The Secret Life Of Heat-Pump Tumble Dryer

Heat-Pump Tumble Dryer

Tumble dryers with a heat pump are a great alternative to vented or condenser models. It is more energy efficient, protects your clothes and the environment, and costs less.

The smart dryers' system recycles the air throughout the process. The air that enters into the drum is heated, evaporating moisture and leaving your clothes with cooling air.

Energy efficiency

A heat pump can do so much more than simply warm buildings. It can deliver air conditioning and is currently taking on laundry as one of the most energy-consuming appliances in modern homes. And it's doing it using a fraction of the electricity that traditional electric dryers use.

The secret lies in moving heat instead of creating it. Instead of relying on the heating element to evaporate the moisture from the clothes, as in the traditional electric dryer, heat pump tumble dryers employ the compressor to transfer heat between two cycles. This is accomplished by absorbing warmth from the surrounding air and venting it out, which reheats the incoming cold air. The process repeats.

Electric heat pumps are less harsh on your clothes since they operate at lower temperatures than vented dryers. Ventilated dryers operate at high temperatures that cause clothes to shrink and necklines to change shape. This extends their lives and helps keep their color and heat pump technology prints.

They don't require being ducted out of your home, either, like vented tumble dryers that make use of a hose to vent outside the house. Instead, they move heat from the outside air into a drum for drying that is filled with moist clothes. As the fabric spins, heat is transferred to the drum that is heated to the same temperature as the room. The warm air evaporates water from the garment which can then be discharged directly into the drain or pumped into a tank.

The process is ongoing however, when the cycle ends and the dryer vents away, it draws in new air from outside, which has been conditioned by your building's furnace or air conditioning for warming and cooling purposes. It replaces the conditioned air that is then ejected from the exhaust vents of the dryer. This means you won't need to spend extra money cooling outdoor air to wash your clothes.

Heating pump dryers are an excellent choice for buildings with heat pumps that cool the indoor air. That's especially true for buildings that are trying to integrate all of the indoor air systems into one control system. When all the equipment is connected, you can set it up to ensure that the air that is conditioned by your building's central system flows from one side of the building to the other which will reduce the requirement for each appliance to work hard to clean the outdoor air each wash or drying session.

Convenience

In a world that is becoming aware of its impact on the environment, it is sensible to select appliances that reduce your carbon footprint. The heat pump tumble dryers are an excellent choice since they consume less energy than traditional models and allow you to live a greener lifestyle.

Contrary to vented or condenser tumble dryers, which make use of hot air to evaporate moisture from the drum and then recycle the heat they generate. Rather than venting outside, the warm air generated by the evaporator is cleaned and stored in a water tank prior to being heated again to complete the process. This eliminates the necessity of an exhaust pipe and allows you to put your dryer in any location within your home.

What's more the heat pump tumble dryers are more gentle on your clothes, avoiding shrinkage. They do this by using lower temperatures to dry, which protects your fabrics and extends their lifespan. Heat pump dryers can be used to dry delicate wool sweaters and silk blouses.

Adding to their convenience, many tumble dryers that use heat pumps offer a range of clever functions that make washing clothes effortless. From automatic timer settings to a clever connection to your Miele washing machine, they're designed to work around your needs and seamlessly integrate into your daily routine.

Some dryers that use heat pump technology have a sensor that gauges the amount of moisture in your clothes, automatically adjusting the time of the cycle accordingly. This helps prevent over-drying and extends the life of your clothes, while also saving you energy. Other helpful features include programs that let you run a second load of laundry while the first load finishes and an automatic cycle-ending alert to remind you to wash your laundry.

Many heat pump dryers are smaller than traditional condenser or vented tumblers which makes them easier to squeeze into tight spaces. In addition their sleek designs are a perfect match for any modern interior design. And, with a wide range of finishes and colours available, you'll be able to find one that fits in perfectly with your home.

Cleaning

As with other tumble dryers, models with a heat pump come with a pair of fine lint screens and condenser coils that must be cleaned after each load. These parts are easily removed and reinserted inside the appliance. The models with heat pumps also come with an additional fluff filter that is two-part, which should be opened and washed with water or descaled on a regular basis to ensure that it is working properly.

It is important that you clean the moisture sensor inside the door of the appliance regularly, since it could be affected by limescale and residues of cleaning products and detergents which can affect its function and result in poor drying results. Open the appliance door and then apply a fine sponge to clean the sensor. Then, it should be shut.

Maintenance

Even the best tumble dryer won't provide you clean and dry laundry if it isn't maintained correctly. Tumble dryers can be prone to issues and are costly to repair, but regular checks and cleaning is simple and can save you money in the long run.

If your tumble dryer is vented (expels humid and warm air through a hose out of your home) then cleaning the hose every three months is vital. This is because lint and other particles can build up within the hose, limiting airflow and making your dryer less effective. Luckily, a venting hose is easy to remove and clear using a wet cloth or a vacuum cleaner with an attachment for a brush.

The lower filter of a heat pump tumble dryer might be somewhat more difficult to access, but it's still necessary to clean. The lower filter is located at the bottom of the machine in the front of the heat exchanger. It can be removed by pushing two small levers. Cleanse the filter, removing any hair or fluff and then rinse it again until it's completely clean.

Tumble dryers with heat pumps are more expensive than vented models, therefore it is essential to keep them clean and free from dust to ensure that they continue to perform at their best. This will also reduce the cost of energy.

It's also important to ensure that the belt of the tumble dryer, which rotates the drum is in good working order. If you hear it squealing, or notice that it's advancing more slowly than usual, it could indicate an issue with the belt.

Another tip to maintain your dryer is to ensure that the fine mesh filter is free from lint. It can be difficult to detect, but it's important to check it regularly, since a blocked filter can increase your drying time and may also cause water to leak out of the dryer. Similarly, it is vital to ensure that the heat exchanger is not blocked by fluff. If you don't empty your reservoir after each cycle or if you have too much laundry in a cycle, you may hear a beeping or buzzing to remind you to empty it.