How to Choose the Best Clothes Dryer?
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Top Best Clothes Dryer Based on Reviews and Price
How to Choose a Clothes Dryer?
Clothes dryers are the most ideal for Laundromat owners and for the family, especially people in places where the low temperature in winter delays drying. These machines ensure dry and well-kept clothes during the four seasons of the year. But, it’s always important that you keep an eye out for some details when choosing yours.
To narrow down your research and reduce your chance of ending up with a dryer that will bring unforeseen problems, here are some criteria you should consider:
10 Key Factors to Consider Before Buying a Clothes Dryer
1. Types
The first thing to do before buying a dryer is to know which type will best satisfy your needs or tastes. There are four main types of dryers, and each has varying advantages. These are the vented dryers, condenser dryers, heat pump dryers, and washer-dryers. Which would you choose? Let’s take a look at them one after the other.
The vented dryer is the most common and simplest model in the market. It heats the air in the drum while blowing it through the clothes in the drum. Water then leaves the machine in the form of steam through a duct that must be located towards a very ventilated area like a window.
The condensing (or condenser) dryer is a bit more sophisticated than the previous model. This model uses cold air to condense the water that evaporates from the clothes. However, instead of sending the water outside, it evacuates the water through ducts and goes to a tank that must be regularly emptied.
These models are the most modern and stand out for being the most energy-efficient. They heat the clothes utilizing the air they take from the outside. But instead of heating the water through electric resistors, it does this thanks to a heat pump. Of course, their drying cycles tend to be a little slower because the pump cannot heat the air to temperatures as high as the resistors do.
This type of appliance is a dryer and washing machine in the same model. It offers advantages for those who have little space because they are 2-in-1 equipment. However, its drying cycle is less efficient than that of a traditional dryer.
2. Capacity
The capacity of a home appliance is one of the key points you should look into. With clothes dryers, the situation is no different. First and foremost, you must know how much weekly laundry is done at your home or laundry establishment so that you can decide on the optimal capacity of your dryer. For large families, for example, you’ll need a dryer that weighs around 9kg. In the market, you’ll find options ranging from 4kg to 12kg. You will hardly ever find larger or smaller household dryers than those within this range.
In homes where up to 3 people live, a dryer that’s up to 8 kg should be sufficient. If your family is larger than this, we recommend that you give preference to models that weigh at least 9 kg. Typically, newer models have higher capacities, and this is also an issue to consider if you are looking for a more up-to-date product.
3. Service Area
In most cases, dryers are usually in the laundry area. But it doesn’t matter what room you put it in. It’s essential to analyze the space it’ll fit before you buy one. Dryers are large and spacious appliances. So it is important to match their measurements with those of the location prepared for their accommodation.
If you have plenty of space, give preference to floor dryers. They usually have larger capacities and are quite complete in functionalities. Outside, they are also usually the most aesthetic.
But if your space is limited, then you can choose washer-dryers. Wall-mounted dryers are also an ideal choice for those who don’t have sufficient space. In addition to being more compact, these dryers also have a better level of efficiency.
The difference between floor and wall dryers only involves capacity and space issues. Both models will make your clothes dry and soft. Product quality will only depend on how updated it is and the brand.
4. Energy Efficiency
Clothes dryers are often very powerful appliances and tend to consume a lot of energy. Therefore it is important to know how to choose a model that is as efficient as possible so that your electricity bill doesn’t skyrocket at the end of the month.
To choose a model that consumes moderate energy, you must look at the load capacity of the device, its type, and its energy efficiency. The larger the dryer, the more energy it will consume. This consumption also varies according to the type of dryer.
The vented types are those that consume more: 4.8 kilowatts hour (kWh). And the condenser types follow, with an average consumption of around 4.2 kWh. The ones that consume less energy are the heat pump dryers, with 2.2 kWh.
Beyond this, it is also important that you pay attention to the energy labeling of the appliance. That way, you will know how efficient it is. This efficiency is classified from A to G, with letter A being the most efficient. But when it comes to dryers, the efficiencies found are B, A, A +, A ++ and A +++.
The most advisable is to opt for a high-efficiency model such as A ++ or A +++, which, although maybe more expensive at the beginning, will be a better economical choice because of the electricity bill savings on the long-run.
5. Available Functionalities/Features
The best part of clothes dryers is their extra functions. And that should certainly be a factor to consider before buying such a product. The most up-to-date dryers have a variety of functions when it comes to clothes-drying.
Some of them have deodorizing functions, which eliminate bad smells from clothes, even if they have not been washed. Some even soften the dried clothes at the end.
We can also find dryers with anti-wrinkle functions and even those with load indicators. The latter indicates how full your dryer is and suggests to you the best drying program for that amount of clothes.
The more programs a dryer has, the better. This means that you will have a specialized type of drying for any kind of clothing material, whether it’s underwear or bedding.
Most specialized dryers can have up to 12 different drying programs. The programs/functions you should look out for in clothes dryers include and are not limited to:
- Turbo function
- Iron dry
- Line dry
- Cupboard dry
- Easy care
- Easy iron
- Delay start
- Child locks
- Water filter
- Warning LEDs
- Audible alarms
- Drum lights
- Anti-crease
So, you know what to do, especially when reading their reviews online or in physical stores.
6. Control Panel
The digital panels in tumble dryers are where you can configure the various functions of your dryer. Today these panels are very modern, and many brands are already replacing the conventional buttons with the touch screen. So-called digital panels are definitely the most technological, easy to use and most aesthetic.
If you prefer more traditional options, ordinary button panel dryers are still easily found in appliance stores. However, you have to note that the control panel is something that has much more to do with the design than the quality of the machine’s service.
Therefore, we recommend that you always give priority to the most efficient machines that will best meet your demand, regardless of aesthetics and style.
7. Noise and Vibration Level
Just like the sound emitted by the washing machines, that of the dryers is also measured in decibels (dB). These devices usually make a lot of noise. So you must look at the models that are as quiet as possible.
These usually fluctuate between 60 and 65 dB and to give you an idea of how much it means. You should know that a conversation between several people can reach 50 dB and the phone ringing about 70 dB.
Therefore, it is best to choose a dryer with a noise level between 60 and 65 dB or less, but never one with a higher level. Remember that 70 dB or below is the safe noise level recommended for humans.
In addition to the noise level, you must put the degree of vibration into consideration. Fortunately, some models have side panels that absorb the vibrations of the running cycle to make them less annoying.
8. Ease of Installation
Some models are easy to install by simply following the manual or following an online tutorial. However, some models can be a bit complicated to install, thereby needing the help of a professional for this purpose. Of course, you want to choose one that can be easily installed by a DIYer. And online product reviews are a great way to find out these possibilities.
Also, you need to make sure that you have the necessary space for the template you want. You must have where to position the drainage pipe or the vent for the evacuating air, for example. If you don’t think about all these aspects before, buying this product can end up being a big headache.
9. Types of Fabrics
What kinds of clothes do you usually dry?
- Delicate – A tumble dryer with low-temperature options helps you dry your favorite fabrics safely.
- Wool – A low-temperature heat pump clothes dryer ensures that you don’t have to wait for your wool to dry naturally in the air.
- Cotton – A heat pump clothes dryer maintains a safe and low temperature throughout the cycle.
10. Easy Ironing
Want to make ironing easier? Leaving your clothes a little damp can make it easier, so you should look for a humidity-controlled clothes dryer. You can also opt for a time-controlled clothes dryer and adjust it to make your clothes a little damp, or completely dry for clothes that do not need ironing. Models with an easy iron feature will also suit your needs.
Note: Time-controlled models pose more risk of overdrying because the drying time required varies with load. Humidity-controlled dryers are a safer bet.
Final Thought
Everything is situational: choosing the best clothes dryer goes according to your need, space capacity and quantity of clothes to be used. However, if you consider the information in this guide and the exact model’s reviews, it’s almost certain you will choose the best clothes dryer.
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