How long will a dryer last?

In general, a clothes dryer will last around 2500 drying cycles, but this depends on many different factors. Like the type of dryer, how often you use it, how well you clean the lint filter and the build quality. The 2500 drying cycles should therefore not be seen as a guarantee. According to research by the Consumers’ Association, the average household in the Netherlands spends eleven years with a dryer.

Replace older dryer

But even if your dryer is still working fine after ten years, 15 or maybe even 20 years, it may still be a good idea to buy a new dryer. This is because old clothes dryers have a very high energy consumption. And because the energy costs are so high, it may be more economical to exchange your old dryer for a new, energy-efficient one. Electrical appliances become more energy efficient with every passing year. For a dryer with energy label A++ or A+++, the annual energy costs are a lot lower than for most older appliances. With many modern heat pump dryers – which are the most energy-efficient dryers – you may pay as little as €50 or less per year in electricity. For a condenser dryer with energy class B, you can easily pay 125 euros a year in electricity.

Naturally, a dryer is not a cheap purchase, but your old appliance is probably costing you unnecessary electricity and therefore money. By choosing a more economical model, you’re almost guaranteed to have a lower energy bill. And with this lower power consumption, you will most likely recoup the cost of buying your new machine after just a few years.

Dryer repair or replace?

Does your dryer need a repair? Then you would do well to ask yourself whether it wouldn’t be wiser for you to buy a new one. If you’ve only had the dryer for a few years, a repair makes perfect sense, of course. But if the dryer lasts 10 years or more, it may be wiser to buy a new one. If you have a tumble dryer that lasts for 10 years or more, it may be wiser to buy a new one, as it will reach the end of its life. Of course, you can continue to pump money and energy into your old dryer, but you are probably cheaper off if you invest in a new one. In addition, because of its low energy consumption, it will also be a lot better for the environment.

Buying a new dryer

If you’re buying a new dryer to save energy, there are a few things you need to pay attention to. After reading the helpful tips below, you’ll know how to recognize a fuel-efficient clothes dryer.

• Type of dryer: when it comes to dryers, you have a choice between the vented dryer, the condenser dryer and the heat pump dryer. The exhaust dryer is the least economical. It is followed by condenser dryers and number one is the heat pump dryer.
• Energy label: the energy label of a clothes dryer tells you how energy efficient a new appliance is. A dryer with an A++ or A+++ energy label is officially considered to be energy-efficient.
• Energy cost per year: The energy label also indicates the expected energy cost per year. This gives you a slightly more accurate reading of how much electricity the dryer consumes.
• Self-cleaning condenser: Many heat pump dryers have a self-cleaning condenser, which means you no longer have to manually clean the heat exchanger. In many cases, this also extends the life of the dryer.