And because they capture and reuse their heat energy, they don't vent hot air at all, so there's no moisture fogging up your laundry and hot air. It's a win-win.
Just as with a condenser dryer, you'll still have to empty the drain tank periodically, or plumb it into a drain. They're also really heavy, so you can't wall mount one, though you may be able to stack a heat pump dryer on top of a front loading washing machine to save space — ideally one from the same manufacturer, and secured with a stacking kit.
All this complexity comes with a high price tag, so if you only use your dryer occasionally, you may never amortise the cost. But if you use your dryer a lot, then it's a sensible financial choice as it will save you money overall.
It will still take years for the lower running costs to offset your initial outlay, but with prices of heat pump condensers coming down and energy costs rising, heat pump condenser dryers are becoming a more viable option. Gas clothes dryers work the same way as conventional dryers, but use natural gas instead of electricity as a heat source. They're cost effective to run and perform well, but have a higher purchase price and you may need to modify your laundry.
We previously tested a gas dryer and scored it highly, even though it uses more energy at the point of connection i. This is because if you consider energy use in its totality — that is, gas used for drying compared with the coal burnt to produce electricity — gas dryers use 60 percent less energy overall. Because two-thirds of the energy in coal never reaches the household due to energy conversion losses at the power station and transmission losses through the grid.
While a gas dryer's drum motor and controls are still electric, this represents only around 10 percent of the energy used by a clothes dryer. When compared with typical electric vented dryers of a similar size, a gas dryer will pay for itself in just under eight years when used five times a week.
But you may need to add the installation costs, which will take longer to offset the purchase price most people don't have a gas outlet in the laundry and the unit must be ducted to the outside. However you may feel the reduction in CO 2 emissions — and faster, more even drying — is worth the expense.
Most people take the load out of the washer and put it straight in the dryer, which is why it's a good idea to match the capacity of your dryer to your washer. But we've found most people only wash around 3. We recommend grabbing your laundry basket full of dry washing and jumping on the scales to see how much you actually wash each time to see what capacity you really need.
If you only want a small dryer, you may be restricted to a vented dryer — the more efficient heat pump dryers are generally all 7kg or greater. So, let's say you have an 8kg washing machine and fill it to capacity with 8kg of dry clothes. When you take the wet clothes out after the washing cycle, an 8kg capacity dryer is capable of drying that load — even though it's heavier now it's wet. To prevent dripping walls and mould-ridden ceilings, you need to ensure the moist, hot air from the dryer is removed from your laundry efficiently.
Setting up your dryer near an open window or using an exhaust fan could do the job, but if this isn't possible then you're likely to need a venting kit. Some dryers come with one; for others it's an optional extra. However, not all venting kits suit all situations. Discuss the installation with the sales staff to make sure you get what you need. Remember, some dryers only have an exhaust vent at the front and can't be ducted. So if your laundry has poor ventilation, check that the model is vent-kit compatible before you buy.
Our clothes dryer reviews can tell you which of the dryers we've tested are front-vented and whether or not they can be ducted. With a condenser dryer , the hot moisture vapour within the unit condenses into droplets of water, which are ported to a removable collection tank that needs to be emptied by hand, usually after every drying cycle.
Condenser dryers are more expensive than vented machines but much easier to install — all you need is a nearby power outlet. Aside from regular emptying, the only other drawback is that some moisture inevitably escapes the machine, causing a slightly humid atmosphere in the room. The walls may show signs of condensation, but nothing more than you would expect from having had a hot shower or bath.
Vented dryers are cheaper and more practical in the long run as all of that hot, moist air is ported outside through a 4in hole in the wall. The only major drawback is that you'll need to have the machine placed against an outside wall with an AC power outlet nearby and you will almost certainly need to employ the services of an expert with a wall-penetrating 12in drill.
If energy efficiency is your primary concern, consider a heat-pump dryer. Heat pump dryers pass the moist air collected during the drying cycle through an evaporator, which removes the moisture before reusing the same hot air for the rest of the drying process.
They still port condensed moist air to a collection tank that will require emptying from time to time. However, you'll need to weigh up the extra cost of the machine against the electricity savings made. Some experts have calculated that it could take up to 11 years of ownership before a heat pump dryer equals the cost of a cheaper condenser or vented machine.
They also operate at lower temperatures and take much longer to dry your clothes. All but the very cheapest dryers will have onboard sensors programmed to estimate the amount of moisture left in the clothing.
We won't see real energy savings on dryer technology unless the heat-pump becomes popular. This type of dryer is so new in the U. Tip: The good news is other brands like Whirlpool are releasing additional models. This may help lower retail costs. Here are a few pointers:.
Tip: Dryers and washers need a little breathing space. Moisture sensor: This feature puts an end to overdrying, which can damage your clothes. Machines with moisture sensors automatically shut off when a load is dry.
Here's more:. Noise dampening: Hate the racket a dryer can create? No outside venting is needed for a condenser dryer, so they're more expensive than vented dryers and great for rental homes.
Some models have a water container that needs to be manually emptied after each load, and some have a hose that drains the water automatically. Drying increases air moisture levels, so a well-ventilated room is needed to prevent mould forming.
Smart sensors save energy by detecting when clothes are dry then switching off, which also prevents over-drying damage to clothes. Need a ducting vent that pumps the hot, humid air outside the house, or to be in well-ventilated room to prevent mould forming on walls and ceilings.
With the lowest prices they are the most affordable to buy but they generate a lot of warm, moist air so need a ducting vent installed to pump the hot air outside the house, or need to be in a well-ventilated room to prevent mould forming on walls and ceilings. The second thing you need to consider is what size dryer will actually fit in your laundry. Make sure you measure the laundry space carefully, leaving an extra 2.
Some dryers can be stacked on top of your washing machine to save space. You also need to consider size from a clothing capacity perspective — how much you want to fit in each load will determine how many kilos your dryer needs to be size-wise. A larger drum size dries everything faster but the power usage is also higher, so it's important to get a dryer that's large enough for your needs but not so big it wastes power.
Keep in mind that for faster drying and fewer creases you need to put less in per load. Dryers have a fairly high energy consumption compared with other laundry appliances, so you will need to be aware of this before buying one. Each unit will have an Energy Star Rating, with more stars meaning the dryer is better for the environment and your power bills!
While most dryers have a low energy rating, heat pump condenser dryers generally have a six star energy efficiency rating, and although they are considerably more expensive than conventional dryers, with continual use they can pay for themselves over time. You may also want to look for models that have a timer delay so you can set the dryer to start when electricity prices are lower.
The amount of time a load takes to dry will depend on many variables, including the size of the drum. Larger drums move hot air around more efficiently, which will result in faster drying cycles. You can also speed up the process by putting fewer items of clothing in with each load. While most dryers come with a lint filter, where it is located on the machine could be important. Dryers strip away lint while in operation, which is stored in a filter at either the front or back of the appliance.
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