If you’re looking to buy a tumble dryer but want to keep your electricity bills as low as possible, a heat pump dryer could be a good choice.
Heat pump tumble dryers are still relatively new—heat pump technology was first used in Switzerland and Germany around 15 years ago.
Heat pump dryers remove the moisture from clothes by heating the air in the drum, and then the air is passed through an evaporator to remove the moisture. The resulting condensation is stored in a collection tank, and the warm, dry air is then reused to continue drying clothes.
Heat pump tumble dryers are much cheaper to run (around 50% cheaper than vented or condenser dryers) and are better for the environment due to using less energy, but until recently these appliances were expensive to buy.
Manufacturers are now starting to produce cheaper heat pump tumble dryers, but which are the best ones to buy based on both price and drying performance?
Best Heat Pump Tumble Dryers in the UK
1. Samsung Series 5+ OptimalDry™ DV80CGC0B0AE
Load capacity: 8 kg
Dimensions: 85 x 60 x 65 cm
Energy rating: A+++
Samsung is renowned for packing new, smart features into their household appliances, and this heat pump Series 5+ tumble dryer is no different.
With a smartphone, tablet or smart watch and the Samsung SmartThings app, this tumble dryer can be controlled from just about anywhere.
The Quick Dry 35′ programme can dry your laundry in just 35 minutes, which is really handy when your in a hurry.
At 8 kg, the capacity is more than enough for medium-sized households, and the sensors will automatically adjust all of the settings to avoid using unnecessary electricity.
The dryer has a sleek and modern design that we’ve all come to expect from Samsung. At 63 dB, this tumble dryer is pretty quiet too.
However, some people do find that it can be difficult to make the most out of this tumble dryer if you aren’t tech savvy.
2. LG V7 FDV709W
Load capacity: 9 kg
Dimensions: 85 x 60 x 65.6 cm
Energy rating: A++
This LG tumble dryer has just about every feature you can imagine, and you can control all of the features from your phone.
On a cold winter’s day, you could stick your pants in the tumble dryer the night before, turn the dryer on using the app in the morning, and they’ll be toasty before the kettle boils!
The EcoHybrid mode on this tumble dryer is what many are talking about, though. It allows you to choose whether you want to dry your clothes more quickly, which will use more energy, or dry them more slowly to save on energy bills.
It also has a dual inverter heat pump. That’s a fancy way of saying that this tumble dryer recycles the heat from the drying process. So, no energy is wasted, and your clothes dry faster.
LG has created a very exciting dryer here, and we believe we’ll start seeing this technology more and more in tumble dryers; it is the future of drying tech.
3. Candy Smart CSEH8A2LE
Load capacity: 8 kg
Dimensions: 85 x 60 x 60 cm
Energy rating: A++
Candy’s heat pump tumble dryer is an affordable alternative to some of the more expensive smart tumble dryers.
Like most modern heat pump tumble dryers, this Candy model uses sensors to determine when the laundry is dry, saving you money on your utility bills.
This heat pump tumble dryer proves to be incredibly easy to use, with both the lint filter and the condenser being easy to empty.
The Candy heat pump dryer is fairly quiet, though some people do find that it can take quite a long time to dry their laundry thoroughly.
Some users do also find that the smart connectivity is limited when compared to alternative appliances.
4. Beko SteamCure B3T48231DG
Load capacity: 8 kg
Dimensions: 84.6 x 59.7 x 54.3 cm
Energy rating: A++
If you’ve never had a tumble dryer or never know what setting to put your tumble dryer on so your clothes always come out wet, this tumble dryer will take the thinking out of drying your clothes once and for all.
It uses sensors to calculate the time it will take to dry your clothes. So, pop your wet clothes into the machine; it will give you a rough time and continuously update the time during the wash depending on how dry the clothes are getting.
This fantastic feature alone is well worth it. However, the 8 kg drum also makes this perfect for a family home.
With the clever sensor technology, everyone in the home can now dry clothes, even people who aren’t too tech-savvy.
5. Miele TEA225WP Freestanding Heat Pump Tumble Dryer
Load capacity: 7 kg
Dimensions: 85 x 59.6 x 60 cm
Energy rating: A++
Miele has really gone all out with this tumble dryer. The features and specs are way too much to cover here, so we urge some further investigation into this dryer.
The features we love most, though, are, firstly, the tests that Miele does. They have tested this tumble dryer to the equivalent of 20 years and made sure it could work for 10,000 hours. That’s the same as it drying 5 loads of washing every week for 20 years.
During those 20 years, you’ll enjoy some amazing features, too, like the Perfect Dry system. It uses sensors to work out how long your clothes will take to dry and runs programmes for that time.
No matter what programme you select, the Perfect Dry system is always working to ensure that when the cycle ends, your clothes are perfectly dry.
There are also eco-dry functions built into the machine. It uses multiple layers of filters to prevent clogs to ensure the tumble dryer is always working at peak performance. This means no energy is wasted during the drying cycle.
There is way too much to admire about this tumble dryer. Miele makes some exceptional appliances, and this one is no exception.
About Heat Pump Tumble Dryers
What is a heat pump tumble dryer?
A heat pump tumble dryer is a relatively new piece of technology that it is a lot cheaper and more energy efficient to use compared to a standard condenser dryer.
Heat pump dryers reuse the air that’s already circulating in the dryer. The air passes through the drum and evaporates the moisture from your washing making sure it’s thoroughly dry. As this hot air is reused within the machine this means that energy isn’t wasted through the drying process.
What are the advantages of a heat pump tumble dryer?
The first advantage of choosing a heat pump tumble dryer is the energy saved. With a heat pump dryer customers can save at least half of the energy consumed by an electric dryer, which is good for the environment and also keeps your electricity bill down.
Heat pump technology also makes drying your clothes quicker, which is ideal for large households that need to dry a large load quickly. Another added bonus is that heat pump tumble dryers are usually a lot quieter than standard condenser dryers.
Investing in a heat pump tumble dryer is a great choice for your electricity bill, as heat pump technology means that the customer can save about half the energy cost.
This innovative technology is in every way a step in the right direction for tumble dryers as it also benefits the environment as a result of the machines’ system of reusing air to evaporate moisture from the load. However, heat pump tumble dryers are more expensive than other dryers, so there’s a bigger up-front cost.
What are the disadvantages of a heat pump tumble dryer?
Heat pump tumbles are really popular right now, and this is largely because they are a new technology in the drying world, and many people are curious about it.
While these tumble dryers work fantastically, there are a few drawbacks. Nothing major; we believe the advantages to heat pump tumble dryers far outweigh the disadvantages.
Still, we wouldn’t be doing our job properly if we didn’t share the disadvantages of heat pump tumble dryers with you here.
Cost
Heat pump tumble dryers cost more than other types of tumble dryers, and this is likely to continue for a few years.
This technology is brand new, and as a result, most manufacturers are only putting it in their flagship dryers.
It is worth mentioning, though, that the cost increase of these tumble dryers also ensures you are getting all of the latest features.
All the heat pump dryers on our list above have so many features, programmes and functions to ensure the easiest drying process you’ve ever had that we couldn’t talk about all of the specs in most cases.
So, while heat pump tumble dryers are certainly more expensive than other dryers, that is because they are the latest and greatest thing on the market and have every single additional feature to make drying your clothes much easier.
Clothes dry slower
Heat pump dryers use a lower drying temperature than other tumble dryers. This means that your clothes will take slightly longer to dry.
However, your clothes aren’t subjected to a lot of harsh heat during the drying process, so this way of drying your clothes is actually better for your clothes.
The only time this longer dryer time becomes an issue is when you need clothes quickly.
Still, this is really easy to work around for most people, and the drying times are not significantly longer. Many of us won’t even notice that the clothes are taking longer to dry.
Is it worth getting a heat pump tumble dryer?
Heat pump tumble dryers are a relatively new appliance. They are similar to a condenser dryer, except the hot air that passes through the condenser box is recycled to help the clothing dry in a more efficient manner.
One of the most notable benefits of running a heat pump tumble dryer is that they cost considerably less to run than some alternatives do. This is because it costs considerably less to heat warm air back up to temperature than it does to heat cold air.
This method of drying is so efficient that some dryer models claim to offer energy savings of as much as 50% when compared to some vented tumble dryers.
It is also worth noting that heat pump tumble dryers operate at a lower temperature than some alternatives. This means that laundry is protected during the drying process, helping your clothes to last longer. However, this can also lead to longer drying times.
However, these benefits do come at an increased upfront cost. There are affordable options available today as the average cost of a heat pump tumble dryer is coming down, but they are still more expensive than many other types of tumble dryer.
What’s the difference between a heat pump dryer and a condenser dryer?
Heat pump tumble dryers and condenser dryers are both popular choices in households where using a hose out of a window or through a vent in the wall isn’t an option. Whilst there are similarities between the two types of tumble dryer, there are differences too.
Condenser
When it comes to similarities, the crucial one is that both types of tumble dryer use a condenser unit. In a traditional condenser dryer, the damp air is passed through a condenser unit where the water is collected. The hot air is then passed back out of the machine.
In a heat pump tumble dryer, however, the same hot air that passes through the condenser unit is recycled. This air is passed back into the tumble dryer where it helps dry clothing again.
Cost
The cost differences between heat pump and condenser tumble dryers affects both the upfront cost and the running cost. In terms of upfront cost, heat pump tumble dryers are typically more expensive.
When it comes to running costs, the energy efficiency means that you can save money on your electricity bill with a heat pump tumble dryer.
Drying temperature
Another key difference between the two types of tumble dryer is the drying temperature. Heat pump tumble dryers operate at a lower temperature than condenser dryers do.
This does mean that laundry can dry quicker in a condenser dryer, but it does carry a greater risk of shrinking or damaging your clothing.
A heat pump dryer, on the other hand, runs at a much lower drying temperature. This type of tumble dryer makes use of a heat pump and coolant, which means your laundry does not come into contact with high temperatures. This means there is a lower chance of your clothing getting damaged or shrinking during the average drying cycle.
Drying speed
The difference in technology and operating temperature means that a heat pump tumble dryer does take longer to dry laundry than a condenser dryer does.
On average, a condenser dryer will take just over two hours to dry 8 kg of laundry. A heat pump dryer, on the other hand, will take closer to three hours to dry the same laundry.
Do heat pump tumble dryers need to be plumbed in?
Typically, heat pump tumble dryers do not need plumbing in. Like with a condenser dryer, the water is collected in a tank which can be regularly emptied in a sink. This means that a heat pump tumble dryer can be used almost anywhere in your home.
If, however, you would rather not need to worry about emptying a water tank regularly, it is possible to plumb in a heat pump tumble dryer. This will drain the water away without you needing to worry about it.
Conclusion
If we had to pick one product to recommend, it would be the Samsung Series 5+ OptimalDry™ DV80CGC0B0AE. It will help you save money on electricity bills while drying your clothes quickly. It comes with a good range of programmes and can be connected to your phone so you’ll know when it’s done without having to go and check it. It’s also cheaper than you might expect for a Samsung product.
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