Tumble Dryers
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FAQ
Like a washing machine, a tumble dryer has a rotating drum. The drying occurs by spinning the wet laundry whilst blowing hot air into the drum. There are generally three different types of tumble dryers: condenser tumble dryer, vented tumble dryer, and heat pump tumble dryer.
The vented tumble dryer is connected to the ventilation and has a debris filter.
Condenser tumble dryers are slightly cheaper and also work without ventilation. Heat pump tumble dryers are a type of vented tumble dryer that recycles the heat by releasing it into the air.
The temperature of an average tumble dryer is around 70 degrees. It’s possible to tumble dry at lower temperatures, but, of course, the drying effect won’t be as good, and it takes longer before the laundry fully dries. Heat pump tumble dryers work at a slightly lower temperature than other tumble dryers.
After washing the laundry in a washing machine, it’s placed in the tumble dryer. You then choose a programme and start the machine. The clothes should be sorted by the temperature that’s recommended for the garment, and you should preferably not dry thick and heavy clothes with thinner items if you wish to achieve an optimal drying effect.
A full tumble dryer can take up to two hours to dry the laundry. If there are fewer items in the tumble dryer, it’s usually quicker than this.
A tumble dryer should be connected to an earthed socket for 230 volts. The socket must have a residual-current circuit breaker and be placed at least 2 feet from the bathtub or the shower. You should consult an electrician before installing a tumble dryer.
Three things to consider before buying a tumble dryer
New tumble dryers offer a wide range of different features. Knowing your priorities will help you stay within budget.
- Steam function. If you’re someone who hates ironing, you may want to consider a tumble dryer with a built-in steam function.
- Eco-friendliness. Most of us want an eco-friendly tumble dryer. Look for tumble dryers that have eco settings for their cycles.
One feature that you definitely don't want to miss out on is moisture/humidity sensors in the tumble dryer. These turn off the cycle when the clothes are dry. This not only saves time, energy and money, but is also kinder to your clothes.
When you’re looking for a tumble dryer, you can often read about how fast a cycle is, i.e. how long the tumble dryer takes to dry your clothes. Although a fast-drying tumble dryer may seem convenient, this can come at the expense of wear and tear on your clothes, as the dryer needs to use a higher temperature to dry the clothes. So give some thought to how quickly versus how gently you want to dry your clothes.
So... tumble dryer installed, all ready to go? Take a moment and read through this guide from Persil first so you don't unintentionally ruin your favourite clothes.