Heat Pump Dryers Save Energy and Eliminate Potential Fire Hazards
Conventional dryers use electric resistance or gas combustion to heat the air, then blow it over the clothes. The warm, moist air is then vented to the outside. The dryers that use heat pumps don't need vents, which can save energy and prevents fire hazards resulting from lint accumulation in the ducts.
They also use lower temperatures and are gentler on clothing, so they might take longer to dry than conventional machines. Find out more about these ventless washing machines from Aztec Appliance.
Efficiency
A heat pump dryer can save you a significant amount of money annually on your electricity bill. According to Energy Star, it uses up to 28 percent less energy than a conventional clothes dryer. It may not seem like much but if you wash 20 loads of laundry a week in Massachusetts where electricity prices are among the highest in the nation, you will save hundreds of dollars over a 12 year lifespan.
A heat pump dryer is similar to a dehumidifier. The heat pump dryer begins with heated air, which is then pushed through coils to heat it further. In this process, the heated air draws moisture from the clothing into the heat exchanger, where it is condensed. It then drips into a empty pan or a tube that can be connected to drain it. washer dryer with heat pump cooled, moist air is then circulated back through the condenser coils to be heated again and the cycle starts again.
They don't require an exhaust vent, and so they can be installed in areas that would not be able to be able to accommodate a conventional dryer. They are also more silent and versatile and ideal for apartments or other areas with little space. They are also more secure than dryers that have vents. Vents can spark fires when they are not cleaned regularly.
However, since they operate at lower temperatures than conventional dryers, it takes longer for your laundry to dry when using the help of a heat pump dryer. It's also important to clean the dryer regularly since it functions as a dehumidifier and creates lots of moisture during the drying process. This is especially true in the case of damp clothes or you reside in an area that is humid. You can do this by checking and cleaning the lint screen and the condenser coils. It is also recommended to clean the drain tube regularly. Regular cleaning will keep the evaporator coil in good shape.
Condensation
The traditional method of drying clothes involves a fan blowing hot air over the laundry that is tumbling, then venting that warm, moist air outside. This approach uses a lot of energy and requires an outdoor space vented to allow to vent the venting. Heat pump dryers--also known as ventless dryers, recycle the air instead. They make use of the heat to repurpose energy to run the machine. They then condense it into water that drains out of the bottom of the drum. They are also smaller than vented models and can be installed in an attic or laundry room.
The dryers that are heat pump, although popular in Europe and Japan are relatively new on the American market. These dryers are now available in sizes to fit most home laundry rooms and offer significant energy savings. Since they don't exhaust indoor air outdoors they don't require you to clean your venting system or deal with any potential issues.
Heat pump dryers work like refrigeration systems in refrigerators, with the compressor that presses a refrigerant in one set of coils to release heat. They also have an evaporator set of coils that absorb heat from the air passing through them. The refrigerant that is heated circulates through a second set of coils to condense humid air. The chilled refrigerant is then recirculated back into the first set of coils and is reheated to repeat the cycle.
As with other electric dryers, a heat pump dryer still needs maintenance to keep its energy efficiency at peak performance. Lint collects on the filters, as well as on the evaporator and condenser coils. It is crucial to clean them frequently to avoid wear and tear. Additionally, they utilize refrigerants with high GWP (Global Warming Potential) which means that they need to be recycled properly too.
Another drawback to consider is the fact that heat pump dryers generally take longer than vented ones to complete a job. This is due to the fact that the maximum temperature of heat pump dryers is lower, at about 120degF. This means that they'll need to tumble a little more time before they are completely dry.
Lint Screens
The dryers of a heat pump come with venting and lint trap system that needs to be regularly cleaned. A blocked dryer vent can increase drying time and pose an fire risk. A vented dryer's exhaust can reach temperatures that are sufficient to ignite volatile oils and chemical on clothes.
A heat pump vent system needs a dehumidifier to eliminate moisture prior to the air is removed from the dryer. A dehumidifier will also help you save energy by reducing the temperature at which hot water is heated to warm the air.
The lint screen in the heat pump dryer is finer than the conventional dryers, and therefore must be cleaned more often. The lint screen that is located in the door's opening can collect lint. It is recommended to clean it regularly.
Models with heat pumps have a heated drum, which means the interior of the machine needs to be free of lint and residue from fabric softener or dryer sheets. The heated drum walls require regular cleaning and inspection, as they could require to be replaced, as stated in the user's manual.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the accumulation of lint in the dryer's exhaust pipe isn't just an inconvenience. It's also an ablaze hazard that can cause 2900 house fires per year. Clean your dryer's lint exhaust pipe every year with a wire brush or make use of a leaf blower from the exterior to eliminate lint from inside of the hose as this Today's Homeowner how-to video provides. It's safer to do it from the outside, as you won't be able to see lint on your face. If you're not sure that you'll be able to clean the ducts, call an expert.
If you don't feel the air moving through your dryer vent, or if your dryer is taking longer to dry, it could be that there is a blockage of lint within the vent. Choose a specific day in the year to clean the venting system that is Labor Day, the beginning of spring, or the end or the beginning of daylight saving time - and stick to it.
Installation
Drying laundry with a modern electric dryer is one of the most essential features that homeowners have access to. However, choosing the right dryer is important for those who wish to cut down on their energy bills and also have a positive effect on our environment. The heat pump dryer is a great option for many. Unlike traditional vented dryers that use electricity or gas combustion to heat air and blow dry, hot air into the drum to remove moisture in the air, heat pump dryers reuse the same air over and over and pull the moist air out of the clothes and cooling it, allowing it return to the laundry room where it can be used again.
Heat pump dryers do not require ducting, chimneys or a chimney to vent outside. They can be installed within small spaces, such as laundry closets. They are ideal for tiny homes, accessory dwelling units (such a laundry room or apartment above the garage) or even for additions. Heat pump dryers often perform better than traditional vented models because they are ENERGY STAR certified.
Heat pump dryers can be used on standard 120-volt 15 amp circuits. This can be a real benefit for older homes that have older wiring and can reduce the cost of installation.
Heat pump dryers have a lower power than other dryers, so they take longer to complete a cycle. Because they don't feature the back-and-forth motion of conventional dryers, large objects such as sheets and towels could end up in laundry sausages that are difficult to unravel. Some manufacturers attempt to solve this issue by changing the tumble cycle for short periods of time during the course of a cycle.
Heat pump dryers also require more maintenance than other dryers. Lint can build up on the heat exchanger and evaporator coils, and require regular cleaning or a thorough vacuum to keep them operating efficiently. Because dryers with heat pumps don't vent, they can also accumulate moisture inside the dryer, which can cause mold.