Heat pump - ventless dryers

[chachp]

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">I am considering a new washer/dryer.   I am looking at a set with a Ventless Heat Pump dryer.  There is a lot of information out there both pros and cons.  Most reviews I have read have been favorable.  Have any of you used one?  What was your experience?</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">From what I've read clothes will take a little longer to dry, they won't come out hot, they don't require as much maintenance and they are more energy efficient to run.  </span>

 

[combo52]

Heat -Pump Dryers

Use less electricity about 1/2 as much as a regular electric dryer [ saves .10-30 cents a load ], great if you dry a lot of laundry and don't have the option of a gas dryer which would still be cheaper to run.

 

They are much more completed and will have about twice as many repairs over a shorter life span.

 

They cost much more, but in some areas your utility company may give you an incentive to buy one, it is still likely a very long pay-back period if indeed it ever saves enough to cover the extra initial cost and repairs. 

 

They are slower and require more maintenance from the owner, some get very musty smelling if you are not washing your clothes properly, you may also end up with more lint in your laundry room as the dryer is not serving as an exhaust fan for the laundry area.

 

Their real advantage is not having to be vented outdoors, if it is very hard to vent a dryer properly in your home this is probably the best reason to buy one.

 

John L.

 

[wayupnorth]

My next door neighbors have one. Yes, it takes 2-3 hours to dry a load of towels but electric costs are much less. Only drawback I see (beside initial cost) is having to empty a full container of water after each load as their dryer is not hooked to a drain.

 

[johnbee]

Miele T1

I own one. Yes you have to clean 2 lint filters instead of one. There’s a 3rd filter you need to clean once a month.
Extremely energy efficient. My T1 dryer operates on a regular 120v outlet.
A load full of towels spun at 1500rpm takes about an hour.
I don’t need to empty the container cause my dryer is next to the washer which is next to the sink so it will pump the water out through a hose.

I could have a gas dryer but I hate the smell of the clothes after they dry in a gas dryer.
Also I’ve noticed that whites turn yellowish after a while.

 

[Marky_Mark]

Hi Ralph

 

I have two dryers.  One is a Speed Queen gas dryer and the other is a Miele T1 heat pump dryer.  

 

May I ask which set you are considering?

 

I think John (combo52) has hit the nail on the head with all the points he made above.  And, as John (JohnBee) said, the T1 dryer just plugs into any standard 120V 15A outlet and therefore can be located anywhere.  This is probably its main advantage over traditional dryers as well as the saving in electricity and its smaller size.  But if you have the space and hook ups for a gas vented dryer, then I don't see any reason to switch to a heat pump unless you specifically want a heat pump dryer.

 

I could write pages and pages about my experience, observations and thoughts regarding these dryers!  Do you have any specific questions or concerns?

 

Mark

 

[combo52]

Yellowing and Smell From A Gas Dryer ?????

I sure can't smell it, these towels are all well over ten years old and some of these Tee Shirts are over 30 years old.

 

This was one load in my 15 YO SQ FL Washer, 10+ Large bath towels and 20+ tee shirts, spun at around 1000 RPMs and dry in about 1 hour in a regular 1979 WP 29" gas dryer.

 

John L.

 

[ozzie908]

@chachp Heat pump dryer

I have had 2 heat pump dryers and they are both still running as a friend bought my 3 year old Beko when I got an AEG which had a bedding cycle and that's the only difference between them. IMHO the Beko was slightly better as it had a larger drum it was rated as 8kg the AEG is 7kg. Now as far as venting goes its impossible where the washer is located as no outside wall it could go up through the roof but having had that set up before I was not too keen on that again as keeping it clean was problematic.
I have to launder for 3 of us and we have 2 bathrooms so I have towels and bathmats to wash which although spun at 1600 rpm, take quite sometime in the dryer due to thickness, Clothes on the other hand which hold less moisture can dry within an hour and if its used a few times in succession they have the warmth of the dryer to help them. Highly recommend heat pump as the technology is improving all the while most likely mine that is 4 years old is most likely out of date.
I also like the fact that ANYTHING you can wash can be dried in it I have washed and dried with no ill effect a Leather bike suit and clothing with leather patches and other man made material will dry with no bother due to how it removes moisture they work similar to dehumidifiers. Empty the water container into the washer it saves on water for the next wash
I am as we speak awaiting for a Gas dryer to be installed in my shed as I have a large washer out there for doing dog beds etc am busting with excitement as never had a gas dryer at my own house before have used one while in USA I was on east coast it was a Kenmore dryer a rather old one but it worked flawlessly, I do have a vented electric dryer you would call it a compact size so unable to get the whole dog bed in it had to do 2 loads. thus costing a lot to run. I stopped putting dog stuff in my clothes dryer a long time ago as it made the filters clog up and was not worth the hassle.
If you want a heat pump be prepared to wait longer as they do take a while but nothing gets scorched or over dried.

Austin

 

[chachp]

Thanks all for the replies...

 

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">It's a rather long boring story but I want to stack my washer and dryer.  We have this behemoth of a Samsung Washer and Dryer that are stackable.  However, I have really nice cabinets in my utility room and I would have to cut them up to stack the Samsung set.  Besides I am a little tired of them.  We bought this Samsung set four years ago thinking we would like the larger size and the reality is we don't need it.  I can count on one hand the number of times I have filled them up.  We used to have a very thick king sized comforter that I washed occasionally but we don't use that any more either.  Joe sleeps too warm so we bought one of those really thin ones.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">In other homes we have had Bosch, and Asko and I have liked both.  My upper space restraints will allow another Bosch or Asko but this time I want a Miele for the features of the Miele washer and they no longer offer a vented dryer.  Asko makes a vented dryer but I don't care for the features of the washer nor did Consumer Reports BTW but that's also another story.  If I wasn't so fussy I'd have the Miele washer and the Asko dryer but that would drive me nuts every time I walk in the room.  The dryer I am looking at is the Miele T1 Heat Pump as well.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">My laundry room has a vent, a gas hookup, many 110 outlets and a 220 outlet so I am equipped for any configuration except for the space I have to stack.  I hate clothes that are dried in an overly hot dryer so I dry most everything on low, I have for years.  I'm used to loads that take over an hour to dry.  And the dryer will be on top of the washer so I suspect it can drain into the hookup along with the washer.  There is also a sink in there to leverage if I needed to.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">I am at the beginning of my research so who knows where I will end up but I sure appreciate all the responses.  Thank you.</span>

 

[Marky_Mark]

Hi Ralph

 

Well it sounds like a Miele set would suit your capacity needs and would look great in your laundry room's configuration 

.  I noticed that the T1 is pretty highly rated by CR.

 

Like you, I prefer to dry at lower temperatures.  I have some single-use self-adhesive temperature strips that I have attached to clothes to measure the maximum temperature reached by various dryers.  I have found that my T1 dryer gets the clothes to a maximum of 62 °C / 145 °F and this temp is very stable and consistent.  Some loads will finish before this temperature is reached.  Once this temperature is reached, the cooling fan speeds up to dissipate heat to the room at a higher rate to avoid this temperature being exceeded.  I have found that my SQ dryer, when set to "delicate" temp, gets the clothes to the same temperature as my T1.  My SQ dries more quickly, exposing the fabrics to a shorter tumbling duration.  My T1 is 6 years old.  Newer ones use slightly less electricity and take longer to dry, possibly at lower temperatures.  

 

The T1 does not have a heater.  The heat is generated purely as a result of operating the heat pump in a closed loop.  So the temperature is very even throughout the drum with no hot spot at the back where the air comes in.  I can stuff my American kingsize comforter in my T1 without risk of damage, even though part of the comforter is permanently in contact with the back of the drum.

 

Heat pump condenser dryers don't get as hot and don't give out as much heat to the room compared to traditional condenser dryers.

 

I have found that many American and European vented dryers can dry at lower temperatures and faster compared to my T1, so I believe that they may be more gentle.  But when vented dryers are set to high temp, and also set to over dry, they can get much hotter and are more likely to cause fabric damage when misused.

 

I find that my T1 dries very evenly.  The fabric is left in a nice condition but is not as wrinkle-free as with most vented dryers.  The clothes emerge hotter than from a vented dryer, due to the fact that it can't cool the load as easily as a vented dryer.

 

If someone needed an electric, ventless dryer then I would recommend a heat pump dryer without hesitation over a regular condenser dryer.  But if they had the option of vented, then I would probably go with that.  And if they had the option of gas vented, then I would definitely go with that.  But in your situation, you may well be very happy with the T1 and it may be a good fit for you.

 

Happy drying!

Mark

 

 

[henene4]

Miele heatpump dryers

They are not considerably more complicated.

Heater is replaced by a heatpump unit: It is large, bulky and basicly a non-repairable item.
Yes a compressor it self is from a working standpoint more complicated, but not in the way that it breaks more.

You might have a second capacitor and 2 more NTCs, but otherwise not much more complicated.
For that no bi-metalic thermostats usually.

Motor, drum, sensor, electronics are about the same.

Yes heatpump dryers tend to last shorter.
Just like a fridge: If the compressor dies, it is basicly scrap.
But have seen many 15 years or older while in regular use.

If you dry on low temps all the time you will LOVE a heatpump dryer.
Have yet to meet a HP dryer that reaches over 150F; most more recent dryers run at about 130F in the top range.
Keep in mind in a heatpump dryer top temp is a function of time: Temperature takes 30min or more to get anywhere near usual dryer temps.

At least over here, between a vented and a heatpump dryer - especially at the top end of spin speeds - don't do much.

A large US dryer will however leave them behind.
A full-ish load spun at 1400-1600rpm in a commercial dryer over here simmilar to US dryers takes 30min-45min.
In a heatpump dryer we estimate 60-90min.

Water can just be drained in the washer dryin, not much work.

Main filters are just as much a wipe and forget thing.

The second filter needs rinsing every other month on a Miele at most.

Have you looked at the little giant line?

They have the older wash system and dryers which are 220V vented in a compact design.

 

[chachp]

Thank you Mark.

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">I guess that was really the main question was if they get really hot.  I could do the Asko set because they have a vented option but CR gave the Asko washer a terrible score. </span>

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">I'll keep looking.  I honestly never thought about a ventless dryer until I realized most of the compacts seem to be ventless seem to have converted to ventless.</span>

 

[Marky_Mark]

Hi Ralph

 

If your main concern if whether or not they get really hot, then I can assure you that they do not 

They also have accurate sensors and will not over dry.

 

I was hesitant about buying a heat pump dryer, so I visited a Miele Experience Centre to try them out before buying.  Would it be possible for you to try out a heat pump dryer at a local dealer?

 

[Marky_Mark]

Austin, once you get your gas dryer hooked up, I doubt that you'll be using your heat pump dryer very much!  Your gas dryer will cost less to run compared to your heat pump and it will be much faster.  It should also leave clothes more wrinkle-free. 

 

[chachp]

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">Hi Mark,</span>

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">I wish we had an experience center around here but we don't.  The closest one is probably 10 or so hours from here.  The dryer is supposed to have some kind of wrinkle guard cycle.  Does that leave the clothes badly wrinkled?  The Samsung I have now has a cycle that will tumble the clothes every few minutes until you take them out so they are not too bad.  </span>

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">Ralph</span>

 

[ozzie908]

@chachp Heat pump dryer

They can more often than not be set to tumble after the cycle has finished for as long as you wish some also have the option of carrying on tumbling every 30 seconds or so until you open it..

Mark I am gagging to use it I have tried it electrically and all works the gas valve clicks too so there's hope it will be ok

I plan on using it for bathroom stuff and dogs bedding as that takes the longest in my AEG heat pump. Oh and the gas dryer after buying, transporting and fitting still comes in cheaper than than a T1 so I will have the best of both worlds fingers crossed xx

Austin

 

[Marky_Mark]

Shame that there's no Experience Centre closer.  Perhaps one of the appliance showrooms might have a demo machine.  

 

Yes it does tumble periodically once the cycle is complete.  But regardless of whether you unload it immediately when it stops or if you wait a while, the result is the same.  It doesn't leave clothes creased, but it's not the best dryer for leaving wrinkle-free results.  Still acceptable.  

 

P.S. I've sent you an email 

 

[appnut]

Ralph, you "closest" Miele Experience Center is Scottsdale, AZ.  

 

[chachp]

Thanks Bob.

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">I would love to go to one.  If any of this ever clears up I may find myself in Tucson on business.  Should that happen you know I will head over there.  Do they let you go in and just play with the appliances?  I'd never want to leave.</span>

 

[warmsecondrinse]

A friend has a 240v vented electric Miele dryer that's 10-15 years old. His one complaint was that the manual was a bit optimistic as to the frequency of filter cleaning. There are 3 filters: One conventional, a second to be cleaned every two weeks, and a third to be cleaned once per month. He found he has to clean the second every week and the third every 2-3 weeks. Sticking to that cleaning schedule, he's very happy with the dryer. I believe it has never needed repair. My friend does concede the more frequent cleaning schedule might be due to the quantity of laundry or the type of clothes he launders.

Gas dryers: I wonder if there's any sort of geographic pattern to those who've noticed smells/yellowing from gas dryers and those who've never heard of the idea. Age of piping system? Minor variations in gas composition?