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, having first beein introduced in Switzerland and Germany around 20 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. Bosch Series 4 WTH85223GB
Load capacity: 8 kg
Dimensions: 84.2 × 59.8 × 61.3 cm
Energy rating: A++
Bosch has kept things simple but smart with this heat pump tumble dryer. It uses AutoDry sensors to stop the cycle when your laundry is dry, so your clothes are protected, and you’re not wasting energy.
The “Super Quick 40” programme is great when you need an outfit in a hurry, while the larger drum capacity makes it perfect for small to medium households. The AntiVibration design also helps to keep noise down to a modest 65 dB, which is good news if your dryer lives near the kitchen or lounge.
There are plenty of programmes to choose from, covering everything from delicate items to sportswear, and you can even connect it to a drain so you’re not forever emptying the water tank.
It isn’t the fastest dryer around, and a full load can still take a few hours, but if you want an efficient, reliable machine from a trusted brand, this model from Bosch is a safe bet.
2. 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.
3. Samsung Series 9 AI Energy OptimalDry™ DV90T8240SH
Load capacity: 9 kg
Dimensions: 85 × 60 × 65 cm
Energy rating: A+++
This premium Samsung heat pump tumble dryer is packed with clever features designed to make drying faster, easier and more efficient.
With the SmartThings app, you can control and monitor cycles from your phone, so whether you’re on the sofa or on the bus, your laundry is always just a tap away. The AI Energy mode is a real highlight too, helping to cut energy use by up to 20% without compromising results.
If you’re in a rush, the Quick Dry 35’ programme is perfect for small loads, while Hygiene Care uses higher heat to banish bacteria and allergens from your laundry. At 9 kg, there’s plenty of space for family-sized loads, and OptimalDry™ sensors automatically adjust settings to avoid wasting energy.
It’s not the quickest dryer for big loads, but with its A+++ efficiency rating, sleek design, and smart features, this Samsung is a serious step up in drying tech.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Beko DTIKP71131W
Load capacity: 7 kg
Dimensions: 84.6 × 59.7 × 50.8 cm
Energy rating: A++
This integrated Beko heat pump tumble dryer is ideal if you want an energy efficient you can neatly fit into a kitchen counter space. Its AutoDry sensors monitor moisture, so the cycle stops once clothes hit just the right dryness (no more “oops, everything’s over-dried”).
It comes with 15 programmes including delicate and baby cycles as well as quick dry settings.
One neat touch is the interior drum light, so you can easily fish out every last piece of laundry.
One downside is that a full load can take around 174 minutes (nearly 3 hours) to dry, but this is fairly typical for heat pump models.
Bear in mind that this is an integrated model, so installation needs to be carefully planned in advance.
All in all, this Beko offers solid performance and smart sensor control in a space-saving form. If you don’t mind longer cycles, it’s a dependable choice for an integrated setup.
7. Hisense DH1Q802BW2
Load capacity: 8 kg
Dimensions: 84.5 × 59.7 × 50.8 cm
Energy rating: A++
This Hisense heat pump tumble dryer is a solid mid-range option that blends efficiency with useful extras. Its AutoDry sensors detect moisture and stop the cycle when your clothes are dry, helping to save electricity and protect your clothes.
It comes with programmes including Allergy Care, Quick Dry 30 and Anti-Crease, so you’ve got plenty of flexibility for everything from delicate garments to bulky bedding.
A couple of nice features are the Refresh function for light airing, and the Anti-Crease cycle to reduce wrinkles.
You might need a bit of patience with this dryer: full loads on cotton cycles run to around 208 minutes. However, for the price, efficiency and features on offer, it’s a good choice if you can live with longer cycles.
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 Bosch Series 4 WTH85223GB. It’s very highly rated and is one of Bosch’s more affordable models so you’re getting a great brand at a reasonable price.
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