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Heat Pump Dryers Save Energy and Eliminate Potential Fire Hazards Conventional dryers heat air with gas or electric resistance and blow it over tumbling clothes and vent the warm, humid air outside. The dryers that use heat pumps don't need vents, which help save energy and eliminate potential fire hazards due to lint accumulation in the vents. They also have lower temperatures and are more gentle on clothes, so they might take longer to dry than conventional machines. Aztec Appliance provides more details about these ventless washers. Efficiency A heat pump dryer can save you a significant amount of money annually on your electric bill. It uses up to 28% less energy than a traditional clothes dryer according to Energy Star. This may not sound like much, but in the case of a family that does 20 loads of laundry per week in Massachusetts where electricity costs are among the highest in the country You'll save hundreds of dollars over the course of a 12 year lifespan with a dryer that uses a heat pump. The way a heat-pump dryer functions is similar to the way it works dehumidifiers. It begins with air that is heated by a compressor, and then pushed through a second set of coils to warm it more. In this process, the heated air draws moisture from the clothing and then into the heat exchanger where it's condensed. It drips into a pot that can be manually empty or connected to a drain tube. The cool, moist air is then circulated back through the coils of the condenser to be heated. Heat pump dryers don't require an exhaust vent. They are therefore able to be put in areas where a conventional dryer would not be able to fit. They are also quieter and more versatile and suitable for apartment spaces and other rooms that have little space. They are also more secure than dryers with vents. Vents can spark fires when they are not cleaned regularly. The dryers that use heat take longer to dry your laundry due to the fact that they operate at lower temperatures. Furthermore, since they function as a dehumidifier and produce lots of water during the drying process, it's important to clean your heat pump dryer frequently. That's especially true if you reside in a humid area or if your clothes are soaked with lots of moisture within them. You can check this regularly by cleaning and inspecting the lint screen and the condenser coils. Also, you should clean the drain tube regularly. The evaporator coil can be susceptible to mold and bacteria, but regular cleaning should keep it in good shape. Condensation The traditional method of drying clothes is using a fan to blow hot air onto the laundry. This air is then blown outside. This approach uses a lot of energy and requires access to a vented outdoor space to vent the ducting. Heat pump dryers, also known as ventless drying machines recycle air. They make use of the heat to repurpose energy to run the machine and then condense it into water that drains from the bottom of the drum. They are smaller than vented models and can be installed in an attic or laundry room. The dryers that are heat pump, although popular in Europe and Japan are relatively new on the American market. These dryers are now available in sizes that accommodate the majority of laundry rooms in homes and can provide significant energy savings. Since they don't exhaust indoor air outdoors it is not necessary to clean your venting system or deal with any potential problems. The heat pump dryers are similar to the refrigeration system in a refrigerator. They are equipped with a compressor which pressurizes refrigerant into one set of coils, which releases heat. The evaporator coils absorb heat from air that flows through. The refrigerant that is heated circulates through a second set of coils to help condense the humid air. The cool refrigerant flows back into the first set of coils and is heated to repeat the cycle. Like other dryers with electric motors the heat pump dryer requires maintenance to ensure that it is operating at its peak. Lint accumulates on the filters, and on the evaporator and condenser coils, and it's important to clean them regularly to avoid excessive wear. And they use refrigerants with high GWP (Global Warming Potential) which means that they need to be recycled properly too. tumble dryer with heat pump take longer than vented dryers in drying loads. That's because their maximum temperature—about 120degF, is lower than gas and electric resistance dryers, which means they're required to tumble for an additional time before they're completely dry. Lint Screens Heat pump dryers have a lint filter and venting system that needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. A blocked dryer vent can delay drying time and could be a fire risk. The exhaust of dryers vented can reach temperatures that can ignite volatile chemicals and oils. The vent system in a heat pump requires a dehumidifier in order to remove moisture from the air before it exits the dryer. Dehumidifiers can also cut down on energy costs by lowering the temperature of the hot water that is used to heat the air. The lint screen in the heat pump dryer is softer than conventional dryers, so it requires cleaning more frequently. The lint screen inside the door's opening could accumulate lint. It should be cleaned often. Heat pump models have a heated drum, which means that the inside of the machine has to be kept clear of lint and residue from fabric softener or dryer sheets. The heated drum walls might also require cleaning and inspected periodically, as 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 ablaze hazard that can cause around 2,900 house fires each year. As explained in this Today's homeowner video, you can clean the exhaust hose of your dryer with a wirebrush or a leaf blower. This is safer to do from the outside since you won't be able to see lint on your face. If you're not sure of your ability to clean the duct, you can hire a professional to do it for you. If you cannot feel the air moving through your dryer vent, or your dryer takes longer to dry, it could mean that there is a blockage of lint within the vent. Pick one day each year to clean your vents – Labor Day, the first of spring, or the start or the end of daylight saving time. Stick to it. Installation Drying laundry with a modern electric dryer is one of the most important conveniences for homeowners. However, choosing the right dryer is crucial for those who wish to reduce their utility costs and also have a positive effect on the environment. For many, heat pump dryers are an ideal choice. Heat pump dryers are different from vented dryers that are traditional that use electricity or gas combustion for heating air, and then blowing the hot, dried air into the drum to remove moisture. They reuse the air, pulling the moisture out and cooling it before permitting it to return to the laundry room where it can again be used. Heat pump dryers don't require ducting, chimneys or chimneys to vent outside. They can be placed inside small spaces like laundry closets. They're ideal for tiny homes, accessory dwelling units (such a laundry room or an apartment above the garage) or even additions. Also, because the ENERGY STAR label is a reputable quality mark of energy efficiency dryers that use heat are generally more efficient than vented models that are more traditional. Unlike most other types of clothes dryers, which need a dedicated circuit, the majority of heat pump dryers are built to operate on regular 120-volt, 15-amp electrical circuits. This can be an advantage for older homes with older wiring and can reduce the cost of installation. However the fact that heat pump dryers aren't as powerful than other types of dryers means they are slower to complete a cycle. And because they don't have the back-andforth motion that is typical of dryers, large objects such as sheets and towels could end up in a laundry sausage that's hard to unwind. Some manufacturers attempt to address this issue by reversed tumble cycles for brief periods during a cycle. They also require more maintenance than other dryers. Lint can accumulate on heat exchanger coils and Evaporator coils, which require periodic vacuuming or professional cleaning to keep them running efficiently. The dryers that use heat pumps do not vent, so they can accumulate moisture inside the dryer. This can cause mold.