Heat pump tumble dryers are much more energy efficient than other types of machine, which means they're kinder on your wallet and the environment. These machines use up to 60% less electricity than a conventional condenser or vented tumble dryer while still being able to deliver the same performance.
They're cheaper to run.
You can expect to pay far less on your electricity bills when you have a heat pump tumble dryer instead of a condenser or vented tumble dryer. This is because the heat pump technology recycles warm air, instead of constantly heating it from scratch.
The energy savings vary by size, manufacturer, and other variables, but some models are up to 95% more efficient than similar models released 20 years ago. The age of your machine may have a bigger impact on energy use than its power source! Comparing modern dryers, however, things are a little more complicated.
For even more savings, consider ENERGY STAR certified heat pump dryers - they use almost 30% less energy than a conventional clothes dryers. Consumers with high clothes dryer usage and high electricity rates have the potential for large energy and cost savings.
Your average 9kg vented tumble dryer will use around 5.30 kWh for a full load cycle. Using your dryer two times a week will give you an average annual usage of 636 kWh – which translates to £1.54 for each cycle and £184.44 a year. Your average 9kg condenser tumble dryer will use around 5.2 kWh for a full load cycle.
Do dryers use a lot of power? Yes, though they do so over a shorter period of time than many other popular appliances. For example, let's compare your dryer to your TV, which (if relatively new) will use between 100-300 watts. Your TV could cost you a tenth of what your dryer costs you in the same period.
Some of the most common reasons include overloading the dryer, power sources issues, clothes being too wet, a dirty dryer lint screen, clogged dryer vents, or possible part malfunctions.
Heat Pump Tumble Dryers
Heat Pump dryers are said to be the most energy-efficient dryers, as they do not require a lot of electricity. Like condenser dryers, these dryers also have an energy rating between A+++ to B. Both a heat pump tumble dryer and a condenser dryer are designed to dry clothing efficiently.
Using lower temperature settings may mean it takes a bit longer for your clothes to dry, but it also uses less energy. Opting for these settings can contribute to significant energy savings over time. Consider using dryer balls.
If you're looking for a washer and dryer that will last a long time, Samsung is right up there with LG and Whirlpool in terms of longevity. Like Maytag, Samsung appliances typically require fewer repairs.
The reality is as appliances age, their overall energy efficiency can drop significantly due to aging parts, malfunctioning controlling devices, bad seals, and other components. For instance, a bad thermostat on a dryer will cause it to continue drying even when clothes are dry.
If you run a 3,000 W clothes dryer once a week, that's 3 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per week, 13 kWh per month, and 156 kWh per year. Running that same dryer three times a week comes to 9 kWh per week, 39 kWh per month, and 468 kWh per year.
The average life expectancy of a dryer is around 10-13 years. And no matter how great your clothes dryer is, all appliances will wear down eventually. Many are curious as to when to replace the dryer. If your dryer has been around for nearly a decade, you will likely search for a replacement soon.
As with most machines and devices, the older a dryer gets the less efficient it becomes. The majority of clothes dryers that are in use are between 2-9 years old. Dryers are typically somewhere in the range of 2,000 to 6,000 watts. What that means is a dryer uses between 2 and 6 kilowatts an hour.
Energy use
We've previously found condenser dryers to not be very energy efficient. Along with older vented varieties, they use around three times more energy to dry a load than their heat pump counterparts. This means vented and condenser dryers cost more to run in the long term than a heat pump.
How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer for an hour? According to Heatable, a 2500W tumble dryer costs about 85p to use for an hour. However, the tumble dryer cost per hour depends on the energy efficiency rating of your tumble dryer and the cost of energy at the time.
Old dryers often have a C energy label or even a D energy label, which use a lot of energy. Since 2020, new dryers need to have at least a B energy label. With a new heat pump dryer with an A+++ energy label, you'll save the most on your energy bill.
Heat pump tumble dryers are one of the best types of tumble dryers on the market today. They're more energy efficient and cheaper to run, kinder to the environment, and provide better protection for your clothes. You can place them anywhere you like in your home with no issues.
We've already established that overnight is the cheapest time to do your laundry. However, that's not the only factor to consider. Most people sleep overnight.
The >Energy Saving Trust tells us that a tumble dryer uses roughly 4.5 kWh per cycle on average and that, as of April 2022, the average cost for electricity in the UK is 28.3p per kWh. Working on those averages, a tumble dryer would cost you £1.27 per cycle, or £132.44 a year if you use your tumble dryer twice a week.
Tumble dryers at the affordable end are less energy efficient, so could cost you more in the long-run. Heat pump tumble dryers are more expensive up-front, but don't require so much electricity to generate heat, making them more energy efficient and cheaper in the long-run.
If you notice dry times are slower, or your clothes remain damp after a cycle, make sure your lint screen is clean and that the vent hose behind your dryer isn't crushed. Keep in mind that larger laundry loads can take longer to dry, depending on the size of your dryer.
While tumble dryers can pose a small risk of shrinking garments, by understanding how shrinkage happens and implementing preventative measures, you can begin to use your dryer without fear of ruining your clothes!
Quicker spin speeds mean greater water extraction, for a shorter cycle time and faster drying time in the commercial tumble dryer.