Facts
There are 2 types of tumble dryer – vented and condenser dryers.
Vented tumble dryer
A vented tumble dryer expels the hot, damp air from the drum through a hose that can be routed through an outside wall or simply hung out of a window during use.
Condenser tumble dryer
A condenser tumble dryer does not require a hose. It works by condensing the steam into water and collecting it in a water reservoir or draining it away.
Condenser tumble dryers also give off some moisture while drying, so it’s important to air the room when the dryer is in use.
Washer dryer
A washer dryer uses slightly more energy than separate machines. The dryer unit in a washer dryer is often smaller than the one found in a dedicated tumble dryer. This means you may need to tumble dry clothes twice. Also, the tumble dryer unit is a condenser type dryer. This uses a little more energy in its energy class than a vented tumble dryer in the same class.
Energy consumption and energy labelling
Vented dryers are slightly more energy efficient than condenser dryers, although both types use a large amount of energy. The requirements for obtaining a particular energy label (e.g. A or B) are slightly stricter for vented tumble dryers than for condenser dryers.
Only a few A-labelled tumble dryers
Currently, there are not that many A-labelled tumble dryers on the market. The reason for this is that the labelling requirements specify that only tumble dryers fitted with a built-in heat pump can be A-labelled. All A-labelled tumble dryers are condenser dryers.
Page last updated 13.11.2008