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Which type of tumble dryer is right for me?

We take a look at the types of tumble dryers on the market so you can decide which one is right for you.

what-to-buy

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It can be so frustrating when you do a big wash, only for the weather to turn so you can’t hang your clothes out on the line.

A tumble dryer is ideal if you have little space to dry your clothes in your home or you wash several loads a week.

Choosing a tumble dryer

Much like deciding which washing machine to buy, you’ll have to consider a few options – what capacity size will I need for my family? And should I choose integrated or freestanding?

Before you get down to choosing the design, first you need to decide what type of tumble dryer will suit your home.

There are 3 main types of tumble dryer:

  • Vented

  • Condenser

  • Heat pump

What’s the difference and which one is right for me?

Vented tumble dryer

In a nutshell: Vented tumble dryers are on the lower end of the price scale, but need to be placed near a window or wall in your home.

Vented tumble dryers are among the most affordable to buy, however they're not suitable for all homes. As your laundry dries, all that water from your clothes has to go somewhere.

Vented tumble dryers expel the moist air through a hose. Because of this design, vented dryers need to be placed near a window where you can feed the hose through to the outside, or near a wall so that the air can escape through a fixed hose in the wall.

Vented tumble dryers are perfect for: Those living in shared accommodation or small households with a lack of drying space.

Check out our range of vented tumble dryers

Condenser tumble dryer

In a nutshell: Condenser dryers give you freedom to place them anywhere in your kitchen, and collect water in a container.

A condenser dryer works differently to a vented dryer and has no need for a hose. This means you have total freedom over where you choose to place it.

Instead of expelling air through a hose, condenser dryers lift the moisture from the clothes and collect it in a container that sits inside the machine. Some models pump out the water through the washing machine plumbing, but if you have a standard model, you simply empty the container after every couple of loads.

Some condenser dryers feature sensor drying, which automatically works out how long your clothes need to dry for, and stops when finished. This can reduce household bills and prevent energy waste.


We recommend: Hotpoint Aquarius condenser tumble dryer

Perfect for: Large, busy households that need both quick drying heat and delicate clothing care.

The Hotpoint Aquarius is built to give more care to your family’s wardrobe. You can:

  • Get through heavy loads more easily thanks to a generous 8kg capacity and two heat settings

  • Gently warm work clothes and delicates or give plenty of heat to kids’ bedding and towels

  • Lift clothes in the wave drum to help preserve their natural softness and colour

Check out Hotpoint condenser tumble dryers

Heat Pump Condenser tumble dryer

In a nutshell: The most energy efficient of tumble dryers, featuring ultra-quiet performance and top notch clothing care.

Much like traditional condenser dryers, heat pump models collect the moisture from your clothes in a container and can be placed anywhere in your home.

The main difference between the two is that heat pump tumble dryers work more efficiently by re-heating the air that is passed through the drum. As the moisture is collected as condensation in the container, the warm air is then re-circulated instead of escaping, meaning you use much less energy and therefore spend less on bills.

We recommend: Beko Select heat pump tumble dryer

Perfect for: Busy families who are looking to cut down on bills and those who want to spend less time ironing.

Washing and drying your clothes is just half the battle. If you have a busy family home, you’ll be all too familiar with the ironing pile getting taller in the corner. Not only is the Beko Select cost-effective and energy efficient, it also saves you time and cares for your clothes. You can:

  • Reduce your time at the ironing board thanks to the anti-crease function

  • Save money on bills. The dryer senses when the clothes are dry and automatically stops, so you don’t need to worry about over-drying

  • Take on even the busiest laundry days with 16 special care programmes and a generous 8kg capacity

Check out Beko heat pump tumble dryers

See our range of tumble dryers

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