What to look out for
By buying the right tumble dryer, you can not only improve your user-friendliness but also reduce your energy bills. We do some preliminary work for you, comparing tumble dryers across a range of features to bring you the best ones. We’ll let you know what features we compare and how you can find out which dryer is best for you. After all, we want you to enjoy your purchase for many years to come, and the first step is of course to choose the right model.
- First of all, pay attention to the type of clothes dryer, you may have to choose a certain type due to space or drainage options.
- Always choose the most favorable energy label possible. A+++ is best, but choose at least A, this will save you a lot of energy costs.
- Choose a top or mid-range build quality.
- Decide for yourself what kind of ease of use you would like to have and if you are willing to pay extra for it.
- Then, choose the most appropriate dryer based on your budget.
Compare the type of tumble dryer
To make the right choice, it’s important to first look at some practical things where you start comparing the advanced options of a clothes dryer. After all, what kind of clothes dryers are out there? For starters, there are three types of tumble dryer for sale: a heat pump dryer, a condenser dryer, and a drain dryer. The difference lies in the method of drying, but in practical terms, it lies even more in the way it extracts air and moisture. We’ll cover the practical side so you can start by choosing the right type of dryer. A clothes dryer should be positioned close to a window, as the condensation is vented to the outside air via a thick, flexible hose. Do you want or need to put your cabinet in a small space without a window? Then a duct dryer is not a suitable option. A heat pump dryer or a condenser dryer are suitable for small spaces, because they can both drain water and collect it in a condenser tank. So there’s no need for a window or drain. Finally, these models don’t heat up the ambient air as much, so the small space won’t get very hot or stuffy.
Compare energy label
The energy label always gives a letter: A, B, C or A+, A++ or even A+++. An energy-efficient label is good for your annual energy bill, but also for the environment. Whether you want to choose a more efficient model depends on your own preference. In general, an energy-efficient model costs more. However, this will (more than) pay for itself over the years. Unfortunately, many consumers don’t take this into account when purchasing, and end up spending more money in the end. For example, a dryer with an A++ energy label consumes only one third of the energy of a dryer with a C energy label. When the cost of a C-rated dryer is around €120 per year, an A+++ dryer will save around €60 per year. After 10 years, the estimated minimum lifespan based on average use, this can add up to €600. The difference in price, however, does not have to be €600. The energy label is therefore an important feature of the dryer. Nowadays, there are no more clothes dryers for sale with an energy label below C. However, second-hand and old clothes dryers still have very environmentally unfriendly energy labels. A cheap second-hand dryer can therefore cost a lot per year. Finally, you can do a lot yourself to reduce energy consumption, such as high spin with the washer so the clothes are already drier. Also, a sensor on the inside of the dryer will adjust the program if a drum is not full, very convenient and environmentally friendly.
Compare the build quality of a tumble dryer
The build quality is often overlooked when people are looking for a suitable tumble dryer. It’s not something you can immediately ‘use’ yourself. However, it does help you more than you might think. Good build quality means less wear and tear and a longer lifespan. This can save you a lot of money. Build quality is divided into three categories: basic, mid-range and top-of-the-range. A top-of-the-range dryer will have at least 70% of the following features: a stainless steel drum, stainless steel housing, stainless steel door hinges, self-cleaning condenser, anti-vibration walls, cleaning indicators, brushless motor and low moisture emission. If a dryer has less than 70% but more than 50% of these features, it is a mid-range build quality. Below 50%, it’s a basic build quality. A basic class will not last as long and is more susceptible to damage due to the higher amount of vibration and more likely to be damaged. In addition, the ease of use of a dryer with anti-vibration walls, cleaning indicators and a self-cleaning condenser is also higher.
Personal ease of use comparison
User comfort depends on many factors, including the options on a clothes dryer. Which options are most convenient or even necessary for your comfort of use is very personal. You can select these options in the filters, so you will only see dryers with certain options. For example, an anti-crease function to prevent unnecessary ironing or an anti-vibration function that makes the machine make less noise. Also a child safety feature, drum illumination, a delayed start button, a rest indicator or automatic shut off are features that increase the ease of use. Some may seem obvious, but are not found on every tumble dryer. So if you specifically want one, always check. Some heat pump dryers also have a steam function or even app controls so you can turn the dryer on when you’re not home or check the time. Finally, there are also brand-specific features like AEG ProSense, Bosch ALlergyPlus, Bosch Selfcleaning condenser, Miele PerfectDry, Miele FragraneDos, Miele Softcare tube, Siemens iSensoric and Whirlpool 6th SENSE. Today, there are no more tumble dryers for sale with an energy label below C.
However, second-hand and old tumble dryers still have very environmentally unfriendly energy labels. A cheap second-hand dryer can therefore cost a lot per year. Finally, you can do a lot yourself to reduce energy consumption, such as high spin with the washer so the clothes are already drier. Also, a sensor on the inside of the dryer will adjust the program to a less full drum, which is very convenient and environmentally friendly. What your budget is of course determines which tumble dryer you choose. If you have a higher budget, you can choose an energy-efficient heat pump dryer with top quality. This is good for the environment, the annual energy costs are low, the ease of use is high and the lifespan will be longer. Still, even with a smaller budget, there are tumble dryers with more features and a favorable energy label.
User intensity washer dryer
This is almost the only fact that is almost directly proportional to the life of the dryer. If the tumble dryer is used twice as much, it will also last twice as long. If somewhere a life expectancy in years is given, you may assume that this is based on daily single use of the tumble dryer. However, most of the time the lifespan is not given in years, but in number of wash cycles. In that case, you can easily convert it into years by looking at how many washes you need per day or week. It doesn’t matter if the machine is half full or full. More dirt and less maintenance does make a difference of course, this puts more strain on the tumble dryer.