Heat pump tumble driers versus condensing driers

RHemmings

Is it true that heat pump tumble driers only use 1/3 the energy of a conventional condensing tumble drier?

System

RHemmings wrote: »

Is it true that heat pump tumble driers only use 1/3 the energy of a conventional condensing tumble drier?

From Expert Reviews April 2018:


However, it’s not all sweetness and light: you'll need to weigh up the extra cost of the machine against the electricity savings made. Some experts have calculated that it could take up to 11 years of ownership before a heat pump dryer equals the cost of a cheaper condenser or vented machine. But perhaps the biggest argument against heat pump dryers is that they operate at lower temperatures and therefore take much longer to dry your clothes. Also, they will not operate properly in ambient temperatures less than 10!!!730;C, so you can rule out installing one in an outhouse or garage, especially if you plan on using it during a typical UK winter.

stator

Compared to a vented dryer I believe the saving is only 50%.
So compared to a condensing dryer it's going to be less than that

Grenage

We're big fans of the condensers. As a bonus the heat that isn't recycled goes into the room rather than the outside, which is handy in winter.

getmore4less

We have ours in the attached unheated garage and it works all year round fine.

Who cares how long it takes if you plan properly.
They all take the same time to load and unload, you go do something else when it is doing it's job).
If you have a habit of washing and drying stuff 10 mins before you go out forget it.


If you have an efficient washer spin a full load takes about 2hr to dry.
(faster than the specs say as they use a wetter starting point).

Get the timing on price right and a 5 year warranty and it will pay for itself if you do enough loads.

The annual cost is based on 160 drying cycles with a mix of full and partial loads.

A decent 8kg HP dryer will be about 230kwh or better

standard 8kg condenser will be around 560kwh.

single full loads 1.7kwh/4.7kwh

it does vary by model, brand and price, there is a new HP going into some models that is more efficient some under 175kwh for a 8kg.


Also watch the condensing efficiency % better means less moisture going into the room, you want over 90%.

read the full specs and manuals of a few machines to help narrow down features you really need.

use pricespy to check pricing specs, they change a lot so if you only look once or twice you may miss the real low prices.

getmore4less

Another major plus is there are no heating elements so they are much safer than those that let fluff onto their heating elements.


I just noticed that Grundig(Beko+ with 5y warranty) do a hybrid GTN38267 A+++ that can dry quicker than a standard Heatpump.
I got the GTN38250 A++ when it was closer to £400

Beco also have A+++ hybrid options.

You can tell a heap pump as their max power is <1kw a hybrid/heater one will be >2kw

travellerboy

Anything other than the straight forward VENTED tumble drier is a bad choice as far as I'm concerned. Recirculating the fluff is dangerous and after time if it doesn't catch fire it smells like hell.

EssexExile

travellerboy wrote: »

Anything other than the straight forward VENTED tumble drier is a bad choice as far as I'm concerned. Recirculating the fluff is dangerous and after time if it doesn't catch fire it smells like hell.

Vented dryers collect fluff around the heater just as well as any other dryers. But, yes I have a vented dryer, everything else just over-complicates a simple machine. Mine's coming up to 30 years old.

getmore4less

Heat pump technology is well established also been used in domestic products for over 100 years

should be possible to build robust products at a good price point.

using electric heater elements to heat air to evaporate water and then blow it out is very inefficient.

the equivalent of sticking a fan heater pointing out the open window.


The hybrid condensers are looking good at overcoming some of the issues that put people of the heat pump options.

with a sealed system they could introduce vacuum tech to improve the evaporation rates and cycle times, no sure if that could also improve efficiency.


vented is not an option for many people.

With a HP only needing 1kw power source and no drainage there are far more positioning options and the potential for alternative power sources.

owen_money

I have a heat pump drier, on the plus side it uses less energy, fantastic for the planet, has a lot of settings, its quiet and looks great. On the downside it takes ages to do a cycle.

It probably was expensive, I cant remember, but as a high earner its a couple of hours wages so no real problem

getmore4less

The differentials have got lower so payback for a heavy user can be quite quick but you need to analyse your use cases and the difference in cycle costs.

it is easy to make payback look high if comparing a cheap condenser with an expensive HP.
When you look at the same features set within a brand for each tech, vented/condenser/HP/hybrid/gas if available you get a better picture.