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A clothes dryer is one of those household appliances that you don’t know how much you actually need until you’ve got one. If you’re in the market for a new one, compare a few different types and models before picking the best fit for your laundry needs.
This will depend on how many people are in your household and your personal preferences. Some things to consider when purchasing a clothes dryer include:
There are several types of clothes dryers on the market, differing in features, environmental impact and, of course, price. Some types of dryers are more expensive than others, but can be cheaper to run and gentler on your clothes. So understanding what the four main types of clothes dryers do can help you decide which type best suits your needs.
A vented clothes dryer is the simplest and most common type of dryer. These are typically cheaper to buy, but can be more expensive to run in comparison to other dryers. All clothes dryers need to release the moisture that’s taken from your clothes somewhere. With vented dryers, this is usually straight into the surrounding area, so it needs to be placed it in a well-ventilated room. Otherwise, you’ll need to install a venting hose to direct the hot, moist air outside.
Gas dryers work in a similar way to electric clothes dryers, but the main difference is that they use gas as the energy source. These appliances are more expensive to buy, but usually cheaper to run, as they use less energy and often heat clothes up faster than most electric dryers. A gas dryer’s drum motor and controls are still powered by electricity, though this contributes only 10% of the energy cost. You’ll need to have a gas line running to the laundry room and the dryer must be vented to the outside.
Condenser dryers are equipped with heat exchangers that condense the moisture from your clothes into water and either collect it in a reservoir or drain it away. The reservoirs are easily taken out and emptied. While the air that is released into the room from a condenser dryer will still be warm, it won’t be moist as it is with vented dryers, so there won’t be water dripping down the walls. As a result, these dryers tend to be a bit more expensive, as ventilation isn’t as big an issue.
A heat pump clothes dryer works in a similar way to a reverse-cycle air conditioner by recycling the warm air produced by the drying cycle and using it to dry out the clothes. These dryers are more expensive, but they’re also much more energy efficient and thus less costly to run. And while they tend to take a little longer to dry clothes than other types, they condense moisture and don’t vent any warm air at all, so there are no ventilation concerns.
A few of the most popular stores to shop for appliances like clothes dryers are:
Having the right clothes dryer for your and your family’s needs is important if you want to spend less time doing laundry and more time doing activities you enjoy. Compare a few top options before investing in a new dryer to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.
To choose our list of the best clothes dryers, we conducted indepenent research to determine some of the most popular models currently available. We then considered the type of dryer, size, capacity, extra features and price, specifically choosing models in a range of prices, sizes and extras.
Data obtained January 2020 and is subject to change.
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