Heat pump dryer or condenser dryer?
Comparing dryers
| Heat pump dryer | Condenser dryer | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy-efficient | Yes, from A+++ | No |
| Better for your laundry | Yes (due to low temperature) | No (due to high temperature) |
| Dries quickly | No | Yes |
| Drain options | Condenser reservoir/condensation drain hose | Condenser reservoir/condensation drain hose |
Energy consumption
Heat pump dryer: energy-efficient from A+++
Though a heat pump dryer is a bit more expensive, it'll save you a lot of money every year. With an A+++ model for 8kg of laundry, you can save up to €115 annual energy costs compared to a condenser dryer with a B energy label. With an A+++ model, you can save up to €1150 on average during the lifespan of the appliance. This example is based on a dryer that lasts up to 10 years on average, depending on its usage.
Condenser dryer: not energy-efficient
Compared to an A+++ heat pump dryer, a condenser dryer doesn't dry very energy-efficiently. On average, a condenser dryer with a B energy label costs €115 more per year than an A+++ heat pump dryer. During the entire lifespan of the appliance, a condenser dryer will cost you an extra €1150 on average. This example is also based on a dryer that lasts up to 10 years on average, depending on its usage.
Drying temperature
Heat pump dryer: low (laundry stays nice longer)
With a heat pump dryer, your laundry will look good for a long time thanks to the low drying temperature. This is because a heat pump dryer works with a heat pump and a coolant. The coolant of the heat pump dryer ensures that the dryer dries at a lower temperature. Unlike a condenser dryer that works with a heat element, your laundry doesn't come into contact with high temperatures in a heat pump dryer. As a result, your laundry will look beautiful for longer and shrink or wear less quickly.
Condenser dryer: high (laundry wears faster)
Due to the high drying temperature of a condenser dryer, you have a greater chance of your laundry shrinking or wearing. Unlike a heat pump dryer, which works with a heat pump and a coolant, a condenser dryer uses a heat element to dry laundry. As the element gets warmer, the dry air reaches a high temperature. Your laundry won't last as long with a condenser dryer as with a heat pump dryer.
Cycle duration
Heat pump dryer: dries less quickly
Most heat pump dryers require a bit more patience due to the lower drying temperature. An A+++ heat pump dryer with an 8kg load capacity dries a large drum in 2 hours and 45 minutes on average. This is about half an hour longer than a condenser dryer. However, there are more and more fast heat pump dryers that you can dry with both efficiently and quickly. These dry your laundry in 2.5 hours.
Condenser dryer: dries quickly
Because a condenser dryer uses a heat element to dry, your laundry dries relatively quickly. On average, a condenser dryer takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to dry 8kg of laundry. This is half an hour faster than with a heat pump dryer. Remember that with a condenser dryer, your laundry will wear out faster and you use a lot of energy. This is due to the high drying temperature.
Water drain in the condenser reservoir or drain pipe
Both a heat pump dryer and a condenser dryer collect the water in the condenser reservoir. You can find this reservoir in the top left corner the machine. You can often also connect a condensation drain hose. With this hose, you connect the dryer to the drain in your laundry room or kitchen. That way, you never have to empty the condenser reservoir. There are also dryers with a drain pipe that leads outside. These is called a vented dryer. We don't sell this type of dryer.
What should you choose?
Want to dry energy-efficiently? Buy a heat pump dryer with A+++ energy label, which saves you up to €115 in energy costs per year. Your laundry looks good for longer. Want to dry quickly? Choose an A+++ heat pump dryer with speed range fast. That way, you can dry quickly and energy-efficiently.
