Tumble Dryers Buyers Guide

Information on Tumble Dryers and How To Buy the Best Tumble Dryers.

Tumble dryers extract moisture from laundry using heated air to evaporate the moisture from the clothes and they are an alternative to drying clothes naturally outside on a washing line. The drum inside the tumble dryer in which the laundry rotates is called a 'tumbler'.

Many manufacturers of household appliances offer tumble dryers and it can be difficult to decide which brand and model of tumble dryer most adequately suits your needs. The information below should help the consumer to make a more informed choice.

Tumble Dryers Guide - Table of Contents

• 1 Tumble Dryers Product Types
  • 1.1 Vented Tumble Dryers
  • 1.2 Condenser Tumble Dryers
  • 1.3 Washer Dryers
  • 1.4 Freestanding Versus Built-in Tumble Dryers
  • 1.5 Gas Dryers
  • 1.6 Inverted Dryers
  • 1.7 Spin Dryers
• 2 Tumble Dryers Product Advice
• 3 Tumble Dryers Buying Tips
• 4 Popular Tumble Dryers Brands
• 5 Tumble Dryers Glossary

Vented Tumble Dryers

The residual damp air from a vented tumble dryer is disposed of outside the home by way of a flexible plastic hose. This can be done through a permanent vent fitted into the wall or through an open window. Vented tumble dryers are usually cheaper than condenser machines and can consume less energy. However they are not suitable for all homes as they need to be placed near the vent or window. If the air is not discharged for any reason then this causes condensation and dampness inside the home.

Condenser Tumble Dryers

A condenser tumble dryer separates the water from the air and places it into a plastic container inside of the machine which can be easily emptied after use. They are usually more expensive than vented tumble dryers but offer greater flexibility than using a hose. The user must remember to empty the container after each use or this will impact on or completely stop the drying process, but some machines do feature a light that comes on when the container is full. There are also some models available which pump out the excess water through the mains water outlet thereby eliminating the need to manually empty the container. Some tumble dryers also offer steam technology. The benefits of steam is that the creasing normally associated with tumble drying is substantially decreased, and dry-clean only garments can be refreshed without any detergent.

Washer Dryers

If space is very tight then some users opt for a combined washer-dryer. Another advantage is that there is no need to use a vent or to empty water manually as the water is automatically emptied through the outlet hose. Although space-saving, the downside is that they are usually far more expensive and water-intensive to run than standalone tumble dryers due to the drying process which uses a wet condenser system. Also if the machine breaks down then both the washing and the drying functions are out of action. Due to the size of the drum, only half a load can be dried at a time, however this might be suitable for smaller households.

Freestanding Versus Built-in Tumble Dryers

Most tumble dryers available are freestanding and measure 60cm wide by 85 cm high and 60cm deep. However some manufacturers do offer built-in or integrated tumble dryers which are designed to fit into the kitchen or utility room units. These are either completely covered by a kitchen unit door, or partially covered, leaving just the controls showing.

Gas Dryers

Although not common, there are gas tumble dryers available from some manufacturers which are significantly less expensive to run than electricity.

Inverted Dryers

These tumble dryers, usually compact, are wall mountable and the door and controls are to be found at the bottom rather than at the top of the machine so it is easy to load, unload and programme at a higher than usual height. These are not commonly available but might be suitable for households where space is at a premium.

Spin Dryers

These dryers are cylindrical top loading stainless steel dryers. They are not widely available any more although some manufacturers do still supply them.

The four main considerations when it comes to buying a new tumble dryer are location, cost, capacity and functionality.

Location

Location Info

This covers both the space needed to fit the tumble dryer as well as where it will be used.

Most tumble dryers are 60cm wide and 85 cm tall, however there are more compact models and inverted models available for smaller homes and apartments.

As described above, if the tumble dryer is to be situated in a location which is close to a window or where the user may be able to install a vent in the wall then a vented machine might be a suitable option. If there is nowhere for the hose to pass through to the outside though, then a condenser dryer or possibly a washer-dryer would be necessary.

Cost

Cost Info

As with most consumer items, you get what you pay for and a more expensive tumble dryer may have a larger capacity or more functionality. As stated above, the condenser type is also more expensive than the vented type of tumble dryer.

You should also consider running costs, both electricity and water. The higher specification and more expensive machines often have higher energy ratings and offer energy saving features. Remember also that washer dryers consume more electricity and water than regular tumble dryers.

Capacity

Capacity Info

This is the amount of laundry that the tumble dryer can hold and is usually expressed in kilogrammes. A larger household will require a higher capacity tumble dryer. A typical tumble dryer will have a 6kg to 7 kg capacity although they are available with up to 10kg for larger households.

A buyer must also bear in mind that the less room the clothes have to tumble, the more creased they will be and the longer they will take to dry, so make sure that you buy a tumble dryer which is more than adequate for your laundry needs.

Functionality

Functionality Info

The more expensive tumble dryers will offer more features. All tumble dryers have at least two heat settings for cottons and synthetics and many will have more specialised programmes. Most tumble dryers will also feature reverse tumble technology, which rotates the drum both ways so that the clothes separate, drying them more quickly and evenly and minimising creasing.

Other programmes and features offered by some manufacturers include:

• Heat sensors that detect when the load is dry;
• A timer feature so that the user can programme the load for a specific time;
• A time delay function which can be useful if the electricity is cheaper at certain times of the day;
• Some high-end machines are equipped with sensors which automatically adjust the drying time as well as the temperature according to the weight and the dampness of the laundry;
• Child locks to prevent children or even pets from being able to access the machine;
• Crease reduction programmes;
• Specialist drying programmes such as those for delicates, wool, pillows and synthetic sports clothing;
• Some tumble dryers feature a drying basket for those delicate items which are unable to withstand the tumbling action, such as sports shoes and jumpers;
• Refresh programmes for dry clean garments;
• A filter indicator which alerts the user when the fluff filter should be cleaned. If the filter is not cleaned on a regular basis the load can require more time and electricity to dry.