What does build quality mean?
If you want to know how long your new clothes dryer will last, you would do well to look at its build quality. This is because it gives the best indication of how long an appliance will last. Also, high-quality clothes dryers have low moisture emissions. This means that they spread less moist air in the room of your dryer.
When we look at the quality of a clothes dryer, we divide them into three categories: top-of-the-line, mid-range and basic. To determine which dryer falls into which category, we look at the specifications below:
- A stainless steel (SS) drum: these wear less quickly and therefore keep your laundry looking great for longer, ideal for drying delicate clothing.
- Cleaning indicators: these will alert you when it’s time to clean the condenser and lint filter. Keeping these clean will help the dryer do its job optimally.
- Stainless steel door hinge: this reduces the chance of rust, keeping the door opening and closing smoothly.
- Anti-vibration walls: this will reduce the vibration of the dryer, making the dryer quieter while drying.
- Coolless motor: the absence of carbon brushes means your energy consumption is lower and the chance of wear and tear is reduced.
- Low moisture emissions: as less moisture escapes, you have less of a problem with moisture and mold in a small space.
- Protective metal and enamel casing: this casing makes it much less likely to damage the outside of the dryer.
Top rated washer dryer
Top rated washer dryers are the best washer dryers you can get when you look at the build quality. These clothes dryers have at least 70% of the previously mentioned specifications and have a longer life span than other clothes dryers. Almost all top-of-the-line clothes dryers have a brushless motor, which automatically makes the dryer last a lot longer. Also, most dryers of this quality are heat pump dryers with energy class A++ or A+++. An energy-efficient heat pump dryer is often more expensive to buy, but because it uses so little energy per cycle, it is often cheaper.
Middle class dryer
A middle class dryer has 50% to 70% of the above specifications. You can assume that the dryer is made of stainless steel, but otherwise you should not expect any special luxuries. Again, for this category, most models are heat pump dryers, but you will also find several mid-range condenser dryers. The condenser dryer dries at a high temperature, which means that your laundry dries faster, but the energy consumption is also higher than that of the heat pump dryer.
Basic class dryer
If you’re stuck on a budget, the products in this category are a fine solution for drying your laundry. Basic class dryers have less than 50% of the previously mentioned specifications and are therefore a lot simpler and of lower quality. As a result, the expected life of these dryers is a lower. By performing proper maintenance, such as cleaning the condenser, you can ensure that the dryer will last a little longer and it will continue to dry your laundry well. In this category, you can expect to find the heat pump dryer, as well as the condenser dryer and the air discharge dryer. The energy consumption of the air dryer is highest among all types of clothes dryers.
No build quality listed?
Not all manufacturers and makers of clothes dryers are as open and transparent about the build quality of their products. If you have your eye on a dryer, but can’t tell whether it is a top of the range, mid-range or entry-level model, the following will give you an idea of its quality.
Look at the specifications
We previously listed the specifications that determine which quality category a dryer falls into (stainless steel drum, stainless steel door hinge, cleaning indicators, anti-vibration walls, carbon brushless, metal enamel housing and moisture expulsion). If the dryer has 70% or more, it is top of the line. If it has 50% to 70%, it falls into the middle category. And if the dryer has 50% or less, it is a basic class dryer.
What type of dryer is it?
There are different types of clothes dryers; the heat pump dryer, the condenser dryer and the air discharge dryer. The heat pump dryer can fall into any category, but with this type of dryer you are most likely to get your hands on a top of the line clothes dryer. However, conventional dryers, in other words condenser dryers and extractor dryers, are less likely to fall into the top category. Another reason why we recommend the heat pump dryer!
What price range does the dryer fall into?
You can buy a dryer for as little as 300 euros, but if you want to you can also spend 2000 euros on it. The fact that a tumble dryer is more expensive to buy does not automatically mean that it is a better buy than a cheap tumble dryer. But the price can be an indication that the product is made with quality materials and with a good, thoughtful design.
What brand do you go for?
One brand is not the other. Also for brands, a big, popular brand does not necessarily produce better clothes dryers. But even here it can be an indication. Research by the Consumers’ Association shows that owners of Miele clothes dryers are most satisfied, and most likely to buy the same brand again next time. In addition, Bosch, Siemens, AEG and Samsung are also rated well. However, for value for money these brands score lower, as they are more expensive to buy. If you are looking for brands that score well on value for money according to the Consumers’ Association, you can look at clothes dryers from Indesit, Zanussi and Beko.