Self-cleaning condenser
It’s oh-so-important to clean your dryer’s condenser regularly, but this is no one’s favorite chore. For this reason, almost every new heat pump dryer has a self-cleaning condenser. This means that you no longer need to clean the condenser, also known as the heat exchanger. Want to know more? Read all about heat pump dryers with a self-cleaning condenser here.
Best self-cleaning condenser of 2022
What is a self-cleaning condenser
With a self-cleaning condenser you don’t have to clean the condenser yourself
A self-cleaning condenser is a feature that clothes dryers can have 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 currently on the market. Normally, you need to manually clean the heat exchanger of your dryer.
Generally, it is recommended to do this once a month. This will make your dryer last longer and keep it drying properly. If your dryer has and self-cleaning condenser, you don’t have to worry about this at all. The dryer can then clean the condenser itself, by rinsing it while it is drying.
Type of condenser cleaning
There are dryers on sale with three different ways of cleaning the heat exchanger. The ‘automatic cleaning’ we have just discussed, with this the condenser of the clothes dryer automatically rinses clean properly during drying by means of the self-cleaning condenser. In addition, dryers are also available with ‘easy cleaning’ and ‘manual cleaning’.
- For clothes dryers with manual cleaning, you have to take care of cleaning the condenser yourself. With most clothes dryers, this requires you to remove the heat exchanger from the dryer, and rinse it under the faucet or a shower head. This option is most common with a regular condenser dryer.
- If you choose a clothes dryer with ‘easy cleaning’, you don’t need to remove the condenser from the dryer. This is fixed. Once a month you can easily clean the filter with your vacuum cleaner. Most heat pump dryers have simple cleaning or automatic cleaning, so a self-cleaning condenser so you have no maintenance at all.
View best Self-cleaning condenser of 2022
Buy heat pump dryer with self-cleaning condenser
If you are looking for a new dryer, the heat pump dryer is the best choice in most cases. 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 get an economical heat pump dryer in your home. Most models with a self-cleaning condenser have energy class A++ or energy class A+++.
In the list below you will find our selection of the best dryers with a self-cleaning condenser from 2021. When making this top 5 we looked at energy consumption, maximum fill weight (size of the drum), different drying programs, consistent performance and noise level, among other things.
Electrolux ELFE7637AW
The Electrolux ELFE7637AW is the best dryer with self-cleaning condensor of October 2022!
$724.00
Maytag MED6230HW
$743.00
GE GTD72GBSNWS
$828.00
Maytag MGDC465HW
$880.00
GE GTD65EBSJWS
$981.00
Dryers without a condenser
If you want a new dryer without a heat exchanger, you should look at the air extraction dryer. This only needs a heat element when drying your laundry. Because of this, it does not have a condenser. In purchase, the air-flow dryer is very inexpensive, but in use they are the least economical of all types of clothes dryers. Therefore, keep in mind that your energy consumption with an air dryer is significantly higher than the average condenser dryer or heat pump dryer. This is bad for the environment and causes high energy bills. If you want to keep your energy consumption low, choose an energy-efficient heat pump dryer.
Purchase price
In general, heat pump dryers are more expensive to buy than condenser dryers. On the other hand, we would like to mention that heat pump dryers consume considerably less energy. This will keep your costs of using your new dryer a lot lower. If you choose a heat pump dryer in energy class A+++ (the most energy-efficient), you can save up to 75 euros per year on your energy costs compared to a condenser dryer in energy class B. Over its lifetime (about 12 years), that’s about 900 euros. Are you on a budget and need a new dryer? Then choose a cheap dryer and look at condenser dryers.
How to buy a heat pump dryer with a self-cleaning condenser
There’s a lot to consider when picking out a new dryer. Want to buy an energy-efficient heat pump dryer with low maintenance? Then you’re already 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 looking 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 in the drum. We recommend buying a heat pump dryer with at least as much fill weight as your washing machine. This ensures that all your wet laundry fits into the drum of your dryer. Are you buying a new dryer and washing machine? Then use the overview below as an indication:
- A household of 1 or 2 people needs a dryer with a fill weight of 7 kg.
- A 3 or 4 person household needs a dryer with a fill weight of 8 kg. Most heat pump dryers have a fill weight of 8 kg.
- A large household of 5 or more people will need a dryer with a fill weight of 9 kg or more.
Energy class
The heat pump dryer dries more economically than the other types of dryers. 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 allows you to save up to 888 euros on your energy costs over its lifetime compared to the energy consumption of a conventional condenser dryer.
Drying programs
Like your washing machine, tumble dryers also offer programs for different types of laundry. For example, there are special programs for wool, shirts, silk, baby clothes and towels. These programs ensure that your laundry dries perfectly and your clothes last as long as possible. Almost all new heat pump dryers also have an eco program, to further reduce energy consumption during drying, or a program that makes your laundry ‘extra dry’.
Noise level
The noise level of a clothes dryer indicates how loud it is while running drying programs. 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 clothes 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.
Build quality
The build quality of a dryer says something about its sturdiness and expected lifespan. 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 value for money are Beko, Indesit and Zanussi.
Self-cleaning heat pump dryer assortment
Whirlpool WED4950HW
Amana NGD4655EW
Amana NED4655EW
LG DLGX8101V
Whirlpool WGD6120HW
GE GFD65GSPNSN
Maytag MGDC465HW
GE GFV55ESSNWW
Electrolux EFME627UTT
Whirlpool WGD7120HW
GE GFD85GSPNRS
Whirlpool WGD5000DW
Maytag MGD5630HW
GE GFD55GSSNWW
Whirlpool WED49STBW
Maytag MGDX655DW
GE GFD85GSSNWW
GE GTD33GASKWW
GE GTD72GBPNDG
GE GTD45GASJWS
LG DLG7301WE
Maytag MEDX655DW
Whirlpool WED5000DW
Whirlpool WGD4815EW
Whirlpool WGD4950HW
Whirlpool WED4815EW
Maytag MED6200KW
GE GTD72GBSNWS
GE GTD72EBSNWS
