Are heat pump dryers worth the money?

Heat pump dryers can be more energy efficient and gentler on clothes than vented dryers and don't need ventilation.

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Clothes dryers – it’s a love-hate relationship. Shrinkage, poor energy use, wet clothing… Let’s face it, they’re a bit notorious. Other than occasionally tossing something in in a hurry, those of us who own one probably use it less than we’d like to.

There must be more efficient dryers out there, surely? Yes, there are - they're called heat pump dryers.

What is a heat pump dryer?

A heat pump dryer is a type of condenser dryer. These dryers are extraordinarily energy efficient, as they recycle heat in the process of extracting moisture – often resulting in energy efficiency ratings of up to 6 stars (the best possible).

Thanks to their gentle, highly-efficient drying action, heat pump dryers have been a popular eco-friendly option in Europe and the US for many years.

A heat pump dryer condenses water vapour from drying clothes, collects it in a reservoir and recycles the warm air

How a heat pump tumble dryer works

A heat pump dryer passes hot air over your clothes to collect moisture and dry them. This same air then goes through an evaporator, where the moisture is condensed and collected in a water tank.

Where other dryers simply blow hot air on your clothes, heat pump dryers use a more sophisticated energy-efficient heat exchange system to conserve and reuse the same air (think of it as recycling air).

5 reasons heat pump dryers are such a good idea

Heat pump dryers have significant advantages over cheaper dryers. You may spend a little more initially on a heat pump, but their many benefits far outweigh the early outlay.

1. They're super energy efficient

Thanks to their reheating and recycling process, heat pump dryers are about as energy-efficient as it gets, with many models having efficiency ratings of 8 or more Energy Stars, compared to the 2 stars of most vented models. Less energy used makes for more sustainable living.

2. They’re much cheaper to run

Thanks to the far lower energy demands of heat pump dryers, you save yourself a lot of money on running costs compared to a vented dryer. A lot of heat pump dryers cost around half or less to run each year than traditional style vented models.

3. They're much gentler on clothes

As their drying air temperature is considerably lower than conventional dryers, heat pumps are less abrasive on your garments. They feature multiple sensors to detect moisture, so your clothes are dried more consistently and treated with better care. This saves you from replacing them due to wear & tear or shrinkage.

4. They're more convenient

A heat pump dryer’s remarkable energy efficiency means you can feel comfortable using it at any time. If you live in a home without a suitable air-drying area, like an apartment or studio, you can still dry your wet laundry quickly and inexpensively.

TIP: Use it overnight to have dry clothes in the morning and save on off-peak energy costs.

5. They suit just about any home

And it’s all thanks to their clever design. Rather than expel moist air into your laundry, heat pump condenser dryers collect the water from your wet clothes. This makes them ideal for use in both houses and apartments, particularly those with no backyard or laundries where moist warm air can’t be vented out.

Alexander Chetner

Alexander is a poet, music obsessive, and full-time existentialist who also writes a bit of copy. When not pondering the nature and meaning of human existence, you might find him with headphones on, making sense of the wonderful world of life-enhancing appliances.