7 Simple Changes That'll Make An Enormous Difference To Your Heat Pump Dryers
Heat Pump Dryers Save Energy and Eliminate Potential Fire Hazards
Conventional dryers heat the air using gas or electric resistance and then blow it through clothes that are tumbling, and then release the warm, humid air outside. Heat pump dryers don't require vents. This helps save energy and eliminates potential fire hazards caused by lint accumulation in the ducts.
These machines also use lower temperatures and are gentler on clothes. They can take longer to dry than traditional machines. Aztec Appliance provides more details about these ventless washers.
Efficiency
You can save lots of money on your electricity bill by using a heat pump dryer. It consumes up to 28% less energy than a traditional clothes dryer according to Energy Star. It might not seem like much however, if you are doing 20 loads of laundry a week in Massachusetts where electricity rates are among the highest in the country, you will save hundreds of dollars over 12 years.
A heat pump dryer is similar to a dehumidifier. It begins with air that is heated by a compressor, and then pushed through a second set of coils to warm it more. The hot air draws moisture from the clothing and is then pumped into the heat exchanger, where it becomes condensed liquid. It then drips into a empty pan or a tube that can be connected to drain it. heat-pump tumble dryer cooled, moist air is then circulated back over the coils of the condenser, to be heated.
They don't require an exhaust vent. They are therefore able to be put in places where a traditional dryer would not be able to fit. They also are quieter and more versatile, making them ideal for apartment spaces and other rooms with limited space. Additionally, they are more secure than dryers with vents, which can be dangerous if not cleaned regularly.
However, as they operate at lower temperatures than conventional dryers, it takes longer for your laundry to dry using a heat pump dryer. It is also essential to clean the heat pump dryer frequently because it works like a dehumidifier, and produces a lot of moisture during the drying process. This is especially important when your clothes are damp or you reside in an area that is humid. You can check this regularly by cleaning and inspecting the lint screen as well as the condenser coils. Also, you should clean the drain tube every now and then. The evaporator coil is susceptible to bacterial and mold But regular cleaning is necessary to keep it in good condition.
Condensation
The traditional method of drying clothes is to use a fan to blow hot air over the clothes. The air is then vented to the outside. This method consumes lots of energy and requires access to an outdoor space that is vented for venting. Heat pump dryers, also known as ventless dryers--recycle that air instead. They heat the air by reusing energy used to run the machine and then condense it into water that drains out of the bottom of the drum. They are smaller than vented models, and can be placed in the attic or laundry room.
The dryers with heat pumps, while popular in Europe and Japan are relatively new to the American market. They're now available in sizes that will fit in the majority of laundry rooms, and offer significant energy savings and other climate benefits. Since they don't vent the indoor air to the outside, you don't have to clean your venting system periodically or deal with possible issues that could arise with a dirty one.
They function as a refrigerator's refrigeration system using the compressor that presses refrigerant through one set of coils to release heat, and a set of evaporator coils that absorb heat from the air passing through them. The heated refrigerant flows through another set of coils to condense the humid air. The cool refrigerant flows back into the original coils, and is reheated to continue the process.
Similar to other electric dryers the heat pump dryer requires maintenance to ensure that it is operating at its highest level. Lint can build up on the filters and evaporator coils. It is crucial to clean these regularly to avoid excessive wear. And they use refrigerants with high GWP (Global Warming Potential) and therefore, they have to be properly recycled as well.
The heat pump dryers take longer than vented dryers to dry loads. It's because the maximum temperature of heat pump dryers is lower, at around 120degF. This means they will need to tumble a bit longer before they are completely dry.
Lint Screens
The dryers of a heat pump come with venting and lint trap system which need to be regularly cleaned. A blocked vent can drastically prolong drying times and poses a fire risk. The exhaust of a vented dryer can reach temperatures high enough to ignite volatile oils and chemical on clothes.
A heat pump vent system requires a dehumidifier in order to eliminate moisture before air is removed from the dryer. A dehumidifier can also help you save energy by reducing the temperature at which hot water is heated to heat the air.
The lint screen on a heat pump dryer is finer than the conventional dryers, which is why it needs to be cleaned more often. The lint screen that is located in the door's opening can accumulate lint. It is recommended to clean it frequently.
The models with a heat pump include a heated drum which means the interior of the machine has to be free of lint and residues from dryer or fabric softener sheets. The heated drum walls might also require cleaning and inspected on a regular basis, since they might require to be changed, as per the user's guide.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the buildup of lint inside the dryer's exhaust pipe is more than just an inconvenience. It's also an ignition source that can cause 2,900 housefires on average each year. As you can see in this Today's home owner video, you can clean your dryer's lint-exhaust hose with a wirebrush or a leaf blower. It's safer to do this from outside, so that you can avoid getting lint in your face. If you're not sure that you'll be able clean the ducts, hire a professional.
If you can't sense air flowing through your dryer vent outside, or when your dryer takes longer to dry than it normally does there may be a lint blockage deeper inside the vent. Choose a specific day in the year to clean the vent system - Labor Day, the beginning of spring, or the closing or beginning of daylight savings time - and stick to it.
Installation
Drying laundry with modern dryers is among the most essential options that homeowners have access to. However, choosing the right dryer is essential for those who want to lower their utility bills and have a positive impact on the environment. The heat pump dryer is a great option for many. Contrary to traditional vented dryers that use electricity or gas combustion to heat air and then blow hot, dry air into the drum to eliminate moisture in the air, heat pump dryers reuse the same air repeatedly by pulling the moist air out of the clothes and cooling it, allowing it return to the laundry room where it can be used again.
Since they don't require venting outside and don't require ducting or chimney and can be installed in small spaces like laundry closets. They are ideal for tiny homes, accessory dwelling units (such a laundry room or apartment above the garage) or even additions. The majority of heat pump dryers perform better than traditional vented dryers because they are Energy STAR certified.
Contrary to the majority of dryers for clothes that require a separate circuit, the majority of heat pump dryers are made to run on the standard 120-volt, 15 amp electrical circuits. This is a major benefit for older homes that have older wiring and can save money on installation.
However the fact that heat pump dryers are less powerful than other types of dryers means they are slower to complete the cycle. Because they don't feature the back-and-forth movement of conventional dryers, bulky items like towels and sheets may wad up into a laundry sausage that is hard to unwind. Some manufacturers attempt to solve this issue by reversing the tumble cycle for brief durations during the course of a cycle.
The dryers that use heat pumps also require more maintenance than other dryers. Lint can build up on the heat exchanger and evaporator coils, which requires regular vacuuming or professional cleaning to keep them operating efficiently. Because dryers that use heat pumps don't vent, they may also gather moisture inside the dryer, causing mold.