Heat Pump Tumble Dryers
Heat pump tumble dryers recycle the hot air they use to dry your clothes instead of venting it to the outside. This conserves energy, which makes it a cost-effective choice for your household.
John Lewis offers a wide variety of tumble dryers. They include heated and vented models. Find out more about tumble dryers in our detailed guide.
Cost
Tumble dryers are great for reducing the need to hang laundry in the sun and for saving space for storage, but they often consume a lot of energy. If you’re looking to lower your energy costs and save money, consider switching to a heat-pump tumble dryer. These machines are more expensive initially, but they can save you money over time due to their lower energy consumption.
They work on the basis of reheating air that was already warmed up during the drying process. This results in lower energy costs than vented or condensation models. This type of tumble-dryer uses only half the energy as condenser or vented models, allowing you to save up to PS173 on your energy bills every year.
When it comes to comparing the price of a heat pump tumble dryer with other types, 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 will need to consider the wattage of your appliance and your electricity bill when calculating the amount each tumble dryer will cost.
Vented tumble dryers are more costly if your budget is tight. They make use of gas to dry your laundry and they are powered by mains gas. The installation options are limited because they need to be installed in a space that has adequate ventilation for the humid air.
Condenser dryers take the moisture from your laundry by moving hot humid air to an additional unit where it is converted to water. The water is then drained away in a container that is removable which needs to be manually empty or be piped into your drainage system for continuous removal. This will allow for greater flexibility with install places, but you’ll need to be prepared for extra maintenance by ensuring that the drain pipe is in good working order.
Energy efficiency
A tumble dryer heat-pump will help you save money on your energy bills. The technology uses less energy to heat the air inside the tumble dryer. This enables it to dry clothes more efficiently and at lower temperatures than vented models.
They also utilize a coolant that liquifies the air’s humidity and then releases it through the condenser, meaning they use less power to run than traditional vented models. Dryers may take a bit longer to complete your laundry cycle compared to vented models, but your clothes will appear and feel better for longer because of the lower temperatures.
Typically they’ll cost between $500 and $700 more up front than condenser dryers but this extra expense is easily offset by the savings you’ll earn on your energy costs over the long term. They’re also more expensive and must be put in rooms that are well-ventilated. ventilation.
Gas Safe engineers are required to install tumble dryers heat Pump, similar to any other electrical appliance. Ventilated dryers require an extended flexible vent hose permanently connected to your appliance at one end, and the drainage point – which could be the drain or a window or door at the other. The hose should be secured in place and cannot be shared with another appliance or used in any way that could cause it to degrade.
Condenser dryers function in a similar way as heat pump dryers. They employ an electrical element to heat the air, and then release the moisture via a condensation tray. They’re usually heavy-duty dryers that have higher capacity for wet loads, which range between 6 and 10 kg. They also run more quietly. They’re more expensive to purchase than tumble dryers with heat pumps and aren’t able to be mounted without an ongoing wall connection. They’re also more expensive to run than heat pump dryers since they need to generate plenty of heat to evaporate the moisture from your laundry. Additionally, they are not as efficient as vented models. They still require electricity to turn the motor dryers heat pump that rotates your clothes.
Noise
The noise generated by tumble dryers is quite loud, but the volume of the sound is dependent on a number of variables. The decibel rating is just one of them, and the frequency of the noise will also determine how loud it is. The sound may also be amplified if there are resonant objects nearby like cabinets, work surfaces or furniture. It can also be affected by the room’s acoustics. The sound produced by your tumble dryer could be muffled by carpets or other acoustic absorbent material.
Heat pump and condenser models are quieter than vented dryers, however they’re still loud. They’re gentler on fabrics, drying your laundry more slowly with lower temperatures and a much longer cycle than traditional models. They’re less damaging to clothes and less likely to cause loss of colour which is usually associated with old-fashioned tumble dryers heat dryers that use high temperatures.
If you plan to use your tumble dryer primarily together with a washing machine, it’s crucial to remember that both appliances should be located close to each other in order to avoid the noise and vibrations that occur during operation. A washer and dryer stacking kit is available to avoid this issue, which is available for both types of appliances.
The tumble dryers of a heat pump require a constant flow of air in order to work, therefore they must be located in an area which is well ventilated within your home. The vent hose must be permanently connected to the appliance, and routed securely outside your home.
Condenser tumble dryer however, does not require the permanent connection to a vent and can be placed anywhere in your home. It collects the vapour left behind and water in a container that can be manually empty or connected to a drain by a drainage tube which will automatically empty it.
It’s possible to turn a vented tumble dryer into a condenser model by using a conversion kit, but this will invalidate the manufacturer warranty and should only be carried out by a certified professional. The kits come with the components required to install a vent and a small water pump to remove the condensation, so they’re not inexpensive.
Maintenance
A tumbler with a heat pump is different from condenser or vented models because it doesn’t require venting externally to draw out the hot air. Instead, the warm air that is passing through your clothes is extracted and collected inside the appliance and then pushed through a condenser to separate the hot water from the cold air and store it in a tank (sometimes called a reservoir) inside the machine. This means you’ll have to empty the tank at some time, but it also allows you to store the dryer in smaller spaces than if you had to install a vent for the dryer.
Comparatively to vented models, the heat pump model uses around 50 percent less energy. This makes it much cheaper to run, saving you an average of PS42-PS51 each year according to Which?, and is also more sustainable for the environment. However, it’s not a cheap tumble dryer to buy and you must make sure you can afford the initial cost.
A tumble dryer with a heat pump requires very little maintenance other than cleaning the lint filters and checking for fluff on the heater unit from time to time. You’ll need to clean your drains of condensation more frequently and it takes longer to dry your clothes than vented dryers.
Look into a sensor-controlled tumbler if you’re looking for an affordable model. It will shut down the machine immediately when your laundry is finished, preventing over-drying and damaging your clothes. However, you’ll need to manually program the drying cycle, and this can be a challenge in the event that you have many different clothes in your wardrobe.
You can find a range of tumble dryers from brands such as Beko and John Lewis which use condenser, heat pump or vented technologies. They all come with a two-year warranty and John Lewis has excellent customer reviews and free delivery to homes. It is important to read the warranty information carefully before you purchase an appliance, particularly an electrical appliance like a tumbler to ensure that you’re covered in the event of breakdowns or faults.