Condenser vs heat pump dryer?

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#2362419 28-Nov-2019 20:21

mentalinc: Can anyone recommend a heatpump model they have had luck with (or one they had issues with to avoid? Consumer list the Miele, but AEG isn't included at all...

My parents have a miele heatpump one and they find it good, but don't use it all that much. I think it was about the same price as the competing brands when on sale.

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#2362422 28-Nov-2019 20:39

Having had a look at the sales etc, seems the LG consumer recommend from Noels is the winner.

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#2363389 30-Nov-2019 11:56

thanks all. heat pump dryer it is BUT ...

does it need to be piped out? is there one with a tank?

richms

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#2363394 30-Nov-2019 12:16

You can usually fit them down the same drain that the washing machine goes down.

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#2363397 30-Nov-2019 12:21

ah i see thanks

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#2363400 30-Nov-2019 12:35

just to match the other stuff in the house, would anyone not get a fisher and paykel heat pump dryer for any reason?

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#2363402 30-Nov-2019 12:38

Only reason to match the washer is if you want to stack them. Not sure why you would match any other appliances brands.

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#2363472 30-Nov-2019 14:23

Batman:

thanks all. heat pump dryer it is BUT ...

does it need to be piped out? is there one with a tank?

My parents miele has a tank, but can also be piped out to the waste. They have it piped, but had been using it with the tank. You always have to remember to empty the tank, but it just pulls out from the front and dips into the tub.

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#3352456 11-Mar-2025 08:05

Thread unlocked at my request, thank you.

So, 5-6 years on what are your experience with condenser and heat pump dryers?

Our current over 20y old tumble dryer is starting to lose the plot and now that we've gone solar are looking for a more energy efficient replacement.

What I read so far, todays tumble dryers still pretty power hungry.

Condenser pumps less power hungry, dry clothes fast-ish due to higher operating temperatures, need to be in a well ventilated area due to heat output, do not require direct venting, and output water into a tank which requires frequent emptying, much like the lint collector I imagine.

Heat pump dryers, most energy efficient, take longer to dry than condenser models due to lower operating temperatures, ventilation and venting not required. This thread is the only place I've read that they also have to have water emptied out, so I'd like to know more about that.

The worst part of this decision is that the under bench space our current dryer occupies is smaller than ANY AND EVERY dryer on the market today. So it's going to have to be wall mounted or somehow fit on the bench space above where the current dryer is.

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#3352460 11-Mar-2025 08:35

Condenser and Heat Pump models can usually be drained to your wastewater pipe like the washer as an alternative to the tank.

You don't need a ventilated space for a condenser but it will warm up the laundry.

The cost savings for a heat pump could take the 10 year life of the appliance to pay back the higher purchase cost.

Many people with vented dryers could save more by just clearing the lint filter before each load and ensuring the vent ducting is kept clean. Drying with a blocked filter or vent simply roasts your clothes.

Yeah, pretty much all laundry appliances are 600w x 600-650w x 850h. You can stack it on top of your washer though.

We have always had vented because they are cheap, last for decades and are easy to (self) repair when the drum bearing or start capacitor eventually fails. Might change when the current one dies in about 10 years or if I end up somewhere with a hard-to-vent laundry.

If I was on solar I would seriously consider heat pump as they are so efficient.

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#3352462 11-Mar-2025 08:49

Our Hoover heatpump dryer is still going strong, after what must be 7 years! In winter it goes every day - often more than once - and 2 - 3 times a week in summer. Even with what we paid it has to be getting close to paying for itself, and the reduction in energy bills in winter helps with cashflow!

With the dramatic lowering in cost - Samsung and LG both have models for $1,000 - unless you're using it once a week I can't see anything else being a better option.

https://www.harveynorman.co.nz/whiteware/laundry/clothes-dryers/lg-8kg-heat-pump-condenser-dryer-with-9-programs-white-series-3-dvh3-08w.html

https://www.harveynorman.co.nz/whiteware/laundry/clothes-dryers/samsung-8kg-14-program-heat-pump-condenser-dryer-white-dv80ta420de-sa.html

If you go for other brands - Midea (massive chinese whitegoods manufacturer), Vogue or others you could get a larger or cheaper unit.

Power rises are happening every year, and approaching 10% in some cases. My view is that the payback period is much less than it was, and they also offer some future proofing against future rises. And with solar you are much less likely to be importing to run such a heavy appliance.

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#3352464 11-Mar-2025 08:55

johno1234: If I was on solar I would seriously consider heat pump as they are so efficient.

Curious. Is a typical solar install not able to run a vented dryer?

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#3352465 11-Mar-2025 08:55

We picked up a Samsung heat pump dryer on a very good Black Friday special. Before then, on occasions I was using the laundromat up the road to dry stuff once a month when the weather gods were against us.

The economics of this type of dryer do not stack up for us. The 40% off special and not having to create a vent to the outside world for it made the choice palatable. I don't mind that it takes twice as long as a traditional vented dryer.

Due to a great summer and good planning, we've used it only once so far. The AI Dry setting resulted in the one set of sheets and pillowcases still bring damp in the middle of the ball. I removed and re-stuffed them, re-starting the drying on Cotton mode which produced a better result.

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#3352480 11-Mar-2025 09:40

Bung:

johno1234: If I was on solar I would seriously consider heat pump as they are so efficient.

Curious. Is a typical solar install not able to run a vented dryer?

Yes it can, and that is our current setup.

But as we are staring down the barrel of a new dryer purchase, we may as well consider solar-friendly options.

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johno1234

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#3352481 11-Mar-2025 09:43

Bung:

johno1234: If I was on solar I would seriously consider heat pump as they are so efficient.

Curious. Is a typical solar install not able to run a vented dryer?

I'm sure it can run any device that plugs into a 10A socket... but would be a heavy drain if drying a lot of loads each week at say 5KWh per load.

Interesting viewpoint from a repairman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn03N3b0-lE

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