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Dryers: The helping hand we all need in our lives.
Dryers! The quiet achiever of the household, the one you didn't know you needed until you stepped outside and immediately regretted your decision. Whether it be too cold, or too wet, or maybe the clothes line has just gone missing, a dryer is an essential in many Aussie households! Choosing the right dryer can be hard, however we hope this guide helps to simplify finding the best dryer for you and your family.
There are three different types of clothes dryer available, and we'll talk about each one and summarise the pros and cons. Feel free to skip to the good bits ;)
Vented Dryers
Vented dryers are probably the first thing you think of when a clothes dryer comes to mind. Vented dryers dry your clothes using hot air and tumbling action. The hot air escapes through the vents in your dryer, which means you need to ensure you have ample ventilation in the area to avoid having that moist hot air building up in your home. These dryers use the most energy to run, however they’re often the cheapest option to buy. These dryers are great for quick drying, as they offer the fastest drying cycles of all the available dryers, however, the high heat may cause some damage to clothes with regular use. If you use your dryer regularly you may want to consider getting a heat pump or condenser dryer, both of which are considerably better on electricity usage, and gentler on clothes. Seeour range of vented dryers here.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Can be wall mounted |
Damage to clothing from high heat
|
| Is the fastest option for drying clothes |
Requires ample ventilation
|
| Very affordable |
The least energy efficient option
|
Heat Pump Dryers
Heat pump dryers use a heat pump to heat air to dry clothes, but go through a subsequent process of cooling and dehumidifying before the air is reheated and recirculated.
Heat pump dryers, while taking longer to run a cycle and using cooler temps, are considerably more energy efficient than vented and condenser dryers, and are generally gentler on clothing. These dryers can be used even in areas that don’t have great ventilation as, unlike other types of dryers, the hot air is recirculated and not expelled. However, these are typically the most expensive dryer option. Seeour range of heat pump dryers here. These dryers cannot be wall mounted, but if you’re conscious about energy usage and wanting to give the best care to your clothes, this is the best option!
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Gentle drying method will keep your clothes in better condition for longer! |
Higher price range.
|
| Energy efficient. |
Drying cycles take longer to complete.
|
| Doesn’t require ventilation. |
Will require plumbing or a tank to be emptied after each load.
|
Condenser Dryers
Condenser dryers, similar to the above options, also use hot air to dry clothes. However, they extract the moisture from the clothing and the air and store it in a tank as condensed water, before releasing the cooled, dehumidified air back. These dryers typically use higher temperatures than heat pumps, and also are more efficient at drying clothes. However, these dryers require you to empty their condenser tank periodically, or have it plumbed to a drain, and unfortunately, they can’t be wall mounted. Seeour range of condenser dryers here.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Gentle Drying will keep your clothes in better condition for longer! |
Higher price range.
|
| Energy Efficient. |
Drying cycles take longer to complete.
|
|
Will require plumbing or a tank to be emptied after each load.
|
|
|
May still cause the area to become humid as some hot air is dispelled.
|
Choosing the size of your dryer
If you usually use a dryer to dry your clothes, matching the size of your dryer to the size of your washing machine is the best way to go.
However, here are some guidelines you can follow if you’re still not sure.
|
Size |
Best suited for |
|
4kg - 6kg |
|
|
6kg - 8kg |
|
|
9kg+ |
|
*These figures are approximate and depend on the frequency and size of your loads.
Other things to consider
Consider the frequency of your drying
If you wash your clothes and dry them in a dryer regularly, you may want to consider a more energy efficient dryer like a heat pump dryer, these also reduce the damage done to clothes as they use a lower heat, making them a better choice for regular machine drying.
Best dryer for frequent drying: Heat Pump Dryer
Best dryer for infrequent drying: Vented Dryer
Choosing the right dryer for the area
If you’ve got ample space in your laundry area, you’ll have no issues with a vented or condenser dryer. Vented dryers can also be wall mounted to save extra space. The main thing to consider is that there is ample ventilation in the area as vented and condenser dryers expel hot air, which can make the area moist and potentially hazardous. If you don’t have a well ventilated area, heat pump dryers are a great option as they won’t create any extra heat or humidity as they do not expel any hot air.
Best dryer for poorly ventilated areas: Heat Pump Dryer, Condenser Dryer
Still confused? Just can't be bothered reading all of that but still want to know what's going to be the best option? Give us a call or shoot us an email! We'll do the thinking for you!
