10 Best Mobile Apps For Heat Pump Dryers

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 moist, warm air is then vented to the outside. Heat pump dryers do not require vents. This helps save energy and eliminates potential fire hazards caused by lint accumulation in the ducts. They also have lower temperatures and are more gentle on clothing, so they might take longer to dry than traditional machines. Learn more about these ventless laundry appliances from Aztec Appliance. Efficiency You can save lots of money on your electricity bill by using a heat pump dryer. According to Energy Star, it uses up to 28 percent less energy than a conventional clothes dryer. It might not sound like much however, if you are doing 20 loads of laundry a week in Massachusetts where electricity prices are among the highest in the country, you will save hundreds of dollars over twelve years. A heat pump dryer is similar to a dehumidifier. It begins with air that is heated by a compressor and is then passed through a different set of coils to warm it even more. The hot air draws moisture from the clothing and is then pumped into the heat exchanger, which turns it into condensed liquid. It drips out into an empty pan or a tube that can be connected to drain it. The cool, moist air then circulates back through the condenser coils to be re-heated and the cycle begins again. Heat pump dryers 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 more quiet and flexible and suitable for apartments and other areas with limited space. Additionally, they are safer than dryers that have vents, which can be dangerous if not maintained regularly. Heat pump dryers take longer to dry your laundry due to the fact that they operate at lower temperatures. Additionally, because they work much like a dehumidifier and release lots of water during the drying process it is essential to clean your heat pump dryer regularly. That's especially true if you reside in a humid area or if your clothes are soaked with a lot of moisture trapped within them. You can do this regularly by cleaning and checking the lint screen as well as the condenser coils. You should also keep the drain tube clean. The evaporator coil is susceptible to bacterial and mold, but regular cleaning should keep it in good working order. Condensation The traditional way to dry clothes involves the use of a fan to blow hot air over the laundry that is tumbling and then venting that warm, humid air out. This method consumes a lot of energy and requires an outside space for the ducting. Heat pump dryers – also referred to as ventless dryers—recycle that air instead. They heat the air by reusing 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 put in the attic or laundry room. Heat pump dryers, though popular in Europe and Japan are relatively new to the American market. These dryers are now available in sizes that accommodate the majority of laundry rooms in homes and offer significant energy savings. And because they don't exhaust indoor air to the outdoors they don't require you to clean out your venting system periodically or deal with potential problems that can occur due to a dirty system. Heat pump dryers work like the refrigeration system of refrigerators using 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 heated refrigerant flows through two coils to condense the humid air. The cool refrigerant flows back into the original coils, and is heated to continue the process. Like other dryers with electric motors like other dryers, a heat pump still needs maintenance to ensure that it is operating at peak performance. Lint can accumulate on the filters and evaporator coils. It is crucial to clean these regularly to prevent excessive wear. They also utilize refrigerants with a high GWP, or Global Warming Potential. They need to be recycled. Heat pump dryers are slower than vented dryers to dry loads. This is due to the fact that the maximum temperature of heat pump dryers is lower at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that they'll need to tumble a little longer before they're completely dry. Lint Screens The dryers of a heat pump come with a lint trap and venting system which need to be cleaned on a regular basis. A clogged vent can significantly lengthen drying times, and is a fire hazard. A vented dryer's exhaust can reach temperatures that are sufficient to spark volatile chemicals and oils on clothes. A heat pump venting system requires an air dehumidifier to eliminate moisture prior to the air leaves the dryer. A dehumidifier can also reduce energy costs by lowering the temperature of the incoming hot water used to heat the air. The lint screen in the heat pump dryer is finer than conventional dryers, and therefore must be cleaned more frequently. The lint trap in the door's opening is a good place for lint to build up, and it should be inspected and cleaned frequently. The models that have heat pump also have heated drum walls, which means that the inside of the dryer has to be free of lint, fabric softener and dryer sheet residue. The heated drum walls also require periodic cleaning and inspections, since they may need to be replaced, as stated in the user's manual. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the buildup of lint inside the dryer's exhaust pipe is more than an inconvenience. It's also a fire hazard that causes 2900 house fires per year. As explained in this Today's home owner video cleaning the lint-exhaust pipe of your dryer using the help of a wirebrush or leaf blower. This is safer to do from the outside since there is no risk of lint getting on your face. If you're unsure of your ability to clean the duct, get an expert to do it for you. If you don't feel the air moving through the dryer vent, or your dryer is taking longer to dry, it could be that there is a blockage of lint within the vent. Choose one day a year to clean the vent system such as Labor Day, the beginning of spring, or the end or beginning of daylight savings time – and stick with it. Installation Drying your laundry in an electric dryer that is modern and efficient is one of the most important conveniences that homeowners have access to. But picking the right dryer is crucial for those looking to lower their utility bills and have a positive impact on the environment. The heat pump dryer is an excellent option for many. Heat pump dryers are different from traditional vented dryers that use electricity or gas combustion for heating air, and then blowing the hot dried air into the drum to eliminate moisture. They reuse the air, removing the humid air and cooling it, allows it to be returned to the laundry room so that it can again be used. Since they don't require venting outside and don't require ducting or chimney and can be installed in small rooms like laundry closets. This makes them ideal for small homes, accessory dwelling units (such as a laundry room in the basement or an apartment above the garage) and even for additions. And because the energy STAR label is a reliable indicator of energy efficiency, dryers with heat pumps are typically more efficient than traditional vented models. Heat pump dryers can run on standard 120-volt 15-amp circuits. This is a major benefit for older homes with older wiring and can reduce the cost of installation. Heat pump dryers have a lower power than other dryers, and therefore take longer to complete a cycle. Because they don't move back and forth like conventional dryers do, heavy items such as towels and sheets can become a laundry sausage which is difficult to unravel. Some manufacturers try to solve this issue by reversed tumble cycles for short periods during a cycle. In Read Far more , heat pumps require more frequent maintenance than other dryers. Lint can collect on the heat exchanger coils as well as the evaporator coils, requiring periodic cleaning or vacuuming to ensure they are running at a high efficiency. Heat pump dryers do not vent, which means they could retain moisture within the dryer. This could lead to mold.