Tumble dryer buying guide
Shopping for a new kitchen or laundry appliance can be difficult but our tumble dryer buying guide is here to help!
We’ll provide everything you need to demystify the tech talk and pick the right item for you. From brands and drying types to handy new features, feel confident in and supported in your new purchase.
The first thing to think about is the size of the load you’ll be doing. A large-capacity tumble dryer is usually the most energy-efficient way of drying your laundry as there is more space for garments to circulate. Because of this, clothes take less time to dry than smaller or more compact dryers. If you have a larger household, we’d recommend you look at a dryer with a capacity of 8kg or more.
- Small load: up to 5kg
- Medium load: 5-10kg
- Large load: over 10kg
- Heat pump dryers may cost a little more initially but they are cheaper to run than most other dryers, so you will make back that money over time. Heat pump dryers work by using hot air to absorb moisture from the laundry load. This air subsequently passes through an evaporator where it cools, turns back into water and is stored into a removable tank.
- Condenser dryers don’t need an “exhaust” hose to vent the heated air to the outside, so they can be conveniently situated anywhere in your home. Condenser dryers condense the steam inside the machine and turning it into water, which is then collected in a removable reservoir.
- Vented tumble dryers need to expel the hot and damp air from the drum. A vented machine will need to be next to or near a wall or window through which a flexible hose can vent the air outside.
Energy labels help customers choose products which can save energy and money, as well as being kinder to the environment. Energy labels also provide incentives for the industry to strive for even more efficient products. Spanning from an A rating (the most energy efficient) to G (the least energy efficient), this scale was redesigned in 2021 to help adapt the labels to the industry standards that are now much more environmentally friendly than in previous years.
- Freestanding tumble dryers are ideal for laundry rooms, utility rooms or for slotting into a space under a kitchen counter.
- Integrated tumble dryers effectively hide your appliance behind a cupboard door. This creates a more polished look. Integrated appliances are ideal if you’re having a new kitchen installed.
Although most tumble dryers are a standard height and width, it’s important that you measure the space you want your tumble dryer to fit in. Models with a large capacity tend to need more depth to accommodate the larger drum. If you’re buying a vented tumble dryer, you’ll need to add on a few centimetres to the depth to ensure the vent hose is taken into account.
- Slim width
- Standard width
- Large width
A tumble dryer will revolutionise your laundry. No more damp clothes over radiators and you need never come home to a washing line full of just-rained-on clothes! That said, some tumble dryers have additional features that may make life a little easier.
- Noise levels can vary so, if you live in a small flat or if you have a large open-plan area where you want to site the machine, it is worth looking at the noise output. You’ll find this info in the product specification section of each product page.
- Sensor drying tumble dryers have – as the name suggests – internal sensors that monitor the moisture levels and stop the dryer as soon as your laundry is dry. This saves you both time and money. Just load the machine and let it run without spending time trying to choose the best programme
- Smart tumble dryers connect to your home WiFi and allow the ‘internet of things’ to help you take control of your laundry. Using apps to start the machine and check on progress, smart tumble dryers can help you identify and fix minor issues, such as a blocked filter, without the need (and expense) of calling out an engineer.
- Timer / delay timers allow you to start the machine after a specific period of time. This is particularly useful if you have an electrical tariff that makes using electrical appliances during the night cheaper. Delay timers are also useful if you want the laundry to be ready for when you get up / get home.
Did you know that many of our products are also available for rental? Enjoy the latest tech with low, monthly payments and regular opportunities to upgrade, find out more about Hughes Rental here.
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