There are many arguments in favor of dryers: these devices save time, space and nerves - especially when it starts to rain and you have to quickly remove half-dried items from the lines. However, what model should a clothes dryer have? Which one is more suitable for you, meeting your needs and matching your capabilities? We will tell you about seven golden rules that you should consider when choosing a dryer.
Maximum load: how much laundry you will have to throw into the drum of the device also depends on what kind of washing machine you have
Tip 1: match the size of the washing machine
Since fabrics become noticeably heavier after washing, the dryer should be more spacious. If your washing machine has a 6kg capacity, you will need a dryer that can hold eight or nine kilograms. Based on practical experience, it is generally accepted that for a person living alone, a dryer with a capacity of three to five kilograms will be sufficient. A couple of people may need a device with a capacity of five or six kilograms, but for a whole family they will have to buy a dryer designed for seven to nine kilograms of laundry.
Tip 2: Vent Dryer or Condenser Dryer?
Vented dryer: vents moist air outside
Often the type of dryer (vented or condensing) is determined by where you can place the dryer. Both types remove moisture from laundry using heated air. A ventilation-type dryer exhausts moist air through a special tube to the street. You will need to either attach it to the window or connect it to the ventilation system. Accordingly, such models are not suitable for installation in a pantry or basement without windows. In these cases, condensation-type dryers are used to cool the humid air by collecting water in a special reservoir, which must be periodically emptied.
There are also differences in cost: while prices for ventilation dryers start at 14 thousand rubles, for a condensing machine you will have to pay an average of 7 thousand rubles. more. As an example, let's take the Gorenje D 624 B, which costs approximately 18 thousand rubles. But in most cases, a ventilated dryer consumes more electricity than a condensing dryer.
Clothes dryer: its functions
Almost all types of electric dryers perform several drying functions:
Any model of electric dryer has several drying options:
- Temporary – The drying process starts at a certain moment and for any user-specified period of time.
- Humidity Focused – The drying process will stop when the user-specified humidity percentage is reached.
- Fabric-Based – Drying is based on the user-specified load material
- Focused on the type of clothing - The machine dries similar items, taking into account their characteristics.
Most dryers have the basic functions listed above. To get additional features, owners will have to fork out more. Note that before purchasing a drying machine, the user needs to understand what he wants from this machine, for what tasks he will need it.
Tip 3: Heat pump dryer to save energy
Heat Pump Models: Energy Efficient, but Expensive
Modern and energy efficient, but more expensive to purchase, heat pump dryers represent the next evolution of condensing machines. Starting from 25 thousand rubles. devices become available that heat the air entering the machine, which passes through the evaporator, where moisture condenses, and the dry air again enters the pump and is heated.
The advantage of the technology is that, compared to a ventilation machine, there is virtually no heat loss. Thus, this type of machine can save the owner up to 50% of the electricity consumed by a “conventional” condenser dryer. At the same time, initially purchasing such a machine is more expensive, and maintenance will have to be performed more often due to the more complex mechanism. In addition, such a device will require more time to dry one batch of laundry than other types of dryers.
Advantages
After reading the entire article, we can come to a conclusion: is it necessary to purchase an electric dryer or can you get by with a classic clothes dryer?
Drying in a machine differs from classic drying of clothes in a number of advantages:
- An accelerated process.
- The ability to stop the drying process at a certain level of humidity, which is convenient for subsequent ironing of some fabrics;
- Evaporating moisture smoothes simple products during operation of the device;
- Various modes make it possible to dry things taking into account the requirements for any type of fabric or type of clothing.
Drying machines also have disadvantages: first of all, the high price and the fact that the drying machine takes up a lot of space in the apartment. For this reason, many people living in one-room apartments have to be content with the classic drying of clothes on a small balcony.
Household appliances Dryer
Tip 4: Read the information on the label correctly
Nowadays, dryers are no longer energy hogs that send your utility bills through the roof. Every dryer must be affixed with the EU energy efficiency label. It informs not only about the type of device, maximum capacity and noise level, but also indicates its energy efficiency class. These grades range from the best A+++ to the worst Cs.
Unlike devices in other categories, in dryers the difference between energy efficiency classes is huge: the most voracious ones can use 500 kWh more per year than the most economical ones. We made all the calculations for you and this is the result: with the most energy-efficient equipment you can save up to 7 thousand rubles. in year. If you want to replace an old but still working device, you will need to first calculate the difference. If we are talking about the first purchase of a new device, choose energy efficiency class of at least A.
Tip 6: What programs are must-haves?
Ease of control and variety of drying programs: is all this tinsel necessary?
Of course, for the most part it’s a matter of your personal needs and preferences - what programs the dryer should have. Should there be special programs for wool, gentle drying or even down? Should there be a display indicating the remaining operating time and how should this time be determined? Does the device count a certain number of minutes or use sensors to determine the degree of moisture in the laundry? It is humidity sensors that can further reduce energy consumption and prevent over-drying of laundry.
Other features such as internal lighting, sound notification when work is completed or started are frills and should influence the final decision when choosing a specific model only if you really need them. Of course, the simpler the dryer, the cheaper it is. Manufacturers such as Bosch, Siemens, Miele, LG and Samsung are especially generous with additional equipment with options.
How do tumble dryers work?
They come in several types, but have a similar design and operating principle. So, let’s take a closer look at what drum dryers are in general.
Device
To understand the principle of operation of the unit, you should first familiarize yourself with its design. As a rule, it consists of the following elements:
- control panel, which contains an electronic display, drying mode selector, auxiliary function buttons;
- drive belt that connects the motor to the tank;
- drying drum in which things are dried; Modern electric dryers have a tank light, which allows you to monitor the condition of your laundry and also makes loading and unloading easier.
- an electric motor and a heat exchanger, in which cold and hot air flows move through two channels, due to which the air is cooled and condensate is subsequently released;
- heating element (heating element), which heats air masses before they enter the drum with things;
- a fan that captures cold air masses and sets them in the right direction after warming up;
- a container for collecting condensate, which can be located in the lower or upper part of the panel, where the powder receiver is located in washing machines (water must be drained from the container regularly so that new condensate does not spill out);
- air intakes with fluff filters that absorb dust and particles of debris that come with air flows (filters should be cleaned at least once a month).
A detailed diagram of the unit is shown in the figure:
Inside the drum
As a rule, the dryer drum is made of stainless steel, and more modern models have a honeycomb structure that promotes the formation of a thin air cushion between the laundry and the walls of the drum. This makes drying very gentle, so even the most delicate items can be tossed into the drum.
Manufacturers also pay great attention to the shape of laundry grips. These are the mixing ribs inside the drum. For example, in some models, when drying, they move along a trajectory that resembles the number “8,” which contributes to the economical operation of the device’s motor. There are models with periodic reverse rotation, but their motor is subject to greater loads during operation.
Drying can be done at different speeds - from 50 to 100 rpm. So, when drying jeans, you can set the maximum speed, but delicate items require a more gentle mode - no more than 60-70 rpm.
Principle of operation
Tumble dryers work on the following principle:
- The air passes through fluff filters and is directed by a fan to the part of the device in which the heating elements are located.
- The air is heated using a heating element, and the heating temperature varies from 50 to 70 degrees.
- After heating with the help of a fan, the air is directed into the main element of the dryer - into the rotating drum.
- Hot air removes moisture from wet laundry and then falls to the heat exchanger.
- In the heat exchanger of the device, the air gets rid of unnecessary moisture and cools down.
- The cooled air again begins to move towards the heating elements and repeats the entire process of its “movement”. Thus, there is a continuous circulation of air masses, which allows the laundry to dry.
The described device operates from the network and its power per cycle is 4 kW. Over the entire period of drying clothes, power consumption can range from 1500 to 2300 W, depending on the model of the household appliance and its manufacturer.
How to use?
There are different models of dryers, but they are all operated according to the following instructions:
- Load laundry . It should be pre-wrung in a washing machine or by hand. It is important that the volume of laundry matches the capacity of the device.
- Set mode . The choice depends on the material of the clothing. In addition, you can set the drying time and the residual moisture level of things.
- End the cycle . You need to take out the laundry and iron it or put it in the closet, depending on the degree of humidity.
- Remove debris from fluff filters . This procedure should not be ignored, otherwise filters clogged with debris will not be able to pass air masses properly, which will certainly affect the quality of drying.
- Get rid of condensation . Once the drying cycle is completed, you need to take out the condensate container and pour out all the water. If the system is drainage, then moisture will enter the ventilation system on its own, so nothing needs to be removed.
Tip 7: What to do about the problem of lack of space?
If you don't have a lot of space, you can purchase a top-loading dryer that loads laundry from the top. As a rule, such devices are narrower than conventional front-loading machines. In addition, the dryer can of course be placed on the washing machine.
For reliable fixation, we recommend using special anti-vibration mats both under the dryer and under the washing machine. Issue price: about 1000 rubles. on Amazon or about the same in hardware stores. Anyone who rarely does laundry may consider purchasing a washing machine with a clothes drying function (from 22 thousand rubles). These devices combine the capabilities of two machines at once and are used quite often when there is little space in the apartment.
Installation of dryers
The available methods are mentioned above. It is necessary to consider in what cases they are used:
- under the countertop: if there is no space in the bathroom, the practice is to install it in the kitchen - a set is included among other appliances and bedside tables, but this installation method is suitable for a condensing machine, since the option with a heat pump will overheat in a closed space;
- on a washing machine: a special adapter for fixing devices may be included in the kit, but it is also easy to find on the open market; the adapter is used in cases where there is little space in the room.
The drying device is not designed for installation behind facades.
Video on how to install a dryer on a washing machine:
