Electric tumble dryers have come a long way since their inception in the 1930s. In the past, you’d be guaranteed to get a vented tumble dryer, but now you have the choice between vented, condenser, and heat pump dryers!
Tumble dryers come in three forms: vented, condenser, and heat pump.
Vented tumble dryers use a hose to pump moisture outside, and condenser dryers gather moisture in a tank. Heat pump tumble dryers are like condenser dryers, but they recycle heated air within the dryer, making them more eco-friendly.
All these terms tumbling around your head can be confusing, so I’ll explain each type of tumble dryer in more detail. I’ll also compare the three dryer types, helping you decide which is best for you – if any!
Vented Tumble Dryers
Vented tumble dryers are the most traditional type of dryer still on the market. They use an airing tube to vent out the steam they produce while drying. The steam needs to be sent outside, meaning that you’ll need to either get the hose installed in your wall, or position it at an open door or window.
Failing to vent the steam outside will almost certainly lead to patches of mould and damp inside your home, so it’s not optional!
Vented dryers are typically the cheaper option to buy upfront (usually available for around £200) but they’re less energy efficient than heat pump dryers and less convenient than condenser dryers, unless you already have a hole in your wall to vent the steam out of. A vented dryer can be a good option if you’re on a budget and don’t mind the somewhat more fiddly installation.
They can also be a good option for technophobes or older people who aren’t interested in having a dryer come with WiFi compatibility and a billion different settings. Most vented dryers have simple interfaces, with a few buttons and dials to get the job done.
Those on a budget will be able to purchase a reliable vented dryer for less than £300.
Condenser Tumble Dryers
Condenser dryers work in a similar way to vented dryers, except that they don’t expel the steam they produce while drying. Instead, these dryers collect the moisture from cooled steam in a tank that you’ll need to empty regularly.
This means that condenser dryers can be installed in more places than vented dryers, though they should still be kept in an airy room with lots of space to avoid any escaped steam causing damp.
Condenser dryers often come with more bells and whistles than vented dryers, and some have WiFi and Bluetooth compatibility allowing it to be controlled remotely through an app.
Condenser dryers are mid-range when it comes to price price, with the average model costing around £300 at the time of writing.
These dryers are also mid-range in terms of tech, with most models offering a range of drying levels and settings, alongside a touch screen interface and various sensors. Some might even come with app compatibility, letting you control them remotely.
If you’re looking for a mid-range dryer with convenient features that can dry a range of fabrics, a condenser dryer might be your pick.
Heat Pump Tumble Dryers
Heat pump tumble dryers are the most recent addition to the tumble dryer compendium, and are starting to displace condenser and vented dryers as the most common type of tumble dryer on the market.
A heat pump dryer is basically a more energy efficient version of a condenser dryer. Like condenser dryers, they don’t need to be vented externally, and instead collect water in a compartment that needs to be emptied regularly. The difference between a heat pump dryer and a condenser dryer is that heat pump dryers circulate hot air within the drum, re-using heat instead of wasting energy to create more.
Heat pump dryers take longer to dry clothes than condenser or vented dryers since they use a lower heat, which also means your clothes are less likely to shrink.
Essentially, a heat pump dryer is an eco-friendly condenser dryer that takes a bit longer to dry your clothes since it’s conserving energy.
Heat pump dryers tend to come in sleek models with high-tech features, and they’ve got the price to match. While it’s now possible to get a cheap heat pump dryer for less than £300, the average price is closer to £600.
These machines are for those with a bigger upfront budget who regularly rely on their tumble dryer and want to lower their energy bill.
Technophiles will love the seemingly limitless features of heat pump dryers, and those who care about the environment will enjoy this eco-friendly drying option.
Vented vs. Condenser vs. Heat Pump Dryers
If you’re still trying to decide which type of tumble dryer to buy, allow me to crown a winner in several important categories, such as energy efficiency, advanced technology, and upfront cost.
This is just a guide, however, since you can find exceptions to the rule within each category, depending on the brand and model of dryer you choose.
Energy efficiency
Heat pump dryers massively outperform the two other dryer types when it comes to energy efficiency. Drying a full load of laundry on a cotton cycle will use around 1.18 kWh of energy, whereas doing so on a condenser or vented dryer would use around 3.4 kWh.
Upfront cost
Vented dryers are the winner in this category, with cheap and cheerful models available to buy for less than £200.
Next come condenser dryers, which are mid-range in price and are typically priced between £300-£500.
Heat pump dryers can cost over £1,000 for top-of-the-range models. However, the average model costs around £500-£600, and there are also a few budget models available, such as this Indesit model.
Advanced technology
Heat pump dryers have the others beat when it comes to high-tech features. Most use sensors to automatically work out how long to dry your laundry for, and many can be controlled via an app.
Condenser dryers are usually available with similar high-tech features too, but it’s more of a given with heat pump models.
Vented dryers veer towards being basic, typically being controlled with a dial and a couple of buttons. You can find exceptions, though, like this vented Hoover model with app compatibility.
Drying time
The average vented dryer can tackle a full load of laundry on a cotton cycle in 165 minutes. Condenser dryers are a bit slower, with the average model completing a cycle in 179 minutes. Heat pump dryers are considerably slower, with a full load of laundry on a cotton cycle taking 220 minutes on average. However, this drawback is sweetened by reduced energy costs and clothes which are less likely to come out damaged. Also, if you dry smaller loads and lighter fabrics, you may find cycle times to be much shorter.
Conclusion
Vented tumble dryers are the classic dryer model, but they are being phased out in favour of condenser and heat pump dryers.
Vented dryers use a vent tube to expel steam, so you’ll need to feed their tube through a window or door or have a vent plumbed into the wall. These dryers are cheaper upfront, typically with basic controls, an average drying speed, and mid-range energy efficiency.
Condenser models are more widespread, offering increased mobility since they’re freestanding.
Condenser dryers collect the moisture from your wet clothes in a water reservoir – you’ll need to empty this often. These dryers are mid-range in terms of price and technology.
Heat pump tumble dryers are a newer eco-friendly type of condenser dryer that tend to come with fancier features at a higher upfront cost.
Heat pump dryers recycle hot air inside the drum at a lower temperature than other dryers, saving energy and treating your clothes more delicately. This dryer can save your energy bills and your clothes, but it’ll take longer to complete a cycle.
A recent uni graduate who likes writing, gaming, and drawing. I’m figuring out housekeeping tips alongside you while trying to provide eco-friendly cleaning options. Let’s find out how to use a tumble dryer together!
