Heat Pump Dryers Save Energy and Eliminate Potential Fire Hazards

Conventional dryers heat the air using gas or electric resistance and then blow it through tumbling clothes and vent the warm, humid air outside. Heat pump dryers don't require vents, which can save energy and eliminate potential fire hazards from lint build-up in the ducts.

They also use lower temperatures and are gentler on clothing, which means they can take longer to dry than traditional machines. Learn more about these ventless laundry machines from Aztec Appliance.

Efficiency

A heat pump dryer can save you a considerable amount of money each year on your electric bill. According to Energy Star, it uses up to 28 percent less energy than a conventional dryer. That may not sound like much however, when your family is doing 20 loads of laundry a week in Massachusetts, where electricity rates are some of the highest in the nation and you'll save hundreds over a 12-year lifespan with a heat pump dryer.

The way a heat pump dryer functions is similar to dehumidifiers. The heat pump dryer starts with heated air, which is then pushed through coils to heat it up even more. The hot air draws moisture from the clothing into the heat exchanger where it is condensed. It drips into an empty pan or tube that can be connected to drain it. The moist, cooled air is then circulated over the coils of the condenser, to be heated.

Heat pump dryers do not require an exhaust vent, and so they can be put in places that wouldn't accommodate a conventional dryer. They also are more quiet and flexible and suitable for homes and other areas with little space. Additionally, they are more secure than dryers with vents, which could be dangerous if not maintained regularly.

Heat pump dryers take longer to dry your laundry due to the fact that they operate at lower temperatures. It's also important to clean the dryer regularly because it works like a dehumidifier, and produces a lot of moisture during drying. This is especially important when you reside in a humid area or if your clothes have lots of moisture in the dryer. You can do this by regularly inspecting and cleaning the lint screen and the condenser coils. Also, you should clean the drain tube regularly. The evaporator coil can be susceptible to bacteria and mold, but regular cleaning should keep it in good working order.

Condensation

The traditional method to dry clothes involves the use of a fan to blow hot air over the laundry that is tumbling and then venting the warm, moist air outside. This method consumes a lot of energy and requires access to an outdoor space that is vented for the venting. Heat pump dryers, also known as ventless drying machines recycle the air. They heat the incoming air by reusing the energy that goes to power the machine, then condense the resultant moisture into water that drains from the bottom of the dryer drum. They are smaller than vented models, heat pump Tumble dryer uk and can be installed in the attic or laundry room.

Although they are popular in Europe and Japan the heat pump dryers are new to the American market. They're now available in sizes that can fit into most home laundry rooms, and offer significant energy savings and other climate benefits. Since they don't vent the indoor air to the outside they don't require you to clean your venting system periodically or deal with potential problems that can occur when you have a dirty venting system.

Heat pump dryers work like a refrigerator's refrigeration system, with an air compressor that presses refrigerant through one set of coils to release heat and an evaporator set of coils that absorb warmth from the air that passes through them. The refrigerant heated circulates in another set of coils to condense moist air. The refrigerant that is cooled is then pumped back into the first coils, where it is reheated.

Heat pump dryers require maintenance, just as other dryers with electric motors to maintain their peak performance. Lint collects on the filters, as well as on the condenser and evaporator coils. It is crucial to clean them regularly to avoid excessive wear. And they use refrigerants with high GWP (Global Warming Potential) and therefore, they have to be properly recycled also.

Another disadvantage to be aware of is the fact that heat pump dryers generally take longer than vented ones to complete a job. This is because the maximum temperature of heat pump dryers is lower at around 120degF. This means that they need to tumble a longer before they're completely dry.

Lint Screens

Heat pump dryers have an air vent and lint filter system that need to be cleaned regularly. A blocked vent can drastically lengthen drying times, and can pose a fire hazard. The exhaust of a vented dryer can reach temperatures that are high enough to ignite volatile oils and chemicals on clothing.

A heat pump vent system requires an air dehumidifier to remove moisture before the air is removed from the dryer. A dehumidifier also helps reduce energy costs by lowering temperature of the incoming hot water used to heat the air.

The lint screen in a heat pump dryer is finer than in conventional dryers, which is why it requires cleaning more frequently. The lint trap in the door's opening is an ideal place for lint to accumulate, and it should be inspected and cleaned frequently.

Models with heat pump washer dryer pumps have a heated drum, which means that the inside of the machine needs to be free of lint and residue from dryer or fabric softener sheets. The heated drum walls could also need to be cleaned and inspected regularly, as they might require to be changed, as indicated by the user's manual.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the accumulation of lint in the dryer's exhaust pipe is more than just an inconvenience. It's also an ignition source that can cause around 2,900 house fires each year. Clean your dryer's lint exhaust hose once a year using a wire brush, or use a leaf blower from the exterior to eliminate lint from inside of the hose, as this How-to video explains. It's safer to do this from the outside as you won't be able to see lint on your face. If you're not confident in your ability to clean the duct, you can hire an expert to handle it for you.

If you don't feel the air moving through the vent of your dryer outside or when your dryer takes longer to dry than usual there may be an obstruction from lint inside the duct. Choose a specific day in the year to clean the vent system - Labor Day, the beginning of spring, or the end or the beginning of daylight savings time - and adhere to it.

Installation

Modern electric dryers are one of the best conveniences for homeowners. But choosing the right dryer is also an important choice for those who want to cut their energy costs and make a a positive impact on the environment. For many people, heat pump dryers are a great option. In contrast to traditional vented dryers which utilize gas or electricity to heat air and blow the hot, dry air into the drum to eliminate moisture, heat pump dryers reuse the same air over and over, pulling the moist air from the clothes and cooling it, allowing it to return to the laundry room where it can be used again.

Because heat pump dryers don't require venting outside, they don't require any chimney or ducting and can be installed in small spaces like laundry closets. This makes them ideal for small homes, accessory dwelling units (such as a laundry room in the basement or an apartment over the garage) and even for additions. Also, because the Energy STAR label is a reliable mark of energy efficiency, heat pump dryers are often more efficient than traditional vented models.

Contrary to the majority of dryers for clothes, which need a dedicated circuit, most heat pump dryers are built to operate on the standard 120-volt, 15 amp electrical circuits. This is a huge benefit for older homes with older wiring and can reduce the cost of installation.

However, the fact that heat pump dryers aren't as powerful than other types of dryers, means they take longer to finish each cycle. Because they don't go around like conventional dryers do, large items such as towels and sheets could become a laundry sludge which is difficult to unravel. Some manufacturers attempt to address this issue by reversed tumble cycles for short periods during a cycle.

Additionally, heat pump dryers need more regular maintenance than other dryers. Lint can collect on the heat exchanger coils as well as the evaporator coils, and require regular cleaning or vacuuming to ensure they are running at a high efficiency. Since heat pump dryers don't vent, they may also accumulate moisture on the inside of the dryer, causing mold.