Dryer buying guide
Washing your clothes is just half the process of doing laundry; drying it properly is another story. It is understandable that you get annoyed during the winter or rainy season because your clothes are not dry due to the high humidity level.
That said, keeping your fabrics safe should always be a conscious choice. Thus, a clothes dryer is essential for both preserving your clothes and eliminating dangerous germs and allergens. If you think that it might be time for you to get a new dryer, here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing a dryer that will work best for you and your lifestyle.
How to decide which dryer is right for you?
When choosing a dryer, you will need to consider:
- how often you dry your clothes
- the items you want to dry
- the number of your family members
- the location where your tumble dryer will be installed, such as in the kitchen, laundry room, or in an area where dryer vents can be connected
- the available space and ventilation in your laundry
- the impact on your electricity bill
- the impact on the environment
Things to consider before buying a dryer
1. Type of dryer to buy
The first thing to consider as you start searching for a dryer is choosing the suitable type of dryer.
To save your time and effort on air-drying, Electrolux offers a range of venting, condenser, and heat pump dryers.
Heat pump dryer
The type of dryer machine uses a vapor compression system to dry clothes. The condenser heats air, which passes through the drum to evaporate moisture out of the clothes, and the evaporator condenses water out of the air stream. Since a heat pump dryer uses a lower temperature to dry clothes, it offers better drying efficiency and fabric protection, as well as less energy consumption.
Condenser dryer
A condenser dryer uses a heating element to warm the drum and dry the clothing. Unlike heat pump dryers and venting dryers, condenser dryers work by condensing the moisture from your laundry into water, which is then collected into a container, and you have to empty the water yourself.
The benefit of a condenser dryer is that it can be installed anywhere — may it be the laundry room, the kitchen, or even below the cabinets — without having to install a vent to pump the water outside your house.
Venting dryer
The main difference between a condenser and vented dryer is the way they remove water. In a vented dryer, water and hot air are vented outside of the house through a hose. However, if you don’t want to connect your venting dryer with the drainpipe, you will have to place the machine in an open area. For this reason, there is an added level of complexity in the installation of venting dryers.
However, vented dryers are usually cheaper than condenser dryers. Plus, you don’t have to worry about emptying any water from the machine, as it does it all for you.
Key feature:
- Save time on drying
For Electrolux dryers, you can select the 30-minute timed cycle to dry everyday fabrics, cotton or blended fabrics that need to be dried quickly. This program dries your smaller loads within 30 minutes, for those times you just need to get things done rapidly whilst saving energy.
- Intelligent cycles
Sensors automatically measure the dryness of clothes during the cycle, adjusting drying times to reduce wear and tear.
- Care for woolen items
Our Woolmark approved cycle ensures that your treasured woolen garments are safely dried. This program is proven to care for tumble-dryer safe woolens with optimum cleaning.
- 1/3 less wrinkles
Alternating drum movements prevent clothes from tangling, reduces wrinkles by up to one third compared to hang drying to make ironing quick and easy.
- Avoid color fading
You can rely on Electrolux dryers in preserving your clothes’ shape and color. Our dryer machines come with ColourCare that reduces fading by up to 80% compared to hang-drying. Now you can give your clothes a longer life, for a more sustainable future.
- Care for bulky items
Large drum provides enough space to thoroughly dry bulky items and family-sized loads.
>>> Read more: Items you should (and shouldn't) put in the dryer
Find out our range of venting dryers here:
- ReverseTumbling reduces wrinkles up to 1/3.*
- Sensors adjust cycles to reduce wear and tear.
- ColourCare reduces fading by up to 80%*.
- ReverseTumbling reduces wrinkles up to 1/3.*
- Sensors adjust cycles to reduce wear and tear.
- ColourCare reduces fading by up to 80%*.
2. Capacity and size
The frequency of your laundry and the size of the loads should also be a key consideration when looking to buy a new dryer. Make sure that you measure the available space for your dryer so you know the best dryer size that suits your household.
If you only live alone or share it with one more person in a limited space, then having a compact dryer would be a reasonable choice. A compact dryer is roughly 60cm wide with a 3.5 - 4 cubic foot drum, which is great for tight spaces. If you have an even tighter space that couldn’t fit both your washing machine and dryer, a compact washer dryer set may be sufficient.
Full-sized dryers, on the other hand, are generally more suitable for larger space with 27" wide with 7 cubic feet of capacity. Capacity is another important factor to consider when buying a dryer, which is measured in kilograms. For large households with sufficient laundry space, choose an 8-9kg dryer to dry larger loads quickly.
Read more:
3. Loudness level
A clothes dryer can be quite loud because it has a spinning motor and drum, as well as an exhaust fan. Consider where your dryer will be located, how close it is to your bedrooms, to your kids’ rooms, and whether it interrupts your studying or working time. If possible, try and determine exactly how loud it is before you buy it.
>>> Read more: How to wash and dry polyester pillows and care for them
4. Product warranty
Electrolux offers 1 year of general warranty for our dryers and the warranty period for your dryers’ motor is 10 years. Also, we understand the inconvenience a breakdown can cause. It is not just the hassle of laundry piling up - it is the unexpected cost of repairs and replacement or having to wait for days for unreliable or unqualified service technicians.
After 100 years of providing technology for better living, Electrolux has redefined home living – including how you dry your laundry.
Dryer frequently asked questions
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Question 1: Does a dryer take up a lot of electricity?
It is preferable to dry your clothes at maximum load for making full use of electricity consumption. To save more electricity, we recommend the Heat Pump dryer. The Heat Pump dryer uses 50% less energy than a traditional dryer.
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Question 2: How does a condenser dryer work, as the water is not vented out of the machine via a ducting hose?
In a condenser dryer, the hot and damp air will pass through and be cooled down by a heat exchanger. This heat exchanger will convert the moisture into water droplets, which will then be stored in a container.
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Question 3: How to unclog a dryer vent?
It is important to clean the clogged dryer vent as quickly as possible as it poses a potential fire hazard. Steps to clean the vent:
- Access inside the dryer duct with a vacuum nozzle to remove the lint build-up.
- Use a stiff cleaning brush for the unreachable areas. You should use duct cleaning kits that can be attached to a cordless drill to remove lint from the vent.
- Dryer lint vents and ducts should be inspected and cleaned frequently to prevent clogs and to keep your laundry drying reliably.
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Question 4: How do I clean a dryer?
- Unplug your dryer and wipe out the exterior.
- Clean the lint trap: Wipe the lint trap, as well as around the vent and inside the drum with a dry cloth. Consider using a vacuum cleaner with a smaller hose attachment to remove lint that is stuck. Wash the lint trap with warm soapy water before re-installing it.
- Clean the hose: Clean the hose with a vacuum to remove any lint build-up. Electrolux vented dryers come with a Clean Filter indicator that informs you when to clean the filter.
- If you own a condenser dryer, empty the water container and clear out lint traps every time you do your laundry. Use a soft brush and a small amount of dishwashing soap to clean the lint trap.