Heat Pump Washer Dryer - A Revolution in All-In-One Washer-Dryer A revolution in all-in-one dryers and washers is advancing. We've tested 2 large efficient heat pump combo units that dry and wash in less than two hours and use only a standard 120-volt outlet. Contrary to traditional dryers that blast hot air across your laundry that is bouncing around and vent out the warm, moist air heat pump combos cool the air to remove the moisture. They use less energy, in general as compared to other dryers. What is a Heat Pump Dryer? Heating pumps or dryers that are ductless cool the air inside and trap moisture. This is in contrast to traditional dryers, which heat the air with gas or electric resistance and then blow out the warm, humid air through a vent which has to be vented out. They don't have to vent to the exterior because they recycle the moisture and heat within the dryer. These dryers are also energy efficient, meaning you can save money on your electric bills. They are also less expensive to run than conventional dryers and last twice as long. They are also green, a major selling point for the majority of consumers. Heat pump dryers that are ENERGY STAR-certified are specifically designed to provide the best performance and efficiency. They offer several features that help them stand out from other dryers, including moisture sensors that stop over drying and stop clothing from shrinking or fade, smart settings that let you customize your laundry routine, and remote smartphone control. Heat pump dryers, in addition to being more efficient and cost-effective they are also safer since they don't use dryer exhaust. This reduces the chance of lint accumulation inside the vent and potential fires. Heat pump dryers are great for apartment dwellers since they can be used wherever. They also benefit from using less heat than conventional dryers. This allows your clothes keep their shape and color longer. However, this also means that they could take a bit longer to dry your clothes. The final benefit of heat pump dryers is that they don't need vents, which means they are much easier to set up than traditional dryers. They can be put in any room of your house so long as you have an outlet for water. Moreover they are more quiet and environmentally green than conventional dryers, making them an ideal option for homes with small children or pets. Heat pump dryers are becoming more popular in the United States, but they have been a favorite choice in Europe for a long time. It's not a surprise that increasing numbers of homeowners decide to buy a washer dryer with a heating element because of their impressive energy efficiency. What are the advantages of a dryer that uses a heat pump? The heat pump washer-dryers consume about half the energy consumption of conventional vented dryers. They are therefore highly energy-efficient, and can help to reduce household electricity bills. As their name suggests, do more than just make your clothes warmer. They also remove humidity by drawing in ambient dried air and then reusing the same air throughout the drying cycle. This keeps your laundry fresh and reduces wrinkles, while also reducing moisture in your home. Additionally, they can reduce the burden on your air conditioner, and thus save you money. This is an excellent benefit for homeowners who reside in humid climates and frequently use dryers. In contrast to traditional vented dryers that discharge warm, humid air to the outside they use a process called evaporative cooling to remove the moisture from your laundry. This results in a cooler, dehumidified environment inside your laundry and can be an attractive option for homes that don't have the space or budget to install a separate duct for venting out humid air. Since they don't have to heat their clothes with an ordinary heating element, such as a vented dryer, a heat pump dryer can run at lower temperatures and is gentle on clothes. Some dryers with heat pumps never reach their maximum temperature, which keeps your clothes in good condition and more secure for a longer period of time. While the initial price of a heat pump dryer is typically more expensive than a standard vented dryer, these appliances will save you significant amounts of money as well as energy in the long term. These dryers are a great option for those looking to reduce their environmental footprint while reducing their energy bills. As the demand for dryers with heat pumps has grown in recent years manufacturers have been in a position to make them more affordable than ever before. In addition, the technology behind these machines has continued to advance, making them even more efficient and user-friendly. For these reasons, many people find these all-in-one washer-dryers to be an excellent value and are a great investment to save on energy consumption and environmental impacts. How does a heat pump dryer work? When it is time to wash your clothes, your standard vented dryer is a simple piece of equipment. A sheet metal box with a heater, motor and fan. However, a heat pump dryer is a totally different creature. These machines are packed with sophisticated technologies which give them the energy efficiency they require. What makes them so efficient is that they don't just dry your clothes - they also extract heat from the air and recycle it into your clothes. The process begins with a blower that spits air through fins on the cold side of the dryer, and then through fins on the hot side. This sounds counterintuitive -why should you waste energy cooling and then heating the same air? -- but it's actually an excellent way to save energy. The re-heated air draws moisture from your clothes and condenses it then the system begins the cycle in reverse to warm up the lint again. The clothes are dried at the same time as with a vented dryer but at a cost that is lower. Another benefit of heat pump dryers is that they don't need vents and can be installed in any room in the house or apartment -even small spaces such as bathrooms, closets and bedrooms. They are more flexible than a combination washer/dryer because they don't require an outside wall to vent. While these dryers don't require vents, they do need to drain. This is accomplished through an integrated catch drawer that can hold water for up to two cycles, or by connecting the unit to a hose and running it out via a window. This is a minor issue in comparison to traditional dryers which require the cleaning of lint screens every time they cycle and condensation coils to be defrosted manually at least once or twice a month. Heat pump dryers may be a bit more expensive right now than their traditional counterparts. However, the initial cost will be repaid by lowering cost of utilities. Many states and local utilities provide incentives and rebates that can help reduce the cost of buying heat pump dryers. How can a heating dryer save energy? Like the name suggests, a heat pump dryer recycles energy. In actual fact, it consumes far less energy than the traditional electric dryers that the majority of households use. The main reason for this is that the dryer does not directly heat the air. Instead, it uses the same technology that lets air conditioning work by compressing a liquid (like refrigerant) and then heating the resulting gas. The vapor then flows through the dryer drum, which absorbs it to dry your clothes. The second function of the heat pump is to reuse the heated liquid that flows back through the drum after it's passed through the drying cycle. This is known as reversible operation. The heat pump cycles through this process several times, capturing the heat repeatedly. The resulting hot air is then introduced into the building and used to heat the building's occupants. Ventless heat pump dryers, unlike vented dryers, move the moist indoor air through a closed circuit that cools it, sucks out the water, and finally it drains into a drain for a washer pipe or into a floor drain or sink. This lets you avoid the dryer's vent and reduce humidity in the indoor environment, particularly in a tightly sealed building enclosure. A heat pump dryer may be combined with an electric evaporator that adds hot water to the cooling loop whenever needed. This can cut down on energy consumption by up to 30%. You should be aware that heat pump dryers are not suitable for all households. The upfront cost of heat pump dryers is more than that of traditional electric dryers. However the savings on operating costs for most families are not as significant. Yale Appliance estimates these units will be appealing to households with high electricity prices and high usage of drying clothes. There is a major reason for a lot of families to consider a heat-pump clothes dryer The government policy. In the United States, you can get rebates that drastically reduce the price of these appliances. Therefore, the economic argument for this new laundry machine is compelling.