Energy Efficient Heat Pump Washer Dryer
With the new federal incentives and awe-inspiring lab test results, the heat pump washer dryer is set to become a household staple. These all-in-one units require less time to wash and dry and are also ventless, which means they don't pull the conditioned air from your home to vent it outside.
The clothes are also treated with less heat. Read on to find out more about this fascinating laundry technology.
1. Saves Energy
The use of heat pumps isn't limited to home heating and cooling, they're now being used in clothes dryers too. A dryer with a heat pump that is ENERGY STAR certified uses less electricity than a traditional dryer, saving you money on your electric bill. They use the lower temperature to lessen wear and tear, and damage to your clothes.
Heat pump washer-dryers recycle the air used in the washing process. However, it is cooled and warmed by a condenser coil that is located within the evaporator. The warm air is pushed back into the drum to continue drying the clothes. This means that the heat pump dryer will not have to exhaust the moist air as vented dryers do.
It's worth making your appliances as energy efficient as you can, since the process of washing clothes consumes lots of energy. This can be accomplished by combining a washer with dryers that use heat. This will allow you to ensure maximum efficiency, and begin saving energy costs right away.
Take heat pump tumble dryers at our selection of ENERGY STAR-certified dryers and washers to begin. You can sort results by model, energy consumption, wash cycles, or spin speed. Make sure to look over the yellow Energy Guide Label to see the cost of each appliance to run for the year.
Combination washer-dryers are an excellent option for households that cannot afford two separate units or don't have enough space. They plug into a standard 120-volt outlet and do not require a venting device or a special hookups of 240-volts. These units are great for condominiums and apartments since they can be placed in a cupboard or under a counter.
2. Reduces Noise
Most traditional clothes dryers use an electric or hot gas coil to warm the air that evaporates the moisture in your laundry. The air is then vented out of your home, bringing with it the conditioned air that you're paying to cool in the summer and warm in winter. Your home must perform overtime to make up for the lost conditioned air by pulling in replacement air from gaps and cracks in your walls and around doors.
The heat pump washer dryers transfer humidity from one place to another, instead of heating it and then venting it. This is great for homeowners who have houses that aren't big enough to accommodate an additional flow of air. It is also possible to install washer/dryer combos in areas where a vented dryer would not be appropriate for instance, under stairs. This will not impact the efficiency or energy efficiency.
While this is a significant benefit of all-in one drying and washing machines, they aren't without their disadvantages. It's crucial to give yourself enough time for each load because all-in-one appliances take longer to complete their cycles than traditional washers/dryers. In addition the combination of two appliances in one can reduce the amount of laundry you're able do in one go, since it takes around an hour longer for whites and colors to dry than they would in separate machines.
The majority of manufacturers have begun to address these problems by offering easy solutions. LG's top-rated washing-dryer combination includes a feature where you can prop the door slightly open while it is running to avoid water pooling and drying the drum. A number of LG models, such as our top pick, have an insignificant drainage hole in the bottom laundry tub that allows water to drain instead of pooling. You can also purchase a sound blanket that fit snugly over your heat pump to reduce its sound.
3. Reduces wear and tear
They don't heat the air, like traditional dryers. They only remove moisture from clothing. This is more gentle on the fabric. This helps conserve energy since it doesn't have to burn energy heating the air to speed up the drying process.
However, they do require a little more maintenance than standalone dryers because the condensate drain pipe has to be cleaned regularly to avoid blockages. But, this isn't too different than cleaning a regular dryer.
The main difference is that heat pump washer-dryer combos don't vent, which means you can use them in your home without cutting into the wall exterior to run ductwork. This is ideal for apartment dwellers, college students, and other people who don't wish to spend more money or modify their living space.
Since heat-pump dryers do not get as hot and take longer to dry clothes than conventional dryers. Many people were hesitant to use them because they didn't attain the same temperature. However manufacturers have stepped up their technology and the LG Signature LUWM101HWA, a heat pump dryer which is on our list of top dryers, has typical drying times between 37 and 70 minutes.
The most important thing to reduce drying time is to not overdo the amount of detergent, which could create excessive suds, which can delay drying cycles and leaves an oily residue on clothing (readers send us emails every day about this problem). Use the recommended amount of high efficiency detergents, and clean the dispenser drawer regularly. This will ensure that the machine is operating as efficiently as possible and will not waste your time and money.
4. Reduces Lint
When you're drying your clothes with a heat-pump dryer, it uses less air than vented gas or electric dryers. It's because it doesn't push hot humid air into your laundry, but instead extracts room-temperature vapor from the air around your clothes. This steam is then heated by your washer to evaporate the moisture out of your laundry and make this kind of dryer much more energy efficient.
A heat pump washer dryer weighs 88 lbs., which is not as heavy as vented gas dryers or electric dryer. This is a huge issue if you intend to put it on a wall or in a closet which may not have enough space for a vent.
Lint build-up could be a problem for all dryers, however the reduced temperatures in a heat pump dryer restrict how much can clog the exhaust and stop your clothes from reaching their maximum drying capacity. That also lowers the risk of a fire threatening your dryer or its exhaust, which can occur when solvents and flammable oils from your laundry enter the vent or the dryer's evaporator.
Clean your dryer's ducts at least once a month to reduce lint accumulation (more often if you have children or pets in the home). A wire brush or leaf blower can help you get rid of any lint that has accumulated between the ridges of the accordion hose, and it's safer to do this from outside rather than inside if possible.
Use a detergent that is low in sudsing and follow the instructions of the manufacturer on how to set up your water level to avoid drying too much. Separate your laundry into the type of fabric and wash delicates such as silk with heavy cottons as well as linens. So you don't overdye your delicates or shrink them too much, and the sensors for moisture will have a better chance of detecting when your laundry is fully dry to end the cycle.
5. Saves Space
Since heat pump dryers recycle and reuse hot air, they require less energy than vented dryers. This can help you save money on your utility bills, but also on the energy cost to cool or heat your home.
This method is gentler on fabrics and reduces shrinkage, which is a big benefit when dealing with expensive clothing. It also eliminates the need for lint-clogged vents, and reduces the energy wasted by conventional dryers to warm the air in the room prior to entering the dryer. This helps to keep your heating costs down.
Combinations of heat pump washers and dryers are designed to fit in small spaces, like closets and kitchens. These all-in-one machines take up only a few inches more space than the best front-load washers that are vented. Additionally, they're ventless, which means you can put them wherever you have water and a 120-volt outlet.
The all-in-one appliances are simple to operate, too. You only need to choose the right washing cycle and drying cycle for your load, and then let them do their work. When your clothes are dry, simply remove them.
These efficient, energy-efficient machines make it easier than ever to wash your clothes without breaking the bank. You can shop online or go to an Aztec Appliance showroom to find the perfect washer-dryer combo that is perfect for your home. We have the best rates, discounts, rebates, and special financing to make upgrading your laundry room more affordable. We're here to assist you in choosing the right heat pump dryer for you!