Buy a heat pump dryer
Need a new dryer? Then a heat pump dryer is the best choice! This is because they are the most energy-efficient dryers available. They are often more expensive to buy, but because they use considerably less energy than condensing dryers, they are still cheaper. Read everything you need to know about this type of dryer here!

Why buy a heat pump dryer
Do our quick decision aid to find the best heat pump dryer.
You’re looking for a new clothes dryer and wondering why you should buy a heat pump dryer? That answer is simple. You save a lot of energy, and therefore money, with it. In addition, a heat pump dryer dries your clothes at a lower temperature. This means that your clothes will wear out less quickly. A small disadvantage is that a heat pump dryer takes a little longer to dry your laundry compared to a condenser dryer.
These are, of course, wonderful advantages to choosing a heat pump dryer. However, there are a number of other points to consider when buying a heat pump dryer. To get started, choose the right kind of heat pump dryer for your situation below or go straight to viewing the best heat pump dryers of 2022.
View best Heat Pump Dryer of 2022
Why buy a heat pump dryer
If you are looking for a new clothes dryer, the heat pump dryer is the way to go. The alternative to the heat pump dryer is the condenser dryer. We’d like to explain the differences between these 2 types of dryers and show you why it’s better to choose a heat pump dryer.
The main difference between these 2 different dryers is that the heat pump dryer uses a heat pump and a refrigerant, while the condensing dryer dries with a heating element. The heating element of the condenser dryer uses a lot of energy, so drying with a heat pump dryer is relatively energy efficient. This is better for the environment, but also for your wallet. Despite being generally more expensive to buy, heat pump dryers are often the cheaper choice because of their energy efficiency. Heat pump dryers keep your energy costs down nicely. With a heat pump dryer with energy class A+++ you can save up to 888 euros on your energy costs when you compare it to a condenser dryer with energy class B.
Because the two types of dryers dry your laundry in a different way, there is also a difference in the drying temperature. The condenser dryer dries your laundry at a higher temperature. This makes the drying programs last shorter, but it also makes it more likely that your clothes will wear out or shrink because of the hot air. A heat pump dryer dries at a lower temperature, and therefore takes longer, but your clothes will last longer.
Here are the benefits of drying with a heat pump dryer:
- It’s better for the environment
- It keeps your energy bill low
- Your laundry stays beautiful longer because of the low drying temperature
- Moisture is evacuated through a water outlet or collected in a tank
These are the disadvantages of buying a heat pump dryer:
- Due to the low temperature, drying programs take longer
- Relatively expensive to buy
Features of a heat pump dryer
The heat pump dryer dries your clothes and other laundry using a heat pump and a refrigerant. As a result, the drying temperature is relatively low, so it takes longer for your laundry to dry completely. On the other hand, the low temperature means your laundry is less likely to be damaged, which means it will last longer.
The way heat pump dryers dry is energy efficient compared to the condenser dryer. New heat pump dryers almost always have a good energy label; between energy class A+ and A+++. If you want an economical heat pump dryer, it is best to choose a model with energy class A+++. This can save you up to 888 euros on your energy costs.
The removal of moisture can be done in two ways with heat pump dryers; collection in a reservoir or removal via the water outlet. Most dryers of this type offer both options. If you choose to collect in a reservoir, the moisture is automatically stored in the built-in condensation tray of the dryer. You will need to empty this into the sink after drying your laundry. If you have a water outlet in the room where your dryer will be installed, we recommend that you connect your new heat pump dryer to it. That way, you won’t have to worry about the moisture from your dryer.
Compare heat pump dryers
Heat pump dryers are the most popular type of dryer today. They dry energy efficiently and often offer a host of options to improve ease of use. Because the average heat pump dryer has a lifespan of around 12 years, you’ll want to buy one that really suits you and your household. For that reason, here are our tips for comparing all the different heat pump dryers. Here’s what to look out for when buying a heat pump dryer.
Condensate drain
The heat pump dryer drains moisture through the water outlet or captures it in a built-in reservoir. The reservoir should be emptied after running drying programs, for example in the sink. If you have a water outlet in the room where your heat pump dryer will be installed, we recommend connecting the heat pump dryer to it. Then you do not have to empty the tank after every drying session.
Filling weight
The fill weight of a dryer indicates how many kg of wash fits in the drum. We recommend that you buy 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 heat pump dryer and washing machine? Then use the overview below as an indication:
- A household of 1 or 2 people needs a dryer with a load of 7 kg.
- A household of 3 or 4 people needs a dryer with a fill weight of 8 kg.
- A household of 5 or more people needs a dryer with a load of 9 kg or more.
Energy class
Earlier we explained that the heat pump dryer, due to the use of the heat pump, consumes less energy during drying than the other types of clothes dryers. But then there can still be a difference in how energy efficient two different heat pump dryers are. For this, you look at the energy label. The most energy efficient models have energy label A+++, but energy label A++ is also considered energy efficient. A heat pump dryer with energy class A++ or A+++ is best for the environment, but also for your energy bill.
Drying programs
Just like your washing machine, heat pump dryers also offer several 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). Heat pump 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.
Ease of Use
Today’s heat pump dryers offer all sorts of smart features to make drying your clothes, bedding and other laundry as easy as possible for you. These include options such as a self-cleaning condenser, control via an app, a delayed start and an illuminated drum. Do you think you and your household will benefit from this? Then choose a heat pump dryer that has these features.
Build quality
The build quality of a dryer says something about its sturdiness and expected lifespan. In terms of build quality, all dryers are divided into basic, medium and premium classes. 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. All these brands have heat pump dryers in their range. The AEG T9DENS87 and AEG T9DEN87CC came out best in this year’s test according to the Consumers’ Association.
The above brands are generally more expensive to buy, so they score less well in terms of value for money. Brands that do score well in this category are Beko, Indesit and Zanussi. The Beko DR 8534 GXO was crowned ‘best buy’ for heat pump dryers by the Consumers’ Association. This is because it is relatively inexpensive, energy-efficient heat pump dryer.