Ten Common Misconceptions About Dryers Heat Pump That Don't Always Hold

Heat Pump Tumble Dryers

The tumble dryers that use heat pumps recycle hot air used to dry your clothes instead of venting it outdoors. This saves you energy, which makes it a cost-efficient option for your household.

John Lewis has a range of tumble dryers that include both vented and condenser models, as well as heat pump tumble dryers. Find out more about them in our guide to tumble dryers.

Cost

Tumble dryers are great for reducing the need to hang laundry in the sun and to save space for storage, but they are prone to using a lot of energy. If you're looking to reduce your energy consumption it might be worth considering switching to the use of a heat pump tumbler. Although these dryers do have a higher upfront cost, they'll save you money over the long term thanks to their lower energy consumption.

The heat pump tumble dryers operate by reheating air that was already warmed up during the drying process. This results in significantly lower energy costs than vented or condensation models. This type of tumble-dryer uses half the electricity as condenser or vented models, which can save you up to PS173 on your utility bills each year.

When you compare the cost of a pump tumble dryer against other models, the difference is usually minimal. It is important to consider the amount of energy used and how frequently you will use your tumble dryer. You'll have to consider the wattage of your machine as well as your electricity tariff, which will influence the price you have to pay for each tumble dry.

Vented tumble dryers use gas to dry laundry and are powered by gas mains and are therefore an expensive option if you're on a tight budget. The installation options are also limited because they need to be placed in a room that has adequate ventilation for the damp air.

Condenser dryers eliminate moisture from the laundry by transferring hot air into a separate condensing unit, which is then converted into water. This water can be drained into a removable container that must be manually empty, or it can be transferred into your drainage system to remove it constantly. This will allow for greater flexibility when it comes to installation locations, but you will need to prepare for any additional maintenance by ensuring the drain pipe is in good working order.

Energy efficiency

If you're concerned about your electricity bills, a tumbler heat pump can provide significant savings. The technology uses less power to heat the air inside the tumble dryer, which enables it to dry your clothes faster and at a lower temperature than vented models.

They also use a coolant that liquifies the air's humidity and then ejects it out through the condenser. This means they use less power to run than traditional vented dryers. They might take a bit longer to complete your laundry cycle than vented dryers, but your clothes will be looking and more comfortable for longer due to the lower drying temperatures.

They'll cost you an additional $500 to $700 up front but the energy savings will make up for this. They're also more expensive and require adequate ventilation.

Like all electrical appliances, it's vital that any installation of a tumbler is completed by a Gas Safe engineer. A vented dryer requires an extended, flexible vent hose that's permanently connected to your appliance at one end, and an outlet point - whether a drain or a door at the other. This hose cannot be shared or used in a manner that could cause damage.

Condenser dryers function in a similar way to heat pump dryers. They utilize an electrical element to heat the air and then expel the moisture through a condensation tray. They tend to be heavier-duty performers with larger capacity for wet loads ranging between 6 and 10kg. They also are more quiet to operate. They are more expensive to purchase than heat pump tumble driers and aren't able to be mounted without a permanent wall connection. The cost of running them is more expensive than heat pump dryers as they have to generate more heat to evaporate the moisture from your laundry. They are less efficient than vented models. They still use electricity to turn the motor that rotates your laundry.

Noise

Tumble dryers generate plenty of noise however, how loud they are is contingent on a variety of variables. The decibel rating will only be one of many factors. The frequency of the sound can also impact the level of loudness. The sound may be amplified if there are any resonant objects in the vicinity such as cabinets, work surfaces or furniture. It may also be affected by the room's acoustics. The sound from the tumble dryer may be dampened by acoustic absorbent materials like carpets, or be drowned out by other appliances within your home.

Condenser and heat pump models are quieter than vented dryers, but they are still noisy. They are gentler on fabrics and dry your laundry faster because of lower temperatures. They also have a longer cycle. This means they're less damaging to your clothes and are less likely to cause loss of colour that's often associated with high temperatures, old fashioned tumble dryers.

It is crucial to keep in mind if you plan to use your tumbler dryer in conjunction together with a washer machine, the two appliances should be placed close to each other in order to avoid noises or vibrations during operation. To prevent this issue, a washer and dryer stacking set is available for both types of appliances.

A heat pump tumble dryer requires an ongoing flow of air to function, which is why it's best to put it in a ventilated area of your home. The vent hose should be permanently connected to the appliance, and positioned securely to the outside of your home.

Condenser tumble dryer on the other hand, does not require a permanent connection to a vent, and can be installed anywhere in your home. It collects the vapour and water leftover in a container that is manually empty, or connected to a drain using a drainage pipe which will automatically empty it.

It is possible to transform a vented tumbler into a condenser model using a conversion kit, but this could void the manufacturer's warranty and should only be done by a trained professional. The kits come with components needed to put in a vent, as well with a small pump to remove condensation.

Maintenance

A tumble dryer with a heat pump works differently to condenser or vented models since it doesn't require venting outside to extract the hot air. Instead, the warm air that passes through your clothes is extracted and collected inside the appliance itself and then it is pushed through a condenser in order to separate the hot water from the cool air and then store it in a tank (sometimes called a reservoir) inside the machine. You will have empty the tank eventually however, you can store the dryer in the same place as if you installed vents.

Comparatively to vented models, the heat pump model consumes about 50% less energy. According to Which?, it is also less expensive to run. You can save PS42-PS51 per year. It's not cheap to purchase tumble dryers, so you must be able to pay for the initial cost.

In general, a heat pump tumble dryer needs only minimal maintenance, besides clearing the lint filter and looking for any fluff around the heating unit now and again. However, you need to clean the drain of condensation regularly and it will take longer than a vented tumbler to dry your clothes.

If you are looking for a tumble dryer that isn't expensive you might want to considering a sensor model that automatically ends when laundry is done. This will prevent drying too long that could damage your clothes. But, you'll have to program the drying cycle and this can be a challenge in the event that you have many different fabrics in your wardrobe.

You can find a range of tumble dryers from brands like Beko and John Lewis which use heat pumps, condenser or vented technologies.  click here for more info  come with a 2-year warranty, and John Lewis has excellent customer reviews and free home delivery. Be sure to read the warranty terms prior to purchasing an appliance, particularly an electrical one such as a tumble dryer. This will ensure that you are protected in the event of a fault or breakdown.