Best type of clothes dryer: Heat pump, vented or condenser?

Guide to buying a clothes dryer

Types of clothes dryers

What are condenser dryers and how do they work?

A condenser dryer is a tumble dryer that uses high temperatures to dry your clothes. It pushes air over a heating coil, then into the tumble drum that holds your clothes. The hot air extracts moisture from clothes as vapour, which is deposited into a container and condensed into water. The water container is usually connected to plumbing via an outlet hose and automatically emptied, though older models may require manual emptying.

What are heat pump dryers and how do they work?

A heat pump dryer also extracts vapour from your clothes, but it uses a coolant on the vapour to remove the condensation and preserve the warm air. This air is reheated and recycled back into the tumble drum, making it the eco-friendlier option. Heat pump dryers cost less to run than other types of dryers, but are more expensive to purchase upfront. 

What are vented dryers and how do they work?

Similar to a condenser dryer, vented dryers work by using hot air to evaporate the moisture in your clothes. But instead of this moisture then being condensed into water to drain out of the machine, the moisture is vented from the dryer as water vapour. This vapour is either vented directly out of the machine into the laundry room or out a window using a hose. This means that a vented dryer must be placed in a well-ventilated laundry, ideally with an exhaust fan, ducted air or windows, to avoid moisture build-up. Excessive condensation can lead to problems like mould or damage to walls and floors.

Vented dryers usually feature simple designs and are typically the cheapest model of dryer to buy upfront, though they aren't very energy efficient. However, if you only use your dryer sparingly and have a suitable laundry, they may be a good option for you.

Which type of clothes dryer is cheapest to buy?

When you walk into a home appliance store, you might only consider a dryer’s purchase price. Condenser dryers are cheaper to buy than heat pump dryers, making them an attractive option for lower budgets or households who will only use their dryer occasionally. Vented dryers tend to be cheaper still, but also have higher running costs. 

More: How to save money on your laundry bills

Which type of clothes dryer is the most energy efficient?

Heat pump dryers, however, are considered the more energy efficient option by energyrating.gov.au , since they recycle the hot air needed to dry your laundry. Although they are more expensive to initially purchase, their running costs will be lower, saving you money on every electricity bill. 

To find out exactly how much a clothes dryer will cost to run, check its Energy Rating Label. The Energy Rating label program is a joint government and industry initiative that helps consumers decide between appliances by comparing star ratings. The more star ratings an appliance has, the more energy efficient and the less it will cost to run.

For example, heat pump dryers are generally rated 7 to 10 stars for energy efficiency, while vented dryers are rarely rated higher than 3 stars (and are more likely to have a 2 star rating). The difference in star ratings can equate to hundreds of dollars in savings over the life of your machine.

If you are likely to use your dryer once a week or more, you might find that a heat pump dryer will be less expensive over its lifetime as compared to a condenser or vented dryer. Given that most large appliances have a ten-year lifespan, that's a lot of loads of washing to consider. 

Which type of clothes dryer performs better?

Condenser dryers are heavy-duty workhorses that handle large loads and dry your clothes fast with minimal noise. Heat pump dryers work more slowly (and loudly), taking around 30 minutes longer to dry the same amount of laundry. Vented dryers also dry clothes fast but generally have less settings and modern features. Which may be a selling point if you want a simple-to-use machine.

On the other hand, condenser dryers are more likely to shrink or wear out your clothes due to their higher drying temperatures. Heat pump dryers are much better at preserving your clothes, since they avoid putting your laundry in close contact with high temperatures.

Heat pump dryers also have no need for ducted venting, while condenser dryers need to be placed in a room with good ventilation to prevent mould. Vented dryers also require excellent room ventilation as moisture evaporates directly out of the machine. 

How can I use my clothes dryer more efficiently?

If you have an outdoor clothesline, dry your clothes outdoors during the dry season. Fresh air and sunlight are great at eliminating dust mites and bacteria: they can even help fade stains and save you money.

When you use your dryer, make sure to thoroughly spin-dry your laundry in the washing machine first. Spinning out water takes much less electricity than heating it out. You should also clean out the lint filter after each load to keep the dryer working as efficiently as possible and increase fire safety.

Finally, if you’re going to purchase a new dryer, look for an auto-sensing feature on the models you’re interested in. Auto-sensing means that the dryer senses when your clothes are dry and stops drying them. For example, if you have set the dryer for 60 minutes but your clothes are dry after 30 minutes, the dryer will stop at 30 minutes and save you 30 minutes of needless electricity. This feature also helps protect your clothes.

What clothes dryer capacity do I need?

Think about how much laundry you wash (and how often) when deciding on a dryer size or capacity. The kilogram (kg) amount listed as a dryer’s capacity refers to the weight of dry clothes that the model can dry in one cycle. A 10kg dryer can therefore dry 10kg worth of dry clothes.

Here is a rough guide to what size dryer you might need:

• 4-6.5kg dryer – dries 4-5 towels or outfits in one cycle: ideal for 1-2 people
  
• 7-8.5kg dryer –dries 7-8 towels or outfits in one cycle: ideal for 3-4 people
  
• 9+kg dryer – dries 9+ towels or outfits in one cycle: ideal for 5+ people.
  

Make sure to measure the space that your dryer must fit into to ensure that you don’t purchase a dryer that’s too physically large. Remember to leave room for the dryer door to open, for the cables, vents and hose to come out at the back, and a few centimetres around the sides for optimum air circulation.

How do I dispose of my old clothes dryer?

Many appliance retailers give you the option of having your old dryer removed and taken away when they install your new one. 

Otherwise, clothes dryers are regarded as e-waste, and therefore must be taken to an e-waste drop-off point to be recycled. You can find your nearest e-waste recycling point online.

Some councils also allow e-waste, including whitegoods, to be collected for recycling via their hardwaste collection services. 

The bottom line: which clothes dryer is best?

There’s a reason why condenser, vented and heat pump dryers continue to exist: each excels in different areas. Consider your circumstances – for example, whether you live in an apartment, whether you dry large loads at once, or whether you’d prefer a cheaper outlay or running cost – and choose the dryer that best suits your needs.

Which clothes dryer should I buy - condenser, vented or heat pump?

Still unsure whether you should purchase a condenser, vented or heat pump dryer? Take the below quiz and take note of whether you choose more a) or b) answers.

1. Which cost is more important to you?
       a) Cheaper to buy
       b) Cheaper to run
   
   
2. Do you live in an apartment or a house?
       a) Apartment
       b) House
   
   
3. How large are your washing loads on average?
       a) On the larger side
       b) On the smaller side
   
   
4. What is more important to you?
       a) A quieter design
       b) An eco-friendly design
   
   
5. Will you be washing more delicate fabrics?
       a) No
       b) Yes

If you counted more a) answers, consider purchasing a condenser dryer or vented dryer.
If you counted more b) answers, consider purchasing a heat pump dryer.