Heat Pump Tumble Dryers

Heat pump tumble dryers reuse the hot air that they use to dry your clothes, instead of venting it to the outside. This is a cost-effective solution for your household as it conserves energy.

John Lewis has a range of tumble dryers, including both vented and condenser models and heat pump tumble dryers. Learn more about the options in our guide to tumble dryers.

Cost

Tumble dryers are excellent for eliminating the need to hang laundry outside in the sun, and also for saving space when it comes to storage, but they also tend to use quite a lot of energy. If you want to reduce your energy bills, it might be worth switching to a heating-pump tumble dryer. They're more expensive at first, but they can save you money over time due to their lower energy consumption.

The heat pump tumble dryers function by heating the air that was already heated during the drying process and results in lower energy costs than condenser or vented models. This type of tumble-dryer uses less electricity than vented or condenser models, which can save you up to PS173 on your utility bills each year.

When you compare the cost of a pump tumble dryer with other types, the difference is usually not significant. However, it is important to keep in mind the amount of energy is being used and the frequency you'll use your tumble dryer. It is important to take into account the wattage of the dryer as well as your electricity tariff which will determine the amount you have to pay for each tumble dry.

Vented tumble dryers can be more expensive in the event of a tight budget. They utilize gas to dry your laundry, and they're powered by mains-gas. They are also less flexible in their installation locations because they need to be placed in a room with appropriate ventilation to get rid of the damp air.

Condenser dryers eliminate moisture from the laundry by transferring hot air into an additional condensing unit which is then converted into water. This water is then drained away, either into a removable container that must be emptied manually or be plugged into your drainage system to ensure continuous removal. This allows you to set up the system in various locations. However, you'll have to perform extra maintenance on the drain pipe.

Energy efficiency

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

They also use a coolant that disperses the humidity in the air and ejects it through the condenser, meaning they use less power to run than traditional vented models. The dryers may take a little longer to finish your laundry cycle compared to vented models, but your clothes will feel and look better for longer due to the lower temperatures.

Typically they'll cost you between $500 to $700 more upfront than condenser dryers but the extra cost is offset by the savings you'll make on your energy costs in the long term. They are also more expensive and require adequate ventilation.

As with all electrical appliances, it's essential that the installation of a tumble heatpump dryer (Get the facts) is completed by an experienced Gas Safe engineer. A vented dryer needs a long, flexible vent hose permanently connected to the appliance at one end and a drainage point at the other end - a drain, window or door. The hose is not shared or used in a manner that could cause damage.

As with heat pump dryers, a condenser dryer is a type of dryer that heats the air by using an electrical element before expelling the moisture through the condensation tray. They tend to be heavier-duty performers, with larger wet load capacities ranging between 6 and 10kg. They also are quieter to operate. However, they're more expensive than heat pump tumble dryers and aren't suitable for installations without an ongoing connection to the wall. The cost of running them is also higher than heat pump dryers since they generate more heat to evaporate the moisture in your laundry. They're also less efficient than vented models. However, they do still make use of a considerable amount of electricity when they turn the motor that rotates your laundry.

Noise

Tumble dryers generate plenty of noise however, the volume they emit depends on a number of factors. The decibel rating is just one of them, but the frequency of the noise will also affect how loud it is. The sound may also be amplified by resonant objects in the vicinity, such as cabinets, work surfaces or Heatpump Dryer furniture, and could be affected by the room's acoustics. The sound produced by your tumble dryer may be obstructed by carpets or another absorbent materials for acoustics.

Condenser and heat pump dryers are quieter than vented models, but it's important to keep in mind that they're still noisy. They're gentler on your fabrics, and dry your laundry less quickly due to lower air temperatures and a much longer cycle than traditional models. This means they're less damaging to your clothes and are less likely to cause loss of colour 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 with a washer machine both appliances must be placed near each other to prevent vibrations or noises during operation. To prevent this issue there is the washer and dryer stacking set is available for both types of appliances.

They require a constant flow of air in order to perform, and therefore should be placed in a location that is well-ventilated in your home. You'll need to make sure that the vent hose is connected to the appliance and that it's safely positioned outside of your house instead of being directed through a door or window.

The condenser dryer does not require a permanent connection to a vent, and can be put anywhere within your home. It collects the vapour and water leftover in a container that can be manually empty, or connected to a drain using the drainage pipe, which will automatically empty it.

Converting a vented tumble dryer into a condenser dryer is possible by using a conversion kit. However, this will affect the warranty provided by the manufacturer and should only by performed by a trained professional. The kits come with the components required to set up an air vent as well as a small water pump to eliminate the condensation, therefore they're not cheap.

Maintenance

A tumbler with a heat pump differs from condenser or vented models because it doesn't require external venting to extract the hot air. Instead, the warm air that is passing through your clothes is collected and absorbed inside the appliance itself and then it is pushed through a condenser that separates the hot water from the cold air and then store it in a tank (sometimes called a reservoir) inside the machine. This means you will need to empty the tank at some point but it also permits you to store the dryer in a smaller space than if you were to install a vent in the dryer.

The heat pump model is approximately 50 percent more energy efficient than vented models. According to Which?, it is also less expensive to run. You can save PS42-PS51 per year. It's a cheap tumble dryer to buy, and you should be sure to budget the initial costs.

In general, a heat pump tumble dryer needs minimal maintenance, other than cleaning the lint filter, and checking for any fluff around the heating unit now and again. You will have to clean your condensation drain more often and it takes longer to dry clothes than a vented dryer.

If you are looking for a low-cost tumble dryer, it might be worth looking into a sensor model that automatically stops when the laundry is done to prevent drying too long, which can cause damage to your clothes. You will need to manually program the drying cycle of your dryer in case you have a lot of different types of fabrics.

You can find a range of tumble dryers from brands such as Beko and John Lewis which use condenser, heat pumps or vented technology. All models come with a 2-year warranty and John Lewis has excellent customer reviews and free home delivery. It is important to read the warranty details thoroughly before you purchase an appliance, especially an electrical appliance such as a tumbler, to ensure you're covered in the event of faults or breakdowns.