Heat Pump Dryers Save Energy and Eliminate Potential Fire Hazards
Conventional dryers make use of electric resistance or gas combustion to heat the air then blow it over the clothes. The warm, humid air is then vented to the outside. They don't require vents, which save energy and reduce fire hazards resulting from lint accumulation in the ducts.
These machines also use lower temperatures, and are more gentle on clothes. They can take longer to dry than traditional machines. Aztec Appliance has more information about these ventless washing machines.
Efficiency
You can save a lot of money on your electricity bill by using a heat pump dryer. It consumes up to 28 percent less energy than a traditional clothes dryer according to Energy Star. heat-pump tumble dryer may not sound like much but in the case of a family that does 20 loads of laundry a week in Massachusetts where electricity prices are some of the highest in the country, you'll save hundreds over the course of a 12 year lifespan with a heat pump dryer.
A heat pump dryer is similar to a dehumidifier. It begins with air that is heated by a compressor and then pushed through a second set of coils to warm it even more. In this process, the hot air pulls moisture out of the clothing and then into the heat exchanger, where it becomes condensed. It then drips into a pan that can be manually emptied or connected to a drain tube. The cool, 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. They are therefore able to be put in areas where a conventional dryer would not fit. They are also quieter and more versatile and suitable for apartment spaces and other rooms with little space. They are also safer than dryers with vents. Vents can spark fires if they are not cleaned regularly.
The dryers that use heat take longer to dry your laundry since they operate at lower temperatures. Furthermore, since they function similar to a dehumidifier, and generate plenty of water during drying, it's important to clean your dryer's heat pump regularly. This is especially true when your clothes are damp or you reside in an area that is humid. You can keep track of this by checking and cleaning the lint filter and condenser coils. Also, you should clean the drain tube periodically. Regular cleaning will keep the evaporator coil in good shape.
Condensation
The traditional way to dry clothes involves a fan blowing hot air over the tumbling laundry and then venting the warm, humid air out. This method consumes lots of energy and requires access to an outdoor space vented to allow for the venting. Heat pump dryers--also known as ventless dryers re-use the air instead. They heat the air that is coming in by reusing the energy that goes to run the machine, then condense the resultant moisture into water that drains from the bottom of the drum. They are also smaller than vented dryers, and they can be fitted into a laundry area or even in an attic.
Though widely used in Europe and Japan, heat pump dryers are new to the American market. They're now available in sizes that will fit in the majority of laundry rooms, and provide significant energy savings as well as other climate benefits. Since they don't exhaust indoor air outdoors it is not necessary to clean your venting system or fix any potential problems.
Heat pump dryers work like the refrigeration system of refrigerators, with an air compressor that presses a refrigerant in one set of coils to release heat. They also have an evaporator set of coils that absorb warmth from the air that passes through them. The refrigerant that is heated circulates through the second set of coils to condense moist air. The cooled refrigerant is then pumped back into first coils, where it is heated.
Like other dryers with electric motors like other dryers, a heat pump requires maintenance to keep its energy efficiency at peak performance. Lint builds up on the filters, as well as on the condenser and evaporator coils, and it is essential to clean them regularly to avoid excessive wear. They also use refrigerants that have high GWP (Global Warming Potential) which means that they need to be recycled properly too.
Another issue to be considered is the fact that heat pump dryers typically take longer than vented dryers to complete a load. This is because the maximum temperature of heat pump dryers is lower at around 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that they'll need to tumble a little bit longer before they are completely dry.
Lint Screens
Heat pump dryers have a lint trap and venting system that needs to be regularly cleaned. A blocked vent can drastically extend drying times, and can pose a fire hazard. The exhaust of dryers vented can be heated to the point of igniting volatile chemicals and oils.
A heat pump's vent system requires a dehumidifier to eliminate moisture from the air before it exits the dryer. A dehumidifier can also reduce energy costs by lowering the temperature of the hot water that is used to heat the air.
The lint filter inside a heat-pump dryer is finer and needs to be cleaned more often than the one in traditional dryers. The lint trap inside the door opening is also a good place for lint to accumulate and must be inspected and cleaned frequently.
The models with a heat pump come with a heated drum, which means the inside of the machine needs to be kept free of residue and lint from fabric softener or dryer sheets. The heated drum walls might be required to be cleaned and inspected regularly, as they may require to be changed, as indicated by the user's guide.
Lint buildup in the dryer's exhaust hoses isn't just a nuisance; it's a serious danger to fire and can cause an average of 2,900 house fires each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Clean your dryer's lint exhaust pipe every year with a wire brush, or make use of an air blower from the outside to eliminate lint from inside of the hose, as this How-to video explains. It's safer to do it from the outside as there is no risk of lint getting on your face. If you are not confident that you can clean the ducts, call a professional.
If you can't feel the air moving through your dryer vent outside, or the dryer is taking longer to dry than usual, there could be an obstruction from lint inside the vent. Choose a specific day in the year to clean the venting system - Labor Day, the beginning of spring, or at the end or the beginning of daylight savings time - and adhere to it.
Installation
Drying your laundry in an electric dryer that is modern and efficient is one of the most significant options for homeowners. But selecting the right dryer is an important decision for those who wish to lower their energy bills and have a an impact on the environment. For many these reasons, heat pump dryers are the best choice. In contrast to traditional vented dryers which make use of gas or electricity to heat air and then blow the hot, dry air into the drum to remove moisture, heat pump dryers reuse the same air repeatedly, pulling the moist air away from the clothes and cooling it, allowing it to return to the laundry area, where it can be used again.
Heat pump dryers don't require ducting, chimneys or a chimney to vent outside. They can be put in inside small spaces like laundry closets. They are perfect for small homes, accessory dwelling units (such a laundry room or an apartment above the garage), and even additions. Additionally, since the ENERGY STAR label is a reputable mark of energy efficiency, dryers that use heat are generally more efficient than traditional vented models.
In contrast to other types of clothes dryers that require a separate circuit, most heat pump dryers are built to run on standard 120-volt, 15-amp electrical circuits. This is a major benefit for older homes with older wiring and can reduce the cost of installation.
However the fact that heat pump dryers aren't as powerful than other dryers means they take longer to finish the cycle. Because they don't move between the two like conventional dryers do, large items such as towels and sheets could become a laundry sludge which is difficult to unravel. Some manufacturers attempt to resolve this issue by reversed tumble cycles for brief periods during the cycle.
Heat pump dryers also require more maintenance than other dryers. Lint can collect on the heat exchanger coils and Evaporator coils, which require periodic vacuuming or professional cleaning to keep them running efficiently. And since dryers that use heat pumps don't vent, they may also collect moisture inside the dryer, leading to mold.