Energy Efficient Heat Pump Washer Dryer

With the new federal incentives and impressive laboratory test results, the heat pump washer dryer is poised to become a household staple. These all-in-one units are quicker to wash and dry and are ventless, meaning they don't draw the conditioned air from your home to vent outdoors.

The clothes are also treated with less heat. Find out more about this exciting technology for laundry.

1. Saves Energy

Heat pumps aren't just for home heating and cooling They're now being used in clothes dryers too. A dryer made of heat that is ENERGY STAR certified uses 28% less electricity than a conventional dryer, which will save you money on your electric bill. They operate at less heat to minimize wear and tear and damage to your clothes.

During the drying cycle, heat pump dryers use the same air that's recycled by the washing machine, however it passes through a condenser unit in the evaporator unit in order to warm up and cool the air. The warm air is moved into the drum to continue drying clothes. This means that the heat pump dryer won't not have to exhaust the moist air like vented dryers.

It's worth making your appliances as energy-efficient as you can, because the process of washing clothes consumes a lot of energy. This can be accomplished by pairing a washer with a dryer that uses a heat pump. This will help you to maximize efficiency and save on energy costs as soon as you can.

Check out our selection of ENERGY SSTAR-certified dryers and washers to begin. You can sort results by model, energy consumption, wash cycles or spin speed. Be sure to examine the yellow Energy Guide Label to see how much each appliance will cost to run every year.

Combined washer-dryers are another excellent option for households that can't afford two separate units or don't have the space for heat pump Washer dryer them. These units connect to a standard 120-volt outlet and do not require a venting device or a special 240-volt hookup. They're perfect for apartments and condos, because they can be tucked away in a closet or underneath the counter.

2. Reduces Noise

The majority of traditional dryers for clothes use heat to dry the clothes using gas or electric coil. This helps to evaporate the moisture from your clothes. The vaporized air is then blown outside of your home, taking with it your conditioned air that you're paying to keep cool in the summer and warm in winter. Your home will need to work overtime to replace the lost conditioned heat by pulling replacement air through cracks and gaps between walls and doors.

The heat pump washer dryers transfer humidity from one location to another, instead of heating the air and venting it. This is great for homeowners who have houses that aren't big enough to accommodate additional air flow. It is also possible to install washer/dryer combos in areas that vented dryers might not be suitable like under the stairs. This will not impact the efficiency or energy efficiency.

All-in-one units have a number of advantages, but they also have some drawbacks. They take longer to complete their cycles than traditional dryers and washers, so it's important to allot plenty of time for each load. In addition the combination of two appliances into one reduces the amount of laundry you can do at once, as it takes about an hour longer for whites and colors to dry than in separate machines.

Thankfully, the majority of manufacturers are beginning to address these issues by offering simple solutions. For example LG's top-rated washer and dryer combo comes with the ability to prop the door slightly open while the machine is running to stop water from pooling and drying out of the drum. Many LG models such as our top pick, also have a small drain hole at the bottom of the laundry tub to let the water drain instead of pooling in the drum. You can also buy sound blankets that fit around your heat pump in order to minimize noise.

3. Reduces wear and tear

They don't heat the air unlike traditional dryers. They only remove moisture from clothing. This is more gentle on fabrics. This helps conserve energy since it does not have to waste energy to heat up the air for the drying process.

However, they do require a little more maintenance than standalone machines because the condensate drain pipe has to be cleaned on a regular basis to avoid blockages. This isn't much different from cleaning a conventional machine.

The most notable difference is that heat-pump tumble dryer washer-dryer combos do not vent, which means you can use them in a home without cutting through the wall exterior to run ductwork. This is a huge benefit for apartment dwellers, students, and others who don't want to alter their living spaces or spend additional money for an expensive new appliance.

The drying time of clothes dried by heat-pump dryers is slower than traditional models because they don't get nearly as hot. This has been one reason many people have been hesitant to adopt them, however manufacturers have improved their technology over time, and a heat-pump dryer on our best dryer list -- the LG Signature LUWM101HWA has typical drying times of 37 to 70 minutes.

The key to reducing drying time is not overdoing the detergent, which can create excessive suds, which can delay drying cycles and leaves an oily residue on clothing (readers send us emails frequently about this issue). Use the recommended amount high-efficiency detergents and make sure to clean the dispenser drawer frequently. This will ensure that the machine runs as efficiently as it can saving your energy and money.

4. Reduces Lint

A heat pump dryer makes use of less air to dry your clothes than a vented gas dryer or electric dryer. This is because it doesn't blast hot, humid air into your clothes, but instead draws air at room temperature around your clothes. The vapor is then heated by your washer and used to evaporate the moisture from your laundry.

Because of this efficiency that a heat pump washer dryer isn't as heavy as a traditional vented gas or electric dryer, but it still weighs around 88 pounds. This can be a big difference if you intend to put it on the wall or use it in a space that may not be big enough to accommodate a vent.

Lint build-up could be a problem for all dryers, however the reduced temperatures in a heat pump dryer limit the amount of lint that can block the exhaust and prevent your clothes from reaching their maximum drying potential. This reduces the possibility of a fire developing in your dryer or in its exhaust, which could occur when solvents and oils that are flammable from your laundry get into the dryer's vent or evaporator.

To reduce lint build-up Be sure to clean your dryer duct at least once a year (more often when you have children or pets). You can make use of a leaf blower or wire brush to get rid of any lint between the ridges of the hose that connects to the accordion. It's safer to clean this outside rather than inside.

Use a detergent that is low in sudsing and follow the guidelines of the manufacturer on how to set your water level to prevent drying out too much. Also, separate your laundry according to different types of fabric and wash delicates such as silk using heavy cottons or linens. This way, you won't overdye your delicates or shrink them too much. The sensors for moisture will have greater chance of notifying you when your laundry is fully dry to stop the cycle.

5. Space Savings

Since heat pump dryers reuse and reuse hot air, they require less energy than vented dryers. This means they can save you money in a variety of ways, not just in terms of costs for utilities, but also by cutting down on the amount of energy used to cool or heat your home.

This method is also gentler on fabrics, which reduces shrinkage and wear, which is a major benefit when dealing with expensive clothes. It also eliminates the need to clean vents that are blocked by lint, and also reduces the energy wasted by conventional dryers to heat the room air before entering the dryer. This helps reduce your heating bills.

Heat pump washer-dryer combinations are designed to fit into tiny spaces, like closets and kitchens. These all-in one machines just take only the space of a few inches greater than the most efficient vented washers. They're also ventless, so you can put them wherever you have water and an outlet with 120-volts.

They are also simple to use. All you need to do is select the dry and wash cycle that's appropriate for your needs and let them do their job. Then, simply take your clothes off when they're done.

These efficient, energy-efficient machines make it easier than ever to clean your laundry without breaking the budget. You can shop online or go to an Aztec Appliance showroom to find the right combination of washer and dryer that is a perfect fit for your home. We offer the best deals, promotions, rebates and financing specials to upgrade your laundry room. We're here to assist you in choosing the right heat pump dryer for you!