Finding the best heat pump tumble dryer for your home can be a confusing experience. There are many things to consider, such as space, features, and where you will put it. Furthermore, you want to ensure that what you purchase fits your needs and will last as buying a heat pump tumble dryer is an investment.
How Do I Know Which Dryer is Best for Me?
To know which dryer is best, you need to know what is available and what makes each different.
Condenser dryers cause hot vapor to condense into droplets of water that then travel to a removable collection tank which you need to empty manually. While they are more expensive than vented dryers, they are easier to install.
Aside from emptying the collection tank, another disadvantage is that moisture will escape the machine, increasing the humidity in the room. Walls may eventually show signs of condensation similar to a hot bath or shower.
Vented dryers, on the other hand, are practical and more affordable. They allow moist, hot air to escape through a four-inch vent hole. Water will not have to be drained or emptied, and the walls in the laundry room are drier.
However, the machine needs to go against the outside wall with a nearby power outlet.
Meanwhile, the heat pump tumble dryer is very energy efficient. While the upfront cost of the unit tends to be more expensive, you quickly save on energy costs each month which makes up for this. These dryers reduce energy bills by up to 50%.
These dryers pass moist air, which collects while drying through the evaporator, removing moisture before reusing the same air for the rest of the drying time. It ports condensed air to the collection tank, which will need emptying.
Heat pump tumble dryers do operate at lower temperatures. So, while they will increase the lifespan of your clothes and reduce shrinkage, it does take longer for a load to dry. However, compared to line drying, it is much faster.
Additionally, these dryers will not operate in temperatures below 10°C. Installing it in a garage or outbuilding may not be the wisest idea.
However, due to their compact design, they are great for small spaces and tiny homes.
How Does Sensor Drying Work?
Most dryers come equipped with sensor drying features. These sensors estimate the moisture level in the clothing. When it detects the clothes are “iron” dry, the cycle ends. These sensors decrease energy costs as the dryer switches off when the load is dry.
Non-sensor or timed dry cycles keep going until the time is completed. While this may leave your clothes completely dry, they can damage the fabric by over-drying.
Things to Consider
Select a dryer with the same capacity as the washing machine. Capacity is the dry weight of clothes you can place inside the drum. Most sizes of drums range between 6kg-10kg. However, bigger tends to be better as the added space at the top provides better air circulation, making drying clothes more efficient.
Also, you can dry larger items more easily, such as comforters, duvets, etc.
Look at the energy ratings as well. Machines that are cheaper to run tend to cost less over long-term use. Energy ratings are a good way to compare models. They will allow you to contrast drying capacity, energy efficiency, and noise levels.
The Best Heat Pump Tumble Dryers
When considering which models are the best, you need to look at energy efficiency, load capacity, size, and features. Select one based on your needs and the average size of your laundry. You may also want to consider buying a larger capacity if you have king/queen-sized duvet covers, large comforters, or any item that may require a longer drying time.
The Samsung Series 5 has an OptimalDry feature that adjusts the drying time of your clothing, meaning that you waste less energy drying clothes. It has a quick-dry feature and a 2-in-1 filter system. This filter optimizes the performance of the dryer by collecting fluff. The heat exchanger requires cleaning less often due to this feature. It will additionally remind you when to do it.
- Dimensions (cm): 60 x 60 x 85
- Energy efficiency: A+++
- 8 kg capacity
- Freestanding installation
- Front-load
- None
Most users really enjoy this dryer. They like that it is quiet, the window doesn’t steam up, it is musical, and it does an exceptional job.
With this dryer, you receive 16 drying programs, an A++ energy rating, and excellent drying. It is a very modern-looking dryer, and clothes are dried extremely well.
The large drum on this dryer allows clothes you to add and remove clothes easily.
- Energy efficient
- Dimensions (cm)- 84.5 (h) x 59.5 (w) x 65(d)
- 9 kg capacity loader
- Drying sensor
- Start delay
- Antibacterial treatment (hygienic dry for those with allergies or skin conditions)
- Jeans programme for denim
- Slower dry time
- Collection drawer is a bit flimsy
This dryer has 11 drying programmes and is rated A++ for energy efficiency. It is a freestanding tumble dryer.
It has the OKOFlow filter system that is easy to clean and reach. While most heat pump dryers have a couple of filters to clean, this only has one. AEG dryers have improved airflow, which allows them to dry faster and more efficiently than the competition.
If you are concerned that a shortened dry cycle will affect your clothes, this is not the case. The SensiDry technology removes moisture from fabrics at half the temperature and doesn’t extend drying time. Fabrics are never overheated, and texture consistently stays the same.
The ProTex gentle drum has a gentle, efficient airflow. Clothes have additional room to dry, have fewer wrinkles, and won’t tangle as easily. The ProSense technology uses sensors and advanced humidity to adjust the time to dry and energy according to the load size. It automatically weighs the load and adjusts the dry time.
- Front-load
- Dimensions (cm): 63.8 x 59.6 x 85
- 8 kg capacity
- Quicker to dry clothing
- Cycles sometimes end before load is fully dry
Bosch is known for making exceptional dryers. This one is known for efficient drying and ranks A+++ in terms of energy efficiency. It has an LED display that is easy to use and has additional features like time remaining and delayed start.
The sensitive drying system generates an even, soft dry and will not cause creases in your clothes. The AutoDry feature will gently dry the clothes to your desired dryness.
The EasyClean feature allows your clothes to dry quickly with easy cleaning the condenser filter afterward.
It dries clothes using warm, mild air from all sides of the drum and mixes clothes with soft, curving carriers. With its anti-vibration feature, this dryer is very quiet and stable.
- Dimensions (cm): 59.9 x 59.8 x 84.2
- 8 kg capacity
- Freestanding dryer
- Front-load
- Connector is water line and drain
- None
The Candy RO has a sensor dry which automatically stops the machine when the load is dry. It can connect to the Candy Simply WiFi app as well, allowing you to check on energy consumption, receive alerts and view the status of your dryer at a glance.
With Rapid Dry Options, the drying cycle completes in a shorter duration. Heat Pump drying allows you to receive the best energy-efficient way of drying clothes.
EasyCase lets you see when you need to empty the condensed water, making it easy to transport and remove. The handle has a great grip, and the shape makes it self-balancing, eliminating spills.
- Dimensions (cm): 60 x 60 x 85
- 9 kg capacity
- Freestanding installation
- Front-load
- Waterline and drain connector
- App doesn’t always work well
- Longer dry time
The intuitive technology with the Whirlpool FTM11 provides great results while decreasing energy consumption. The heat pump works at a lower temperature over other dryers taking extra care of delicate clothing.
Jeans program dries clothes that are denser more efficiently.
- Dimensions (cm): 64.9 x 59.5 x 84.9
- Energy efficiency: A++
- 8 or 9 kg capacity
- Freestanding installation
- Front-load
- Waterline and drain connector
- Breaks down too quickly
When looking for the best heat pump tumble dryer, consider first what features you require. If you want something that will dry clothes as quickly as traditional models, then you may end up spending a bit more but will be happier with the selection.
Many models have their own brand of dry sensors that detect the number of clothes in the load and adjust accordingly, so you save on energy consumption and your clothes last longer.
Some have a quick-dry feature for touch-ups or when you need clothes in a hurry. Others connect to your smartphone, enabling you to see alerts and how much energy your appliance consumes.
While all of these features are great, what really matters is how much energy it consumes and whether it does a good job drying your clothes. Some of these brands have been around for a long time and have a good reputation. These are the ones you may want to consider when making your final selection.