Deciding On A Dryer

There are many considerable factors when deciding on the best appliances to suit your needs and lifestyle. Tumble dryers are a long-term investment, and it is therefore important to choose the right one. We understand that the many factors can make it seem impossible to select one, but we are here to help clarify for you.

Vented, Condensed or Heat Pump Tumble Dryers

Vented Tumble Dryers: Vented tumble dryers use the air around themselves to dry your clothes. The appliance heats this air in order to dry your clothes. Once this is finished, the water that has been extracted from your clothes is vented through a hose at the back of the machine- thus where the name ‘vented tumble ern dryer’ comes from. This means that the machine needs to be placed near an external wall so that the hose can pass through a fitted vent, and the water can go outside. This may not be suitable for smaller and more compact living conditions. That being said, due to the fact that the water is placed outside, this type of appliance is ideal for environments that are prone to moisture-damage.Vented tumble dryers are also quicker at drying clothes than condenser tumble dryers. This may suit larger households or busy families who wish to save time. The shorter drying time means that vented dryers generally don’t use a lot of electricity as well. This can keep the long-term operating costs down.

Condenser Tumble Dryers: Condenser tumble dryers dry clothes by separating the water from the damp air that circulates inside the machine. The water is deposited into an isolated reservoir. This reservoir can be emptied after the cycle is finished. This means that the machine does not need to be installed next to an external wall. It can be kept anywhere, which may be suitable for smaller living arrangements, however, it is recommended that the area you choose should be well-ventilated in order to prevent the growth of mould. Condenser tumble dryers use slightly less electricity than vented tumble dryers, but due to their longer running times, this does not make a significant difference.

Heat Pump Tumble Dryers: Heat pump dryers such as the Bosch, Self-Cleaning 8kg Heat Pump Dryer, require far less energy to dry your clothes. These appliances use a heat pump (as per the title) which quickly cools the warm air as it leaves the drum of the machine. Similar to the condenser tumble dryers, this moisture is brought to a reservoir container. However, unlike the condenser dryer, this air is reheated and passed back into the drum to continue drying the clothes. This use of recycled air makes for a more energy-efficient drying process. They are slower than vented or condensed dryers, as they do not reach the same high temperatures, but are much more environmentally friendly than either of the traditional dryers.

Sensor Dry

If a tumble dryer as a sensor dry feature, this means that the appliance has sensors that can monitor the moisture levels and load weight. The dryer then adjusts the running time to suit that particular load. This is a very useful feature to ensure that your clothes are dry, but that the machine is not running for longer than needed to do so.

Reverse Action Drum

Not a fan of ironing? Well then you may want a dryer with a reverse action drum. This component means that the direction of the drum’s rotation switches throughout the cycle. The result is that your clothes come out evenly dried and are less creased, making the job of ironing a lot easier and quicker.

Child Lock

Have you got little ones (or not-so-little ones) who might open the door or tamper with the settings while your clothes are drying? If so, you might want to consider keeping an eye out for this feature. Some tumble dryers include door locks and control panel locks. This greatly reduces the chances of your drying cycle from being changed or interrupted prematurely.

Energy Ratings

Perhaps, the most discussed thing to consider on this list are the energy ratings. This is something to watch out for when purchasing any electrical appliance. Energy ratings are there to help make decisions based of the eco-friendliness and long-term running cost of the product. Appliances that are A+++ are very energy-efficient, while G-rated appliances use a lot of energy to run. These ratings are becoming increasingly important as the conversation surrounding global warming continues. Tumble dryers are traditionally one of the least eco-friendly appliances, however, the heat pump technology is improving these ratings greatly.

There are lots of other features that can come with your tumble dryer, however we feel that these are the most useful ones to keep an eye out for. Now that you have a better idea of what kind of tumble dryer you think would be best for your home, why not have a look at our range at Appliances Delivered? If you would like to receive similar tuble dryer content, including buying guides, then subscribe to our Appliances Delivered email newsletter to receive updates on our new blogs! You can also check out our Facebook and Instagram, where we post regular content.