Energy Efficient Heat Pump Washer Dryer
With new federal incentives and awe-inspiring lab test results, the heat pump washer dryer is set to become a commonplace. These all-in-one machines take less time to wash and dry and are ventless, meaning they don't draw conditioned air out of your home to vent outdoors.
The clothes are also treated at the use of a lower temperature. Find out more about this exciting technology for laundry.
1. Saves Energy
They're not just used to cool and heat homes however, they're also used to dry clothes. A heat pump dryer that is ENERGY START-certified consumes less electricity than a traditional dryer, saving you money on your electric bill. They run at a lower temperature, which reduces wear and tear on your clothes and the environment.
During the drying process, heat pump dryers use the same air recycled by the washing machine, but it passes through a condenser coil within the evaporator unit to warm up and cool the air. Then the warm air is returned to the drum to continue drying the clothes. This means that a heat pump dryer will never have to exhaust the moisture-laden air as vented dryers do.
It's important to make your appliances as energy-efficient as you can, since the laundry process consumes lots of energy. The best way to do this is to combine an efficient washer with a high-efficiency heat pump dryer. This will help you lock in maximum efficiency and save on energy costs as soon as you can.
Check out our selection of ENERGY SSTAR-certified washers and dryers to begin. You can filter your results by model, energy usage wash cycles, as well as spin speed. Make sure to look over the yellow Energy Guide Label to see the cost of each appliance to run each year.
Combination washer-dryers are an excellent option for households who are unable to afford two separate machines or do not have the space. These units are plugged directly into 120-volt outlets and don't require a 240-volt venting or hookup system. These units are great for condominiums and apartments as they can be put in the cupboard or under the counter.
2. Reduces Noise
Most traditional clothes dryers are heated by a hot electric or gas coil. This helps to remove moisture from your clothes. That air is then vented outside your home, taking with it the conditioned air, which you pay to keep cool in the summer and warm in winter. Your house will have to work overtime in order to replace the lost conditioned heat by pulling replacement air through gaps and cracks around walls and doors.
Heat pump washer dryers transfer humidity from one location to another, instead of heating it and venting it. This is great for homeowners who have houses that aren't big enough to accommodate an additional flow of air. It's also possible for people to put washer and dryer combos in spaces which they wouldn't normally be able to install venting dryers, such as under stairs, without sacrificing energy efficiency and performance.
While this is an important benefit of all-in-one washing and drying machines, they aren't without their disadvantages. All-in-one units take longer to complete their cycles than traditional washers and dryers, so it's important to allot plenty of time for each load. Combining two appliances will also reduce the amount of laundry you can wash in one go, as it takes an hour longer to dry your whites and colors than they would be if they were separate units.
Most manufacturers have begun to address these issues by offering simple solutions. LG's top-rated washing-dryer set-up is one example. It has the option to prop the door open slightly while it is running to prevent water from pooling and drying the drum. A number of LG models, such as our top pick, have a tiny drainage hole in the bottom laundry tub that lets water drain rather than pooling. You can also purchase sound blankets that fit around the heat pump in order to reduce the noise.
3. Reduces wear and tear
When a heat pump dryer functions it doesn't heat up the air like a conventional dryer. Instead, it just removes the moisture from the clothes, so it's far gentler on fabrics than a regular model. It also saves energy since it doesn't waste the energy needed to heat the air to dry the clothes.
But, they do require a little more maintenance than standalone machines because the condensate drain pipe has to be cleaned on a regular basis to avoid obstructions. However, this isn't that much different from cleaning a standard dryer.
The biggest difference is that heat-pump washer-dryer combos do not vent, which means they can be used in your home without cutting through the wall outside to run ductwork. This is a major plus for apartment dwellers, students, and others who don't want to alter their living space or pay more money for the purchase of a new appliance.
Since heat-pump dryers do not get as hot and take longer to dry clothes than traditional models. This has been one reason many people have been reluctant to adopt them, however manufacturers have made improvements to the technology over time, and a heat pump dryer on our best dryer list--the LG Signature LUWM101HWA--has typical dry times of 37 to 70 minutes.
The key to reducing drying time is to avoid overdoing the amount of detergent, which could cause excessive suds that prolongs cycles and leaves a slimy residue on your clothes (readers write to us frequently about this problem). Use the recommended amount of high-efficiency detergents, and clean the dispenser drawer regularly. This will ensure that the machine is operating as efficiently as possible and you're not wasting time and money.
4. Reduces Lint
A heat pump dryer uses less air to dry your clothes than a vented gas dryer or electric dryer. This is due to the fact that it doesn't blow hot, humid air into your laundry but instead extracts vapor at room temperature from the air around your clothes. The vapor is then heated by your washer, and then used to evaporate the moisture from your laundry.
Due to this efficiency it is true that a heat-pump washer dryer isn't as heavy as a traditional vented gas or electric dryer, but it still weighs around 88 pounds. This can be a huge deal if you plan to mount it on a wall or in a closet that doesn't have enough space to accommodate vents.
Lint buildup is a major issue for all dryers. However, the heat pump dryer's low temperatures limit the amount lint that can clog up the exhaust, preventing the clothes from drying to their full potential. This also reduces the chance of a fire in your dryer or its exhaust, which could occur when solvents and flammable oils from your laundry enter the vent or into the dryer's evaporator.
To prevent the build-up of lint, be sure to clean your dryer vent at least once a year (more often if you have children or pets). A leaf blower or wire brush will help you remove any lint build-up between the ridges in your accordion hose. It's safer to do this from outside your home rather than inside if possible.
Use a detergent that is low in sudsing and follow the guidelines of the manufacturer on how to set your water level to avoid overdrying. tumble dryer with heat pump by fabric type and wash delicates like silk with heavy cottons and linens. That way you won't overdye your delicates or shrink them too much, and the moisture sensors will have better chances of being able to tell when your laundry is completely dry to stop the cycle.
5. Space Savings
The dryers that use heat pump make use of less energy since they reuse and recycle hot aer. This will help you save money on your utility bills, but also on energy costs to cool or heat your home.
This method is more gentle on fabrics and reduces shrinkage which is a huge benefit when dealing with expensive clothing. It also reduces the need to replace lint-clogged dryer vents and cuts down on the energy use that conventional dryers use to warm up room air before it enters the machine which helps keep your heating and cooling costs down.
The combination of heat pump washer and dryer is designed to fit into tiny spaces, such as closets and kitchens. These all-in-one machines require only one inch more space than the best vented front-load washers. They're also ventless, so they can be placed anywhere that has water and a 120-volt outlet.
These appliances are simple to operate, too. All you have to do is choose the wash cycle and dry cycle that's best for your needs and let them work their magic. Then, simply take your clothes off when they're clean.
These energy-efficient, versatile machines allow you to do laundry without breaking the budget. Go online or visit the an exquisite Aztec Appliance showroom today to find your new washer-dryer combo that is a perfect fit for your home. We offer the most competitive discounts, prices, rebates and special financing to make upgrading your laundry space more affordable. We're here to help you select the ideal heat pump dryer for your requirements and lifestyle!