There are some appliances out there that are must haves. This includes ovens, fridges and washing machines. There are also some appliances that can make your life that little bit easier. This includes tumble dryers.
Whilst you may not need a tumble dryer, they can help to dry clothes quickly and efficiently, making sure that you have plenty of clean things to wear and stopping the need to have wet clothes drying all over your house.
But where do you begin when it comes to buying a tumble dryer? We have put together our tumble dryer buying guide, to help you to discover more about what you need and which is right for you to buy.
Type
You may think that a tumble dryer is one single appliance, but the truth is that they come in a variety of forms.
Vented tumble dryers – these tumble dryers expel warm and damp it takes out of the clothes and pushes it out through a hose. This hose can be placed through an open window, or a vent in an external wall. Vented tumble dryers are the most affordable option, however, you need to remember that they should be placed by a window, door or have a vent placed into an external wall.
Condenser tumble dryers – these tumble dryers don’t require you to have a hose, which means that you can install this type of tumble dryer in any well-ventilated room. The water that is removed from your clothes will collect in a container within the tumble dryer which you will need to remove and empty on a regular basis.
Heat pump tumble dryers – one of the most energy efficient variations of tumble dryer. This condenser dryer will use a lower drying temperature, which consumes less electricity. This saves you money on your energy bills, as well as gently dries your clothes. It is also quieter than other models you can buy.
Capacity
Similar to a washing machine, tumble dryers can be measured in capacity. They are labelled in kg and 1kg is usually the same as one outfit, which includes a top, trousers, underwear and socks.
The larger the capacity of the tumble dryer, the more drying you can do. The larger the drum then the better the hot air will move around, which shortens the time that you need to dry your clothes, and save you energy too.
You can buy tumble dryers in a range of sizes. They usually start with a compact 3kg and go right up to 9kg for larger households.
Energy rating
We are all becoming more aware of our own impact on the environment, which means that the energy rating of our appliances have become all the more important. Much like other appliances, tumble dryers are rated in letters to reflect their energy efficiency.
The heat pump style dryer is the most energy efficient and is rated at A+++. However, condenser dryers are also improving their own energy efficiency. Try to look for a model that offers between an A and A++ as these will really help to cut down on your energy bills.
