Notes

Heat Pump Dryers: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Heat Pump Dryers Save Energy and Eliminate Potential Fire Hazards

Conventional dryers use electrical resistance or gas combustion to heat the air, then blow it over the clothes. The warm, moist air is then blown outside. The dryers that use heat pumps don't need vents, which help save energy and eliminate potential fire hazards from lint build-up in the vents.

These machines also have lower temperatures and are gentler on clothes. Read the Full Document can take longer to finish drying than traditional machines. Aztec Appliance provides more details about these ventless washing machines.

Efficiency

You can save lots of money on your electricity bill by using a heat pump dryer. It consumes up to 28 percent less energy than a traditional dryer according to Energy Star. It may not sound like much but when your family is doing 20 loads of laundry per week in Massachusetts, where electricity rates are among the highest in the nation, you'll save hundreds over the course of 12 years by using a heat pump dryer.

The way a heat pump dryer operates is similar to that of a dehumidifier. It starts with air which is heated by a compressor and then pushed through a second set of coils to warm it even more. During this process the hot air pulls moisture from the clothing and then into the heat exchanger, where it's condensed. It then drips into a pan that can be manually emptied or connected to a drain tube. The moist, cool air is then circulated back over the condenser coils, to be heated again and the cycle starts again.

Heat pump dryers don't require an exhaust vent, which means they can be installed in areas that would not be able to accommodate a conventional dryer. They are also quieter and more versatile and ideal for apartments or other spaces that have small space. They are also safer than dryers that have vents. Vents can cause fires when they are not cleaned regularly.

However, as they operate at lower temperatures than conventional dryers, it takes longer for your laundry to dry using the help of a heat pump dryer. In addition, since they function much like a dehumidifier and release a lot of water during drying, it's important to clean your dryer's heat pump regularly. This is especially true in the case of damp clothes or you reside in a humid region. You can check this regularly by cleaning and checking the lint filter and condenser coils. It is also recommended to clean the drain tube periodically. Regular cleaning will keep the evaporator coil in good working order.


Condensation

The traditional way of drying clothes involves the use of a fan to blow hot air over the laundry that is tumbling and then venting the warm, moist air to the outside. This method consumes a lot of energy and requires an outside space for the ducting. Heat pump dryers, also known as ventless dryers--recycle that air instead. They heat the incoming air by reusing a portion of the energy required to run the machine, and then condense the resulting moisture into water that drains from the bottom of the drum. They're also smaller than vented dryers, and can be incorporated into a laundry area or even an attic.

Although they are popular in Europe and Japan, heat pump dryers are relatively new to the American market. These dryers are now available in sizes to accommodate the majority of laundry rooms in homes and offer significant energy savings. And because they don't exhaust the indoor air to the outside they don't require you to clean your venting system regularly or deal with the potential issues that can arise with a dirty one.

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

The heat pump dryers require maintenance just like other dryers that use electricity to maintain their peak performance. Lint collects on the filters, and on the condenser and evaporator coils. It is crucial to clean them frequently to prevent excessive wear. They also use refrigerants that have high GWP (Global Warming Potential) which means that they need to be properly recycled also.

Another issue to be considered is the fact that heat pump dryers usually take longer than vented ones to complete a load. That's because their maximum temperature--about 120degF is lower than gas and electric resistance dryers. Therefore, they're required to tumble an additional time before they're completely dry.

Lint Screens

Heat pump dryers have a lint trap and venting system that must be cleaned on a regular basis. A blocked dryer vent could increase drying time and pose the risk of fire. Vents for dryers that are vented can reach temperatures high enough to spark volatile chemicals and oils on clothing.

A heat pump vent system needs a dehumidifier in order to eliminate moisture prior to the air exits the dryer. A dehumidifier also helps reduce energy costs by lowering temperature of the hot water used to heat the air.

The lint filter inside a dryer with a heat pump is much finer and requires cleaning more frequently than those in a conventional dryer. The lint trap inside the door's opening is an ideal spot for lint to build up and must be checked and removed regularly.

The models with a heat pump include a heated drum which means that the inside of the machine has to be kept clear of lint and residues from fabric softener or dryer sheets. The heated drum walls might also require cleaning and inspected periodically, as they could need to be changed according to the user's guide.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the buildup of lint inside the dryer's exhaust pipe is more than just an inconvenience. It's also an ablaze hazard that can cause around 2,900 house fires each year. Clean the dryer's lint exhaust hose once a year using wire brushes, or use a leaf blower from outside to eliminate lint from inside of the hose as this How-to video explains. It's safer to do this from outside, so that you can avoid getting lint on your eyes. If you're not sure that you'll be able to clean the ducts, hire an expert.

If you don't sense air movement in the dryer vent, or if you notice that your dryer is taking longer to dry, it could mean that there is a blockage of lint within the duct. Pick a day of the year to clean the vent system such as Labor Day, the beginning of spring, or the end or the beginning of daylight saving time - and stick to it.

Installation

Modern dryers that are electric are among the most convenient options for homeowners. But picking the right dryer is important for those who want to reduce their utility costs and also have a positive effect on our environment. For many people, heat pump dryers are a great choice. They differ from traditional vented dryers that make use of gas or electricity for heating air, and then blowing the hot, dried air into the drum in order to eliminate moisture. They reuse the air, removing the moisture out and cooling it before permitting it to return to the laundry room so that it can be used again.

Since heat pump dryers do not require venting outside, they don't require any ducting or chimney and can be put in small spaces, such as laundry closets. This makes them ideal for small homes, accessory dwelling units (such as a laundry room in the basement or an apartment above the garage) and even for additions. They are often better than traditional vented models since they are Energy STAR certified.

In contrast to other types of clothes dryers that require a separate circuit, most heat pump dryers are made to run on the standard 120-volt, 15 amp electrical circuits. This can be a real advantage for older homes with older wiring, and could save money on installation.

They have lower power compared to other dryers, which means they take longer to complete a cycle. And because they don't have the back-andforth motion that is typical of dryers, large objects like towels and sheets may wad up into a laundry sausage that is hard to unwind. Some manufacturers attempt to solve this issue by changing the tumble cycle for short periods of time during the course of a cycle.

Additionally, heat pump dryers require more frequent maintenance than other dryers. Lint can accumulate on the heat exchanger and evaporator coils, and require professional cleaning or periodic vacuuming to ensure they are operating at a high level. Since dryers with heat pumps do not vent, they could also accumulate moisture on the inside of the dryer, leading to mold.

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