Tumble Dryers
Heat pump models need no outside vent and cost far less to run, and you'll find condenser and vented dryers too.
Settle on the type and the capacity first, then compare features. The guide below the products explains the differences.
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Tumble dryers by type
- Heat pump dryers: the most efficient type. Warm air is recycled, and the water either fills a tank or runs away through a drain hose.
- Condenser dryers: heat fresh air for each cycle and turn the moisture into water in a tank. No vent needed.
- Vented dryers: blow warm, damp air outdoors through a hose fixed to a wall vent or out of a window.
Short of space for two machines? A washer dryer does both jobs in one. To pair your dryer with a washer, browse washing machines.
Which type suits you?
| Dryer | Suits | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump | Drying often, at the lowest running cost, in a heated room. | Cycles take longer, and the filters need clearing regularly. |
| Condenser | A lower price, quicker cycles and no vent. | Running costs are higher than a heat pump's, so read the energy label. |
| Vented | A spot by an outside wall or window, with fast, simple drying. | Whether the hose can reach outside, and the energy rating. |
How heat pump drying works
The dryer warms air, passes it through the clothes, and then cools it so the moisture drops out as water. That same air is warmed and sent round again, which is why a heat pump is so much cheaper to run than the other two types. You either empty a tank or let a hose carry the water to a drain.
Making the choice
Capacity
Buy a dryer that can swallow a whole load from your washer. For most machines, that means 8kg or 9kg, so nothing has to be split.
Features
Sensor drying ends the cycle once clothes are dry, protecting them from overheating. Steam refresh relaxes creases, and wool and outdoor programmes look after special fabrics. Connected models offer app control, and some dryers clean their own condenser, saving you a regular chore.
Which type works out cheapest?
If most of your washing goes in the dryer, a heat pump model normally costs least to run, which repays its higher price over time. Condenser and vented dryers are cheaper to buy and quicker, so they suit homes that only tumble the occasional load.
Door and finish
Most are white, though darker finishes exist. Where the door can't be reversed, make sure it will swing the right way beside a wall or your washer.
Before you order
- Decide on drainage. Will you empty the tank, or run the drain hose to a waste pipe?
- Consider the room. Heat pump dryers work best somewhere heated. A very cold garage or outbuilding slows them down, so check the conditions listed in the manual.
- Stacking. Putting the dryer on the washer needs a kit that both makers approve. Browse our laundry accessories.
- Clean the filter. Clearing the fluff filter after every load keeps drying times short.
- Give a vented dryer a way out. Put it near an outside wall or window so the hose reaches without kinking.
The brands we sell
Our tumble dryers come from . Buying a washer at the same time? One brand for both makes a matching look and a compatible stacking kit easier.
Buying a tumble dryer from KDH Electrical
Every dryer comes with the full UK manufacturer's guarantee. There's no delivery charge on orders over £600, and delivery normally takes 3–7 working days. In our installation area we can set up your new dryer and recycle the old one, both priced as options in the basket.
Seen a lower price elsewhere in the UK? Through our price match, we'll do our best to match it. Call 01622 541312 for advice, or come to our showroom in Rochester. Do ring before you travel to check what's on display.
Tumble Dryers: your questions answered
Do heat pump dryers need a vent?
No. They remove moisture as water, so there's no hose through a wall or window. A socket is all they need.
Why do heat pump dryers take longer?
They dry at a lower temperature to save energy, so a cycle can run longer than an old vented dryer. The gentler heat is kinder to clothes, too.
Can a tumble dryer be plumbed in?
Yes, often. Lots of heat pump models include a hose you can run to a drain, so there's no tank to empty. The product page gives the details.
Can I keep a dryer in the garage?
Check the manual. Heat pump models have a minimum room temperature, and in a cold garage they dry slowly or may not work properly.
Why are clothes still damp at the end?
Typical culprits are too much in the drum, a clogged filter or condenser, or a timed cycle that wasn't long enough. Sensor cycles avoid the guesswork by running until the load is actually dry.
Will I need to make a hole for a vented dryer?
Its hose has to reach the outside, either through a permanent wall vent or an open window. Heat pump and condenser models avoid this entirely.