Heat pump tumble dryer

JohnB47

Only my shirts and cotton hankies are ironed in this house and I do those. The missus doesn't iron any of her clothes.

Even with a tumble dry, my shirts still need an iron. 

jadey2024

I have a question regarding heat pump dryers for those who use them and may have similar room temps to mine.
Would they work in a cold kitchen? Around 12-14 degrees at this time of year? I have no heating in my kitchen. My flat is all electric and some are panel heaters not on really during on peak through day so the flat isn't super warm all over.

I've not had a tumble dryer before and trying to decide what is best. I still dry outside when i can but getting difficult now my flat too small for clothes horses about in way. I'm on E7 so my on peak is pretty high so leaning towards heat pump but heard they don't function as efficiently in colder room temps and will take longer than normal to dry on top of their already longer drying times.

mmmmikey

jadey2024 said:

I have a question regarding heat pump dryers for those who use them and may have similar room temps to mine.
Would they work in a cold kitchen? Around 12-14 degrees at this time of year? I have no heating in my kitchen. My flat is all electric and some are panel heaters not on really during on peak through day so the flat isn't super warm all over.

I've not had a tumble dryer before and trying to decide what is best. I still dry outside when i can but getting difficult now my flat too small for clothes horses about in way. I'm on E7 so my on peak is pretty high so leaning towards heat pump but heard they don't function as efficiently in colder room temps and will take longer than normal to dry on top of their already longer drying times.

Hi - my kitchen is normally about 16 degrees overnight and it works fine at that temperature. Uses maybe 1kWh per load (but varies according to quantity and setting) so MUCH cheaper than a regular tumble drier. Took about 2 hours this morning to dry 3 large towels and some jeans to bone dry. Mine has a timer so you can make it come on when you want.

daveyjp

Our four year old AEG dryer has just killed itself and its off to the tip.  Always bought decent German brands, but it was terrible.

It cost about £600, but if its dead after 4 years any savings from lower electricty use were well wiped out,  I won't shed a tear as it was very poor at its principal job and each load took hours.

So glad to be back to a cheapie condenser, which are much improved from the one we had for 12 years.   First load took about 45 minutes to dry.

Alnat1

@jadey2024 That temperature will be fine for a heat pump tumble dryer. A garage or shed might get too cold in mid winter but your kitchen will be OK

jadey2024

mmmmikey said:

jadey2024 said:

I have a question regarding heat pump dryers for those who use them and may have similar room temps to mine.
Would they work in a cold kitchen? Around 12-14 degrees at this time of year? I have no heating in my kitchen. My flat is all electric and some are panel heaters not on really during on peak through day so the flat isn't super warm all over.

I've not had a tumble dryer before and trying to decide what is best. I still dry outside when i can but getting difficult now my flat too small for clothes horses about in way. I'm on E7 so my on peak is pretty high so leaning towards heat pump but heard they don't function as efficiently in colder room temps and will take longer than normal to dry on top of their already longer drying times.

Hi - my kitchen is normally about 16 degrees overnight and it works fine at that temperature. Uses maybe 1kWh per load (but varies according to quantity and setting) so MUCH cheaper than a regular tumble drier. Took about 2 hours this morning to dry 3 large towels and some jeans to bone dry. Mine has a timer so you can make it come on when you want.

Thank you. I guess it would be something I could use during on peak without too much of a money dent then. It was one of the reasons I've done so long without other type tumbles in general as I didn't want them running during night on my cheap off peak rate unattended and certainly not on my on peak. 

jadey2024

daveyjp said:

Our four year old AEG dryer has just killed itself and its off to the tip.  Always bought decent German brands, but it was terrible.

It cost about £600, but if its dead after 4 years any savings from lower electricty use were well wiped out,  I won't shed a tear as it was very poor at its principal job and each load took hours.

So glad to be back to a cheapie condenser, which are much improved from the one we had for 12 years.   First load took about 45 minutes to dry.

How much kwh did it use a cycle? It would probably only be worthwhile for me if condensers use a lot of kwh to have on during off peak but then it is unsafe unattended too during sleep. Such a dilemma. 

jadey2024

mmmmikey said:

jadey2024 said:

I have a question regarding heat pump dryers for those who use them and may have similar room temps to mine.
Would they work in a cold kitchen? Around 12-14 degrees at this time of year? I have no heating in my kitchen. My flat is all electric and some are panel heaters not on really during on peak through day so the flat isn't super warm all over.

I've not had a tumble dryer before and trying to decide what is best. I still dry outside when i can but getting difficult now my flat too small for clothes horses about in way. I'm on E7 so my on peak is pretty high so leaning towards heat pump but heard they don't function as efficiently in colder room temps and will take longer than normal to dry on top of their already longer drying times.

Hi - my kitchen is normally about 16 degrees overnight and it works fine at that temperature. Uses maybe 1kWh per load (but varies according to quantity and setting) so MUCH cheaper than a regular tumble drier. Took about 2 hours this morning to dry 3 large towels and some jeans to bone dry. Mine has a timer so you can make it come on when you want.

I forgot to ask, does your clothes come out completely dry? As I've seen some reviews from people saying their clothes still come out damp but maybe they are just not using the correct programs. 

Rattusnorvegicus

Its probably more to do with a heat pump being kinder on your clothes and not cooking them.

I put my duvet straight on the bed after it comes out the dryer, and its nice and warm.

The tricks to a heat pump is to use a dry towel in with the wet washing, and to try and keep it filled with clothes.

Example.. if i wash then tumble the duvet, then the bedding, then a clothes wash... by keeping it hot and running its really efficient , i get less than 200 watts power draw when its running at peak.. its the getting started from cold that causes the 800 watt draw... but compared to the heater in the box that risks burning down your home types , its still incredibly efficient.

My neighbour always asks me how i can afford to tumble dry for 9 hours on a weekend.... and the answers simple... it currently costs me about a £1 for the day cos i keep it running hot without opening the door.

If you want bone dry pick extra dry cos your a traditional TD person that likes cooked clothes, cupboard dry needs a hanging up for 10 minutes often, and eco mode when i'm not in a hurry.

Its also really important to pick the right mode e.g. if your drying synthetics use synthetics, and if your TDing a duvet use duvet etc.

It makes a difference to amount of spinning , and heat.

My synthetics TD doesnt get hot, but spins alot... whereas cotton towels get very hot, and dont spin so much.

Also pay good attention to loads... stuffing everything in isnt the best strategy. My TD is 10kg but only cottons can be loaded with 10kg... jeans is 4kg, and most others are 5kg...gentle care is 2kg

Its a bit of an art form getting the most out of it. The last thing is always clean the filter, and the heat pump filter after each use.

Theres alot of fluff that comes off cottons, so my towel wash usually goes in last, and the duvet first.

Hope it helps jadey

Rattusnorvegicus

and one last thought for the day... i bought my heat pump dryer BECAUSE it doesnt have a heater. I wanted something that was safer to use , and wouldnt burn down my flat. No heating element = alot less risk of extra dry fluff sparking a fire.