Energy ratings on dryers

[ecoclean]

I recently went to the local appliance shop for a looksee at the latest dryers to come onto the market.

When I asked the sales rep about vented vs condenser models and the more energy effecient models, he told me that the ratings were a gauge of the appliances effeciency within the grade i.e vented against vented, or condenser against condenser. As such, a C rated vented dryer was not comparable to a C rated condenser dryer on a consumption basis. He went on to explain that vented was a far more effecient option.

Is this true??

 

[tomturbomatic]

Vented dryers generally use less energy to dry a load of laundry. While vented dryers often have higher wattage heating elements than condenser dryers, condenser dryers usually have to run longer to dry a load of laundry. This is usually because the condensing part of the dryer does not remove the moisture from the air as fast as it is evaporated from the load being dried. Air-cooled condenser dryers usually have to run at higher temperatures to increase the difference in temperature between the moisture-laden air inside the dryer and the room temperature air used to cool that air and extract the moisture from it. If a machine, like some combination washer-dryers, uses cold water to cause condensing, there is the cost of the water unless you are on well water. Miele used to print a table in their brochures showing the amount of energy their appliances used and the condenser dryers used a slight amount more. If the dryer is in an air conditioned part of the dwelling, the air cooled condenser will add heat to the room. This might be welcome in the winter, but not in the summer in most places. A vented dryer will pull the heated or air conditioned room air through the dryer and exhaust it outdoors which means that air has to leak into the dwelling and be heated or cooled to make up for what the dryer is pumping out. For best efficiency, operate a dryer when it puts the least load on the heating or cooling system. Both condenser and vented dryers should be used in the coolest part of the day during the summer. Vented dryers should be used during the warmest part of the day during the winter or with a damper arrangement that returns some of the heated air to the room.

 

[nmaineman36]

What I do to prevent the dryer from sucking out all the heat or cooled air in my house is simply open a window. I have one above the dryer and I just slde it open. Simple. I do notice that when I do open the window that I can feel a breeze come thru and the dryer doesnt have to struggle pulling the air that it needs. Plus the dryer dries faster and with the air being so dry this time of year it flies. I also get the added bonus of the clothes having that fresh outside dried smell that I love.

 

[ecoclean]

Thanks for that. I presently have a Miele vented dryer in a small utility room, and sure enough it needs lots of fresh outside air to do its job correctly.

I'm not too sure how the Energuide rating system works for dryers and the like in the US, but the A (most efficient) - G (least efficient) labeling system we have here appeared to be pretty straight forward until the sales rep threw me a curve ball with the 'like for like' scenario.

The domestic condenser system dryers here are all single phase 220 V electric, and can be plugged in pretty much anywhere around the house. They dont use mains fed water in the condensing process, so the energy rating displayed in the sales literature should be based on electrical energy usage alone...or so I thought until yesterday...!! Was he just B.S'n me, or is there some basis of truth in what he said?!