, and as such could save you up to PS173 per year on your utility bills.

When you compare the price of a heat pump tumble dryer with other types, the price difference is usually negligible. It is important to consider the amount of energy consumed and how frequently you will use your tumble dryer. You'll need to take into consideration the wattage of your appliance and your electricity bill when calculating the amount each tumble dryer will cost.

Vented tumble dryers use gas to dry laundry and are powered by gas from the mains and are therefore more expensive if you're on a tight budget. They are also less flexible in their locations of installation because they must be located in a room with appropriate ventilation to expel the humid air.

Condenser dryers eliminate the moisture from your laundry by moving hot humid air into a separate unit where it is transformed into water. This water can either be drained into a removable container that must be manually emptyed or transferred into your drainage system to remove it continuously. This allows for greater flexibility with install locations, but you will need to be prepared for additional maintenance by making sure the drain pipe is in good shape.

Energy efficiency

If you're worried about your energy bills, a tumble dryer heat pump could provide substantial savings. The technology requires less electricity to heat the air inside the tumble dryer. This allows it to dry clothes more efficiently and at a lower temperatures than vented models.

They also employ a cooling agent that helps to liquefy the humidity in the air and then ejects it out through the condenser. This means they require less electricity to operate than traditional vented dryers. The dryers Heat Pump may take a bit longer to finish your laundry cycle than vented models, but your clothes will appear and feel better for longer due to the lower temperatures.

Typically they'll cost you between $500 and $700 more upfront than condenser dryers but the extra cost is offset by the savings you'll gain on your energy bills over the long term. They're also more expensive and must be installed in rooms with adequate ventilation.

Like all electrical appliances, it's vital that the installation of a tumble dryer is completed by an Gas Safe engineer. Ventilated dryers require a long, flexible vent hose that's permanently connected to your appliance at one end and an outlet point - whether an outlet or a window or door - at the other. This hose must be properly secured and can't be shared with other appliance or used in any manner that could cause it to degrade.

Condenser dryers work in a similar way similar to heat pump dryers. They utilize an electric element to heat the air, and then release the moisture via a condensation tray. They're typically heavy-duty dryers, with greater capacity for wet loads, which range from 6kg to 10kg. They also run more quietly. However, they're more costly than heat pump tumble dryers to buy and aren't appropriate for installations that do not have an unbreakable connection to the wall. They're also more expensive to run than heat pump dryers as they need to generate plenty of heat to evaporate the water from your laundry, and aren't as efficient as vented models. They still rely on electricity to turn the motor that rotates your laundry.

Noise

The noise generated by tumble dryers is quite loud, however the volume of the sound is dependent on a number of variables. The decibel rating can only be one of many factors. The frequency of the sound can also impact the volume at which it sounds. The sound can be amplified by nearby resonant objects such as work surfaces, cupboards or furniture, and it may be affected by the room's acoustics. The sound from your tumble dryer could be muffled by carpets or other absorption materials.

Condenser and heat pump models are quieter than vented dryers, however, they're still noisy. They're more gentle on fabrics, drying your laundry faster due to lower air temperatures and a much longer cycle than traditional models. This means they're less damaging to your clothes and are less likely to cause loss of colour often associated with high temperature old-fashioned tumble dryers.

If you plan to use your tumble dryer primarily together with a washing machine, it's crucial to remember that both appliances should be placed close each other to prevent noise and vibrations when they are in use. To avoid this problem it is recommended to use a washer and dryer stacking set is available for both kinds of appliances.

They require a constant flow of air to function, so they must be located in an area that is well ventilated in your home. You'll need to ensure that the vent hose is connected to the appliance, and it's safely positioned outside your home instead of being redirected through a door Dryers Heat Pump or window.

The condenser dryer doesn't require permanent connections to a vent, and can be put anywhere within your home. It collects the vapour and water leftover in a container that can be manually emptied, or connected to a drain through the drainage pipe, which will automatically empty it.

Converting a vented tumble dryer into condenser dryer can be done using a conversion kit. However, this will affect the manufacturer's warranty and should be performed by a trained professional. The kits come with the components needed to install an air vent as well as a small water pump to remove the condensation, therefore they're not inexpensive.

Maintenance

A heat pump tumble dryer works differently to condenser or vented models because it doesn't require venting outside to extract the hot air. Instead the warm air that flows through your clothes is extracted and collected inside the appliance itself and then it is pushed through a condenser that separates the hot water from the cool air and then store it in a tank (sometimes called a reservoir) inside the machine. This means that you'll need to empty the water tank at some point however it also allows you to keep the dryer in smaller spaces than if you were to install a vent in the machine.

The heat pump model is approximately 50 percent more efficient than vented models. This makes it much cheaper to run, which means you'll save PS42-PS51 a year on average according to Which? and it's also much more sustainable for the environment. It's an inexpensive tumbler to buy, and you should make sure you can afford the upfront costs.

A tumbler with a heat pump requires little maintenance, aside from cleaning the lint filters and looking for fluff on the heater unit from time to time. However, you will need to clean the drain of condensation frequently and it will take longer than a vented tumble dryer to dry your clothes.

Think about a sensor-controlled tumbler when you're looking to buy a low-cost model. The sensor will stop the machine when your laundry is finished by preventing excessive drying and harm to your clothes. But, you'll have to program the drying cycle and this can be a hassle when you have a lot of different clothes in your wardrobe.

Brands such as Beko and John Lewis provide tumble dryers that make use of condenser, Dryers Heat Pump heat pump or vented technology. John Lewis offers a free home delivery and a two-year warranty. Check the warranty details before purchasing an appliance, particularly one that is electrical like a tumble dryer. This will ensure that you are covered in the event of a fault or breakdown.