Discussion
Random question for the Fediverse: anyone here used/have opinions on HEAT PUMP CLOTHES DRYERS? Would need to be 120V, not 240V (no available wiring).
(seriously considering just biting the bullet and getting one to replace the old gas dryer).
#clothesdryers #heatpump #electrification #appliances #climate
@ai6yr I've had a miele for a couple years. The main difference I notice between it and a normal dryer is that the clothes come out... dry enough? But they are humid, very humid. If you fold them right away, no problem, but if you leave them in a pile (or in the dryer), they can get musty.
On the other hand, I still smile every time I turn it on, and a few seconds later, I hear the sound of water pouring into my laundry sink. I'm so used to dryers requiring air vents that it continues to be novel to me that this dryer simply extracts water from the clothes.
We have a apartment/narrow Whirlpool set. But our dryer is 240v. The loads are smaller than full-size units I've had previously, but it's workable.
Dry cycle takes ~2 hours, which is fine unless we need to be awake to take it out promptly (our cheap power starts 9pm).
If the condenser filter is cleaned, it needs a 2nd cycle (this is like a mini-split filter; not the lint trap).
I've read reviews of 120v dryers, and they seem to take even longer.
We've had it 4 years. The only problem was the washer door latch needed replacement under warranty.
The dryer had a noise like a squealing alternator belt for a while... but then the noise went away(!).
But no failures of the heat pump or anything.
@NNN Houseplants!
@NNN Thanks. Our gas dryer takes awhile as well, so may be a wash.
@ai6yr Miele T1: Works fine. Too many beeps. Rather picky about cleaning the lint filters.
Have the Miele T1 dryer and love it. Buy a second plinth filter though so you can swap it out when you get the error and just clean the other one at leisure.
I have no idea about the 120 v 240 but two of the places I stayed in in Portugal recently had heat pump dryers and even setting them on delicate they absolutely fried my clothes.
I generally hang dry anything except undies and socks. I'll try to wait for a sunny day to line dry towels, sheets, or pants but will put them in the dryer if I must.
At home even in winter, I mostly hand dry tops. inside or out, depending on outside moisture.
@MCDuncanLab @ai6yr Mine caught fire.
@FeloniousPunk @MCDuncanLab Heat pump dryer, or clothing?!?!
@MCDuncanLab Yikes on frying your clothes!
(that said, I line dry most of my stuff... this is mostly for the family which won't line dry)
Well at the first place, some of it was me not being able to read the instructions, I ultimately downloaded the full manual and it turned out I'd run the dry only cycle without a prior wash-not clear from the quick guide.
At the second place, I read the instructions in English and the dry cycle was way hotter than what I expected.
Also the machine said it would take 3 hr to dry, I gave up after 45 min and hung the super hot things in my room and they were dry by morning.
@ai6yr I looked into one when I put in my heat pump water heater, but the appliance guys up weren't overly enthusiastic about them & made many comments about their lack of reliability. My cousin in Utah has one (an LG, I think), and says hers is OK - takes a LOT longer to dry things - and she's in a dry climate. She ends up hanging a lot of her partially dry clothes up just so she can get the next load into the dryer.
@ai6yr There's a whole thread on that (among energy geeks) here: https://bsky.app/profile/jgkoomey.bsky.social/post/3mxceqdtw6s24
@ai6yr we were going to switch and do the water heater too, but we don't have enough amperage from the street (only 120) so just ac/heat and cooking all on electric.
I don't have one myself, but I have a friend who does. He is really happy with it and thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread.
@ai6yr I just looked at the search I have set up again, the Miele all seem to be 240 V.... There seem to be a few 120V models by Samsung and GE... But all in the $2000 range!!!? I was in Germany 2 weeks ago, friends showed me their new heat pump dryer they had gotten for $600, including tax....
When I see prices here in the US and compare to Europe it seems we get screwed all the time, no real competition.
@ai6yr @carstenfranke I installed a Miele Heat Pump dryer when we moved to a new house 4 years ago. It has been great. It’s definitely 120v on a standard (5-15) outlet, so no worries about electrical
@kjell @ai6yr I know they had a great 120V model... but at the moment every dryer on the Miele website is shown as 240v. The most annoying thing about shopping for a dryer: they do not prominently show the voltage. In most cases you have to dig in deep and find the spec sheet. And searches are at least 30% wrong.
@kjell @ai6yr @carstenfranke I got the 120V Miele HP dryer and love it.
One thing I don't love about it is the "Plinth" secondary filter that needs to be removed and washed every ~15 loads.
@ai6yr @carstenfranke The biggest bonus over conventional dryers is you don’t have a duct leaking conditioned air to outside 24/7, then dumping an enormous CFM when it’s running. An equal volume of air has to infiltrate back inside from somewhere else, so a HP is step number one in airsealing and improving your home’s envelope/insulation.
The next biggest pro for me is it’s supposed to be gentler on clothes.
@ai6yr Miele makes a couple Heat Pump models, can't vouch for how well they work.
@ai6yr "gas dryer" heck no clothesline before that, dude. Dryers have LINT. We used to carry that stuff as kindling. You do not want fire near there.
@ai6yr we switched to a LG heat pump dryer about a year ago, it works well and has significantly reduced our power bill.
There are only a few 120v dryers on the US market.
@ai6yr here is a 120V 15A Miele... It is not on their website ...
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Miele-T1-Heat-Pump-Dryer-120-cu-ft-Stackable-Ventless-Electric-Dryer-Lotus-White-ENERGY-STAR/5013768983#no_universal_links
@carstenfranke Thanks! I am going to keep an eye on all of these through Black Friday season...
I had an all-in-one washer dryer which was 120V and used a heat pump.
It seemed like a neat idea! Throw clothes in, come out dry!
It was: expensive.
It was: slow.
Worst part: if you did not take the clothes out after the cycle ended? They would stink.
If you did take them out? Essentially, they would be damp, yet kinda still hot, and the remaining moisture would evaporate away and it would be: OKish?
Eventually that washer-dryer ended up with some friends, they purchased: a cheap dryer (I think used?) and simply used the combo washer/heat pump dryer as a front loading washer. That seemed as if it was better than attempting to use the all-in-one's heat pump.
@teajaygrey Interesting... Thanks for the data point!
Admittedly, I purchased that a long time ago, circa 2005?
At the time, it seemed as if the all-in-one was sort of cutting edge? Front loading washing machines were still relatively rare on the market. It was also the first "HE" detergent washer I ever owned. Previously such things (all in one with heat pumps) were perhaps used on boats I guess or places where volumetric space concerns were important?
The washing portion seemed good! It is possible that the heat pump stuff has improved? I was grateful to be able to use it in multiple locations without 220V outlets at least! That was another win for it; yet it mostly seemed as if it was a pretty OK washer and a mostly not really good dryer.
@teajaygrey Ah, well, that's 20 year old technology then... wonder how things are now.
@ai6yr I’ve looked into them, and as soon as I can find one that fits in my tiny laundry closet I’m going to get one. (Hasn’t been a priority so it’s lingered for a while, it my gas dryer is dying and the project is moving) This is part of my de-gasification project, and tbh I would say absolutely do it.
@wordshaper Yeah, same here... I think the gas dryer needs to be replaced (1990's dryer, but it's on its last legs despite my replacing everything).
@ai6yr my open question is whether to get just a heat pump dryer or replace the washer too and go with an all in one machine. It’s just me and my husband so we don’t do enough laundry that having two separate machines for parallel use is necessary. YMMV and all that.
@wordshaper @ai6yr FWIW, here's a link to NYT's "Wirecutter" recommendo site. It doesn't give me the option to create a "gift link" (as I can do with news stories), so I apologize in advance if you can't access it. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/samsung-bespoke-ai-vented-laundry-combo-review/
@ai6yr @wordshaper I didn't even know there were heat-pump dryers!
@ai6yr I had an LG set in VA. So one unit for washer and dryer. I liked it but… the cycle time was quite long. And you had to pull things out to finish the last 2-3% of drying. That was fine for a single person, and the cost of running low enough that I used it almost every day. But for more than 2 people I think it would be a struggle.