What is a self-cleaning condenser?
A self-cleaning condenser is a feature available to clothes dryers when they dry your laundry using a condenser. These are the heat pump dryer and the condenser dryer. Most clothes dryers with a self-cleaning condenser operate with a heat pump. This is also the most energy efficient dryer on the market today.
Normally, you will need to manually clean the heat exchanger of your dryer. It is generally recommended that you do this once a month. This will help your dryer last longer and keep it drying properly. If your tumble dryer has a self-cleaning condenser, you do not have to worry about this at all. The dryer will be able to clean the condenser itself, by rinsing it while it is drying.
Condender cleaning type
There are tumble dryers on sale with three different ways of cleaning the heat exchanger. We have just discussed the ‘automatic cleaning’ one, which automatically rinses the dryer’s condenser thoroughly during the drying process through the self-cleaning condenser. There are also ‘easy clean’ and ‘manual clean’ dryers available.
- With dryers that have a manual clean, you have to take care of cleaning the condenser yourself. Most dryers require you to remove the heat exchanger from the dryer, and rinse it under the tap or a showerhead. This option is most common with a conventional condenser dryer.
- If you choose a ‘simple clean’ tumble dryer, you will not need to remove the condenser from the dryer. It is fixed. Once a month, you can easily clean the filter with your vacuum cleaner. Most heat pump dryers have a simple clean or auto clean feature, which means a self-cleaning condenser that requires no maintenance at all.
Best dryer with a self-cleaning condenser of 2024
If you are looking for a new dryer, the heat pump dryer is usually the best choice. This is a relatively quiet dryer with low energy consumption. If you choose a heat pump dryer with a self-cleaning condenser, you will soon have a heat pump dryer that is energy efficient. Most models with a self cleaning condenser have energy class A++ or A+++. In the list below, you’ll find our selection of the best dryers with a self-cleaning condenser from 2024. In making this top 5, we looked at things like energy consumption, maximum fill weight (size of the drum), different drying programs, consistent performance and noise level.
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Best self-cleaning condenser
Pair the GE GTD72GBSNWS top load matching
gas dryer with your favorite GE washer, available in two finishes: Diamond Gray or White. This dryer comes with a total maximum capacity of 7.4 cu. ft., enough to handle up to 15 towels in one drying cycle. Enjoy the large capacity in a reasonable size. This dryer weighs only 118 lbs., and measures 30.5 inches deep, 46 inches high and 27 inches wide. The reversible glass door gives you the opportunity to place it in many different room configurations, and the interior light helps you look for specific articles of clothing when the cycle is done. Enjoy the flexibility of placing your dryer anywhere with up to 120 ft. venting, designed for optimal airflow, wherever you choose to place it.
With 12 different dry cycles, you can choose the right kind of drying for different kind of fabrics, from delicates to bulky/comforter, to mixed loads. The Sanitize Cycle reduced up to 99.8% of common household bacteria so you can keep your loved ones safe. Avoid repeatedly having to set up your dryer with the My Cycle Settings which lets you save your personal preprogrammed settings for future use.
The GE GTD72GBSNWS comes with Sensor Dry which helps prevent over drying of fabrics thanks to the innovative dual thermistor technology which monitors temperature and moisture in the dryer continually. The Wrinkle Care option lets you skip ironing by drying fabrics without heat to reduce creasing. With Quick Dry, you can dry a full load in less time so your clothes will be ready in no time. This dryer lets you choose from four different drying levels and four different temperature options. Heat up your clothes and release set wrinkles with the Warm Up feature. Never forget when it’s time to clean the vent with the Check Vent Alert, so you can keep your dryer functioning at its best.
The GE GTD72GBSNWS does not come with accessories.
The GE GFD55GSSNWW is a front load matching gas dryer with a large maximum load capacity of 7.8 cu. ft. Use the optional stacking kit model GFA28KITN and pair it with the perfect GE washer. Weighing only 135 lbs., and with True32 Closet depth at 32 inches deep, 39.75 inches high and 28 inches wide, you can place this machine in the tightest laundry spaces. Have even more flexibility in placement because it has a reversible glass door that you can see through. The LED interior light lets you see even more clearly so you can find every little article of clothing. The vent can be extended up to 90 ft. long and you get 4-way exhaust options: rear, right, left and bottom for even more installation flexibility.
With 10 different dryer cycles, you can choose the right type of care for your every laundry need from delicates to bulky/bedding. This dryer is smart home enabled with Built-in Wi-Fi so you can control and monitor your laundry with any smart device. When in a hurry, you can finish small loads in 23 minutes or less with Quick Dry. Protect your family with the Sanitize Cycle which helps in sterilizing fabrics by using high temperature levels. The Wrinkle Care option lets you skip ironing by drying fabrics without heat to reduce creasing. Get notified when your load is at the ideal moisture level for ironing or final air drying with Damp Alert. Sensor Dry helps prevent over drying of fabrics thanks to the innovative dual thermistor technology which monitors temperature and moisture in the dryer continually. The Vent Sensor alerts you when it detects blockage and restricting in your vent. Enjoy 5 different temperature options, four separate dryness levels, timed dry and other
GE dryer features like My Settings, delay dry and much, much more.
The GE GFD55GSSNWW does not come with accessories.
The LG DLGX8101V front load matching gas drier will perfectly pair with your favorite LG
washing machine. The massive 9.0 cu. ft. maximum load capacity will allow you to dry even more loads in even less time. Weighing only 161 lbs., and measuring 32.1 inches deep, 40.8 inches high and 29 inches wide, stack it on top of your matching LG washer to save space. Because the square glass door is reversible, you have even more flexibility in placement. Venting options are 3-way including the back, left side and right side. The NeveRust stainless steel drum is low maintenance, won’t rust or chip nor snag your clothes.
Featuring 14 dry cycles, you have a plethora of choice including delicates, cotton, heavy duty and even special cycles like SteamFresh™, SteamSanitary™, Anti-Bacterial and more. With the SteamFresh™ cycle, refresh clothes and reduce wrinkles in just 20 minutes, so your outfit will be ready in no time without the need for ironing. The SteamSanitary cycle uses the highest temperature provided by steam to help get rid of germs and bacteria while still being gentle on all kinds of fabric. The LG SpotClean cycle enhances the performance of stain removal treatments by harnessing the power of steam to gently loosen soil and penetrate fabrics. The LoDecibel™ Quiet Operation lets you enjoy a quiet time while the drier runs. Get an alert whenever it’s time to clean the ducts with FlowSense, to ensure that your machine runs at its tip top shape. Smart features like the SmartDiagnosis ™ helps diagnose and solvce problems quickly with the LG SmartThinQ app, saving you a call to the customer care service. This drier also has standard features like interior lighting to help you with loading and unloading, child lock, end-of-cycle signal, status indicator and others.
The LG DLGX8101V comes with a power cord.
Your search for the perfect drier is done with the GE GFD65GSPNSN front load drier. This front load matching gas drier handles up to 7.8 cu. ft. of laundry in one go, so you can do more in less loads. Stack your matching GE washing machine on top or put it on an optional pedestal (model # GFP1528PNSN), it’s up to you. Weighing just 137 lbs., and measuring 32 inches deep, 39.75 inches high and 28 inches wide, it will fit in most laundry closets and the smallest laundry spaces. The reversible glass door lets you see inside so you can see the drying action. Up to 90 feet of venting capability and 4-way venting, so you can place it anywhere.
This machine is packed with amazing GE features. Choose from 12 different dry cycles to give each load the right kind of dry it needs. The 12 dry cycles include SteamRefresh which will have your favorite outfit refreshed and free of creases in no time. SteamDewrinkle does the same with any load size. The Wrinkle Care option lets you skip ironing by drying fabrics without heat to reduce creasing. Protect your family with the Sanitize Cycle which helps in sterilizing fabrics by using high temperature levels. This smart-home enabled machine has built in Wi-Fi so you can start, pause and stop every cycle with your smart device anywhere you are. Get notified when your load is at the ideal moisture level for ironing or final air drying with Damp Alert. The Vent Sensor alerts you when it detects blockage and restricting in your vent. Quiet-By-Design so you won’t even know the laundry is running from the next room. With five heat selections and five dryness levels, you have full control of how you want your laundry done. Enjoy this plethora of features and others with this amazing washer.
The GE GFD65GSPNSN comes with hoses.
If you want a dryer without all the bells and whistles but performs well, the Whirlpool WGD4950HW might be the right one for you. It features a large 7.0 cu. ft. capacity so you can do more laundry in less loads. Weighing only 113 lbs., with measuring 28.25 inches deep, 43 inches high and 29 inches wide, it will look beautiful in many smaller laundry spaces. Easily transfer loads from the washer to the dryer and from the dryer to the laundry basket without worrying about clean clothes falling on the floor with this wide-opening door. Because it also features an interior light, it’s easy to find any small article of clothing that you may leave behind.
With 14 separate dry cycles, you can choose the best kind of dry for every laundry type. The Whirlpool WGD4950HW has must have features like the AutoDry™ Drying System which helps prevent over drying by monitoring the moisture content and automatically stopping the cycle when it hits the right level. Timed Dry lets you control your drying schedule; you can set it up from 20 to 70 minutes according to your needs. Three temperature levels are available to choose from: low, medium or high, so you can give your laundry the right type of drying it needs. Air Fluff lets you dry without heat for those delicate fabrics. Drying without heat also makes sure that creases won’t set in. If you don’t want creases but have loads that do need heat for drying, the Wrinkle Shield™ Option safeguards from creases and wrinkles from setting in by continuing to tumble the laundry every five minutes after the cycle is complete. The end-of-cycle signal lets you know when it’s the load is done.
The Whirlpool WGD4950HW is proudly Designed, Engineered and Assembled in the U.S.A. It comes with a power cord.
Wash dryers without a condenser
If you want a new dryer without a heat exchanger, you should look at the air-flow dryer. This only needs a heat element when drying your laundry. Because of this, it does not have a condenser. The airflow dryer is very cheap to buy, but in use, it is the least efficient of all the tumble dryers. So be aware that airflow dryers use considerably more energy than condensers or heat pump dryers. This is bad for the environment and will mean high energy bills. If you want to keep your energy use down, choose an energy-efficient heat pump dryer.
When to buy a heat pump dryer with a self-cleaning condenser, what should you look for?
There are a lot of things to consider when picking out a new dryer. Do you want to buy an energy-efficient heat pump dryer that’s low-maintenance? Then you’re well on your way! But of course, there are many more specifications and options to consider when buying a heat pump dryer. Keep the following tips in mind when shopping for a heat pump dryer with a self-cleaning condenser.
Fill weight
The fill weight of a dryer indicates how many pounds of laundry will fit inside the drum. We recommend that you buy a heat pump dryer that has at least the same fill weight as your washing machine. That way, you can always get all your wet laundry into the drum of your dryer. Buying a new dryer and washing machine? Use the chart below as a guide:
- a household of 1 or 2 people will need a 7kg capacity dryer.
- a household of 3 or 4 people will need a 8kg capacity dryer. Most heat pump dryers have a rim weight of 8 kg.
- a large household of 5 people or more would need a dryer with a rim weight of 9 kg or more.
Energy class
The heat pump dryer is more energy efficient than the other types. But there can still be a difference in how energy-efficient two different heat pump dryers are. For this, you look at the energy label. Most heat pump dryers with a self cleaning heat exchanger have energy class A++ or A+++. This can save up to 888 in energy costs over its lifetime, compared to the energy consumption of a conventional condenser tumble dryer.
Drying programmes
Like your washing machine, tumble dryers also have programmes for different types of laundry. There are special programs for wool, shirts, silk, baby clothes and towels. These programs ensure that your laundry dries perfectly and lasts as long as possible. Almost all new heat pump dryers also have an eco-setting, to further reduce energy consumption during drying, or a setting that makes your laundry ‘extra dry’.
Sound level
The sound level of a dryer indicates how loud it is when it is running its drying cycles. Almost all clothes dryers make a lot less noise than the average washing machine, but the noise can still be distracting. If you want a quiet tumble dryer, you should look for one that produces less than 65 dB (decibels). Dryers are divided into 3 categories when it comes to noise level: loud (67 dB or more), normal (65 dB or 66 dB) and quiet (64 dB and under). Most heat pump dryers are quiet, producing 64 dB or less.
Building Quality
The build quality of a dryer tells you something about its sturdiness and expected lifetime. Looking at build quality, all dryers are divided into basic, mid-range and top-range. If the build quality is not mentioned for a heat pump dryer, the brands and prices can also give an indication. According to the Consumers’ Association, these are the best brands for clothes dryers: Miele, Bosch, Siemens, AEG and Samsung. Brands that score better on price-quality ratio are Beko, Indesit and Zanussi.
