Tumble Dryers - Buying Guide
July 19, 2007
The household dryer is an almost indispensable tool in today’s modern household. It speeds drying and saves time for other things. When picking a dryer, it’s best to know your options, considering space and number of people in the household.
Tumble Dryers
Tumble dryers work by exposing fabric to hot air. In order to be efficient, there must be enough space in the drum (the part you put the clothes in) to let the surface of the clothes to be exposed to hot air. Moisture removal is an important function performed by Tumble Dryers. Tumble dryers come with two types of moisture removal: vented and condenser.
Fluff filters, which collect cloth particles shed from the garments, needs to be cleaned after every load. Condenser dryers will also have heat exchangers that will need to be checked and cleaned periodically. Water collectors will also need to be emptied regularly.
• Vented Dryers - In vented tumble dryers, the dryer has a hole, called an exhaust vent, connected to a tube that carries moisture out of the dryer. This hose usually leads to an outside wall where moisture is exhausted to the exterior of the hose. Exhaust vents can be in the front or back of the unit. Vents in front are usually used to run the exhaust hose out the window. Some flats have shared vent systems to hook the dryer into. Without proper exhaust outlets, vented dryers’ causes unwanted humidity. This is an important consideration when selecting a dryer.
• Condenser Dryers - In condenser tumble dryers, the dryer collects moisture in a tank or container, which is then disposed off when it reaches a certain level. Usually this collection occurs in a space at the bottom of the dryer. This basin must then be emptied, or can be plumbed to carry away the water. This is best for laundry rooms with no exhaust options, or in flats.
Spin Dryers
Spin dryers use centrifugal force to remove water from the clothes. Centrifugal dryers will not get clothes entirely dry as tumble dryers do. Instead, most of the water will be removed, leaving the clothes damp. This speeds up line drying significantly. Spin dryers are about an hour faster than tumble dryers and are said to cause less wear and tear on clothes. The higher the rpm, the dryer the clothes become. When moisture is removed from the clothes, it is handled by pump or is gravity fed.
• Pump Dryers - Pump dryers use pumps to collect and drain the moisture from the drum via a hose.
• Gravity Fed - Gravity fed dryers use gravity to pull the spun out water down and out of the drum via a spout into a collection container or plumbing. The collection container is provided by the user.
Size
Units either come as built in, built under or freestanding. Built-unders are placed under a work table or cabinet. Built-ins can be integrated into the cabinetry. The consumer must supply the cupboard door. They are limited in where they can be placed, but usually conserve space. Dimensions must be selected carefully. Free standing machines stand alone, and can be moved from area to area. Spin dryers are the most easily moveable free standing machines. Freestanding tumble dryers can usually be stacked on the washer to save space.
Width/depth/height of the dryer is important to know prior to purchasing the machine. They are given in this format: H# x W# x D#. Depth is the measurement from front to back of the machine, not the depth of the drum. They are measured in mm (600mm) or cm (60 cm) Built-ins require exact measurements of the space on all three dimensions before purchasing. Most tumble dryers are universally 595 mm-600mm in width, though the range can be 550 mm-655 mm.
Stand alone units require measurement of depth so they don’t stick out. Height is usually unimportant.
Spin dryers are usually cylindrical in nature and slimmer and taller than tumble dryers, depending on load capacity. Common spin dryer measurements are approximately 54-65 cm high and 34 cm deep/wide.
Drying capacity
Drying capacity is the amount of clothes that a dryer can efficiently dry. The larger the drum, the larger the capacity will be. Be sure to select a dryer that has a slightly larger capacity than the washer in the home. This will ensure that there is enough room between the fabrics for the air to circulate. Drying capacities will range from 3 kg-10 kg. A 4-5 kg machine will usually work for couples. Capacity should be increased with each additional person in the household.
Control Panel
The control panel is either mechanical or electric (also called digital). Mechanical panels consist of dials and knobs to control the timer, start/stop, temperature or any special settings or programmes.
Digital panels will have a text screen surrounded by buttons that will allow you to control programmes and settings, receive alerts, and see images of drying status.
Control/Timer System
The timer will either dry in minutes set by the user or use humidity sensors to adjust the drying time to the needs of the fabric.
Energy Labels/Ratings
The energy labels include energy ratings as a measurement, which lets the consumer know how well the unit conserves energy. It is rated on a scale of A-G (sometimes you will only see A-F), and can include exact numbers in kWh (kilowatt hours) of energy use. A is the highest rating; G is the lowest rating. You can also see AAA ratings and A++ ratings where each additional character is a higher rating. Dryers tend to receive lower energy ratings than washers because it takes more energy to dry the clothes. Spin dryers tend to be more energy efficient than tumble dryers.
An Energy Recommended label is different than an energy rating. Energy Recommended labels are supplied by the energy savings trust. They set forth strict guidelines on energy efficiency.
Most dryers are electric. There are one or two gas dryers on the market, though they are rare.
Noise
Dryers range in noise from 60-70 decibels (dB). The noise produced by the dryers can be less than 40 dB, which are considered ultra quiet.
Programmes
Dryers come with a range of programmes and features. Simple dryers may have only a few, while some are loaded. The key to selecting features is to consider those you will use, rather than being dazzled by numbers.
Reverse Action Drums: The drum pauses and turns the other way. This decreases tangling creases and dry time.
Refresh: A cycle for hand washables and dry clean only items, which allows removing wrinkles and odours.
Easy Iron: Uses steam and low load capacity to remove wrinkles.
Filter Full/Water Full Indicators: Let you know when to clean the filter or empty the water collector.
Cool Programmes: For clothes with special temperature requirements.
Final Cool: Cools clothes before removing them from the dryer.
Woolens: Loosen the fibres or wool items, which have dried stiff.
Audible End of Programme: Dryer sounds out when the programme is complete.
Sensor Drying: Sensor in the dryer makes programme decisions, including drying time without user input.
Other available programmes are:
• Variable Temperature
• Delay Timer
• Hi Low Dry Settings
Additional Dryers:
Mechanical Steam and Pump Dryers use a steam heating and recycling system to dry clothes. Otherwise they function much the same as traditional tumble dryers.
Folding electric dryers have drying racks with heating elements in them. Clothes are draped over them to speed up the drying time.
Compact Tumble Dryers are smaller and more compact for those short on space. They usually take a 3 kg load.
Portable Dryers are those that can be taken with you. These are usually spin dryers but can be tumble dryers.
