Heat Pump Tumble Dryers

The tumble dryers of a heat pump make use of hot air to dry your clothing, instead of letting it out into the outdoors. This is a cost-effective solution for your household as it saves energy.

John Lewis offers a wide range of tumble dryers. They offer heated and vented models. Learn more about the options in our guide to tumble dryers.

Cost

Tumble dryers are great for reducing the need to hang laundry in the sun, and also for saving space for storage, but they also tend to use quite lots of energy. If you are looking to cut down on your energy bills you might want to trying the use of a heat pump tumbler. Although these machines have a higher initial cost, they will save you money over the long term thanks to their lower energy consumption.

They work by heating the air that has already been warmed during the drying cycle which results in lower energy costs than condenser models vented or vented. This type of tumble dryer typically uses about half the electricity as a vented or condenser model, and as such can save you as much as PS173 per year on your utility bills.

When comparing heat tumble dryers with pumps versus other types, there's usually a negligible price difference. But, it's important to keep in mind the amount of energy is being used and how frequently you'll use your tumble dryer. It is important to consider the wattage and your electricity tariff when calculating how much each tumble dryer will cost.

Vented tumble dryers can be more expensive in the event of a tight budget. They utilize gas to dry your laundry and they are powered by mains gas. The installation options are restricted because they have to be installed in a space that has adequate ventilation for the damp air.

Condenser dryers eliminate moisture from the laundry by transferring hot air into an individual condensing unit where it's converted to water. This water can be removed into a container that has to be manually empty or piped into your drainage system to remove it continuously. This permits you to place the system in various locations. However, you will have to perform extra maintenance on the drain pipe.

Energy efficiency

A tumble dryer heat-pump will help you save money on your energy costs. The technology uses less energy to heat the air inside the tumble dryer. This lets it dry clothes more efficiently and at lower temperatures than vented models.

They also employ a cooling agent that disperses the humidity in the air and then ejects it out through the condenser, meaning they require less power to run than traditional vented dryers. They might take a bit longer to complete your laundry cycle than vented dryers however your clothes will remain looking and more comfortable longer because of the lower temperatures for drying.

They cost an extra $500 to $700 up front however the energy savings could easily cover this. They're also more expensive and require adequate ventilation.

Like all electrical appliances, it's crucial that the installation of a tumble dryer is completed by a Gas Safe engineer. Ventilated dryers require a flexible, long vent hose that is permanently connected to the appliance at one end and a drainage hole at the other - the drain or window. This hose cannot be shared or used in a way that could cause damage.

Condenser dryers function similarly similar to heat pump dryers. They use an electric element to heat the air and then expel the moisture via a condensation tray. They're usually heavy-duty dryers with higher wet load capacities, ranging from 6kg to 10kg. They also operate more quietly. However, they're more expensive than heat pump tumble dryers to buy and aren't appropriate for installations that do not have an ongoing connection to the wall. They're also more expensive to operate than heat pump dryers since they need to generate lots of heat to remove the water from your laundry. They also are not as efficient as vented models. They still require electricity to turn the motor which rotates your laundry.

Noise

The noise generated by tumble dryers can be very loud, but the volume depends on several variables. The decibel rating is just one of them, but the frequency of the noise will affect how loud it is. The sound can also be amplified by nearby resonant objects such as cabinets, Tumble Dryers With Heat Pump work surfaces or furniture, and may be affected by the room's acoustics. The sound of the tumble dryer could be slowed by acoustic absorbent materials such as carpets, or it can be drowned out by other appliances in your home.

Condenser and heat pump models are quieter than vented dryers, but they are still noisy. They are more gentle on your clothes and dry your laundry more slowly with lower air temperatures. They also have longer cycles. This means that they're less damaging to your clothes and are less likely to cause the loss of colour often associated with high temperature, old fashioned tumble dryers.

If you're planning to use your tumble dryer mostly together with washing machine it is important to remember that both appliances need to be placed in close proximity each other to prevent the noise and Tumble Dryers With Heat Pump vibrations that occur when they are in use. A washer and dryer stacking kit is available to prevent this problem, and can be bought for all types of appliances.

A heat pump tumble dryer requires an uninterrupted flow of air to function, which is why it's best to put it in a well-ventilated space in your home. The vent hose must be permanently connected to the appliance and then routed safely to the outside of your home.

The condenser tumbler, however isn't requiring a permanent connection to a vent and can be installed anywhere in your home. It stores the vapour and water into a condensation container that is either manually empty or connected to a drain via the drainage tube that will automatically empty it.

It is possible to convert a vented tumbler into a condenser model using a conversion kit, but this could void the manufacturer's warranty and must be performed by a certified professional. These kits include the parts required to install a vent and a small water pump to remove the condensation, therefore they're not inexpensive.

Maintenance

Heat pump Tumble dryers With heat Pump dryers work differently from vented or condenser machines as they don't require venting outside in order to extract hot air. The warm air that passes through your clothes is captured and then run through a condenser that is able to separate the hot water from the cold air. It is then collected in a water reservoir (sometimes called a tank) inside the appliance. This means you will need to empty the water tank at some time but it also permits you to store the dryer in smaller spaces than if you were to install a vent in the dryer.

Comparatively to vented models, the heat pump model uses around 50% less energy. According to Which? it is also more economical to run. You can save PS42-PS51 per year. However, it's not a cheap tumble dryer to buy and you must make sure you can afford the upfront costs.

In general, a tumble dryer that is powered by a heat pump tumble dryer pump needs minimal maintenance, other than cleaning the lint filter, and checking for fluff around the heater unit each time. However, you need to clean the condensation drain frequently and it will take longer than a vented dryer to dry your clothes.

If you're looking for a tumble dryer that isn't expensive you might want to looking into an automatic model that stops when your laundry is finished to avoid drying too long, which can cause damage to your clothes. You'll need to manually programme your dryer's drying process if you have a lot of different clothes.

You can find a range of tumble dryers from brands such as Beko and John Lewis which use condenser, heat pump or vented technology. All come with a two-year warranty and John Lewis has excellent customer reviews and free delivery to homes. You should always check the warranty details thoroughly before purchasing an appliance, particularly one that is electrical like a tumbler to ensure you're covered in the event of faults or breakdowns.