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What are the differences between heat pump, vented and condenser tumble dryers?

There are three main types of tumble dryers: condenser tumble dryers, heat pump tumble dryers and vented tumble dryers. The main difference between these appliances is the way each model extracts hot air. Condenser dryers convert hot air into water, ready to be removed by the user, whereas vented dryers expel hot air through an external vent. Heat pump tumble dryers reuse the hot air they generate, keeping energy consumption to a minimum.

What is a condenser tumble dryer?

If you need a tumble dryer that dries your laundry slightly quicker, consider our range of condenser models. As with heat pump tumble dryers, condenser dryers do not need an externally vented hose, meaning you will be able to install your appliance anywhere in your home. However, a condenser dryer does need a constant supply of cool air to function. When installing your appliance, make sure you place the dryer in a well-ventilated room, where warm air can easily escape.

A condenser tumble dryer uses high temperatures to dry your clothes, reaching a maximum temperature of 70-75 °C. In comparison, the maximum temperature reached in a heat pump tumble dryer is 50 °C. Although the drying times for cycles in condenser tumble dryers are shorter than cycles in heat pump dryers, the high temperature combined with the expulsion of hot air means the appliance uses significantly more energy.

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What is a heat pump tumble dryer?

Using a closed-loop heat exchange system, heat pump tumble dryers dry clothes at a lower temperature, providing better protection for your laundry. Although drying times are slightly longer when compared to condenser tumble dryers, heat pump tumble dryers offer great energy savings, keeping your utility bills to a minimum. A heat pump tumble dryer uses hot air to absorb moisture from your clothes. After this air passes through the drum, it goes through the evaporator, which removes the moisture. This is then collected and stored in a tank. The remaining air is reheated and used to continue drying your clothes. While both condenser and vented tumble dryers release the hot air used to dry clothes, heat pump technology reuses it.

A selection of our heat pump tumble dryers feature our RapiDry™ technology that give you the option to dry your clothes on a shorter cycle, even when compared to condenser dryers, while still maintaining a high energy-efficiency. So, you can achieve perfectly dry clothes in less time.

Whilst the programmes on a heat pump dryer do take longer than standard condenser dryers, this can fit easily into the laundry day schedule.

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What is a vented tumble dryer?

If you are after great drying results on a budget, consider our range of vented tumble dryers. Unlike condenser dryers, which convert hot air into water, vented tumble dryers expel hot air through external vent. This keeps your utility bills to a minimum, as the appliance does not covert hot air into water; it simply expels the air from your home. Although vented tumble dryers are energy efficient, heat pump tumble dryers are the most energy-efficient dryers on the market.

When purchasing a vented tumble dryer, you must make sure that there is a suitable location in your house for the appliance. The dryer needs to be installed near an external vent that has been fitted into an external wall, allowing the damp air to escape outside. Thanks to the external vent, there is no need to worry about empting water from the machine.

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Is a heat pump tumble dryer better than a condenser dryer?

Both a heat pump tumble dryer and a condenser dryer are both designed to dry clothing efficiently. However, the main difference between the two is how they generate heat to do the job. A condenser, which is what a large portion of customers are used to, uses a heater element to generate heat, which dries clothing. When compared to a heat pump dryer, a condenser dryer can be costly and is less energy efficient.

Using a closed-loop heat exchange system, heat pump tumble dryers dry clothes at a lower temperature, keeping energy usage low and providing better protection for your laundry. While both condenser dryers and vented tumble dryers release the hot air used to dry clothes, heat pump technology conserves and reuses it. Using a lower temperature to dry clothes, a heat pump tumble dryer offers better protection for your clothes. Although it takes slightly longer to dry a load, compared to a standard condenser dryer, it can help to significantly reduce your energy consumption.

Check out our in-depth tumble dryer buying guide to find all the information you need on capacity, sizes, energy ratings and more. Alternatively, browse our range of tumble dryers here.

If you’ve already selected a tumble dryer, have you considered which washing machine would best suit your everyday washing needs? Explore our range of washing machines here.

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