Dryer For Clothes: Heat Pump Dryer And Other Types, Working Principle, Dimensions, Pros And Cons. How To Choose A Household Or Professional Model For Your Home?

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33

Tumble dryers can take on one of the key household chores. But you need to carefully consider their main characteristics and listen to the advice of choice from experts. It is equally important to pay attention to the basic rules of operation.

Characteristic

A quality tumble dryer has both pros and cons. The most important of the advantages is that it will free up quite a lot of time. In addition, there is no need to hang out linen on the balcony, constantly make sure that it is in order. Even standard modern dryers perform well overall and save a lot of time and effort for the owner. But one must understand that the quality of such equipment can be ambiguous.

There are combined models (drying and washing), and even with an ironing function. Of course, in this technique the overall capacity will be higher than conventional dryers, even with an excellent energy class . Some users note that only bedding and similar underwear can be dried in some models. They will spoil normal outerwear, sometimes the buttons melt . The dimensions (dimensions) of the drying equipment deserve special attention.

You can often find references to the fact that the height, width and even weight of such a product does not allow it to be fully used. However, this applies more to drying ovens. Smaller equipment of the same kind is actively produced by the industry. And, as practice shows, its capabilities are quite sufficient for the overwhelming majority of people. Structures with a depth of 50 cm will perfectly fit in the interior of a Provencal bathroom or in a kitchen designed in an impeccable modern style.

Where there is very little free space, it makes sense to install a low shallow modification. Such devices, if they are designed as well as possible, can do their best. The reduction in overall dimensions is practically not reflected in performance and functionality.

The main thing is to take into account the power consumption and the temperature at which drying takes place. If these parameters are correctly selected, then 80% of success is already guaranteed.

Views

Let's consider several types of such equipment.

Ventilation

The bottom line is that the air coming from outside warms up to a certain temperature . It is chosen and set by the designers themselves; the possibilities to regulate the heating are relatively small here. The heated air absorbs excess moisture, then the moist air masses go outside.

Such devices are large in size, it is impossible to build them under the sink.

Condensing

This type of drying technique used much more often than other models . A special drum is used to dry the laundry. Initially heated air is supplied to it. After being saturated with moisture, it moves to the heat exchanger, where the temperature is lower than in the working chamber. As a result, the water is condensed and then discharged through the channels provided by the engineers.

With heat pump

Such a device consumes relatively little electricity. But its initial cost is quite high. A carefully selected heating medium circulates inside the machine … Roughly the same heating method is used in air conditioners and refrigeration units. Moisture from the air is taken away by the evaporator, and then the same volume of air masses is reused many times, which guarantees an excellent result.

Types

Drying machines can be household and professional.

Household

For a house with a small area or for installation in a bathroom of a small apartment, it is advisable to purchase wall drying equipment . But its use at home is complicated by the fact that not all walls are suitable for fastening. You need solid foundations that can withstand a significant load. In this case, it will be necessary to think about the aesthetic effect of such an attachment, as well as about the fact that in the right place there were no obstacles to normal movement. Some of the models can also be used as a washing machine.

True, the suspended structure of a tumble dryer is rare . It is too large and heavy to be able to put such a device even on an ordinary main wall. It is imperative that you need a particularly strong and stable base, which is not available everywhere. According to the method of laying the linen, models with frontal and vertical loading are distinguished.

The second option is great for small bathrooms and even utility rooms.

Professional

Drying clothes is necessary not only in private homes. The same need is experienced by large ateliers, laundries, hotels, hostels, and many other organizations. The drum of a professional tumble dryer is designed in the same way as the drum of a washing machine. Hot air is blown in while twisting. Therefore, within 1 cycle, drying is carried out to the assigned moisture level.

Mini laundries use dryers with a load of 7 to 12 kg. Commercial laundry usually purchases products with a load level of 12 to 50 kg. And an industrial-grade laundry needs equipment that can handle 50 to 350 kg of laundry at a time. Humidity can be reduced from 50-70 to 0-10%, depending on:

• settings;
• features of a particular model;
• features of the dried linen.

Special computer control allows you to set:

• total duration of working cycles;
• temperature;
• other required parameters.

Doors on professional tumble dryers are often do not have a locking lock … There is no blocking function. The hatch is closed using a special magnetic device. It is possible to open this hatch even during operation, but this is not recommended for safety reasons . There are various models, including those equipped with a reverse.

In the most complex modifications, the water cleaning option is provided.

Principle of operation

An electric dryer is found in a huge number of homes. But many people have too little idea how it works. And here it all depends on the features of the device itself. Drying cabinets heat the air, which is then fed to the shelves. Touching the laundry, it absorbs and sucks in excess moisture.

Mandatory in such a system a fan is used: without it, it is impossible to remove the spent, humidified air flow outside. The drum device looks more like a regular washing machine. It acts in the same way, with the only amendment that water does not enter the drum, but is removed from it in every possible way. The rotation of the loaded laundry helps to dry it as quickly as possible . However, the spinning drum does not allow the car to be quiet, and engineering solutions mitigate this disadvantage at best.

But the developers do not consider such a technique to be the limit of what is possible, they are constantly trying to improve it . The result is an automatic tumble dryer. Many of these models are controlled remotely using a special remote control. Therefore, it turns out to be easy and simple to use them. Illumination of the working area can be provided, which makes it easier to control the drying progress.

Products of advanced companies are capable of not only removing moisture, as many users believe. In many modern models, including those operating in the air conditioner mode, fragrance can be added to the laundry. So, Miele has designed it to be inserted into the lint filter . The distribution of the fragrance will be uniform in any case. The concentration and intensity of the scent can be adjusted by simply turning the bottle.

Sometimes there are models with a timed operation mode . In this case, the choice of the duration of treatment and its start entirely depend on the will of the person. Outwardly, the wording is beautiful: you can completely control the progress of work without relying on the capabilities of the machines. But in practice, the accuracy of such drying and its efficiency are usually low. It is highly likely that the laundry will be overdried or require a second treatment session.

The situation is different in systems that react to residual moisture. Users only need to choose which level they want to set the car. Everything else will be done by its electromechanical "filling": sensors and control electronics. As soon as the required indicators are reached, work stops, overdrying and insufficient dryness are excluded. In some cars a mode of operation is provided for the type of fabric … This option allows you to flexibly take into account the characteristics of a particular linen.

Quite a wide market share is occupied by dryers with reverse . Opinions differ on this feature. Some believe that it is only a marketing ploy. Others argue that in the reversing apparatus, the adhesion of things to the surface and blowing air past are excluded.

As for the non-return valve, it is used in washer-dryers … This device, sometimes also called an anti-siphon, interferes with the return flow of dirty water from the sewer. therefore the situation is excluded when clean and already dried linen will be soiled again.

Most often, check valves are made of plastic. They are attached to the drain hoses.

Sometimes you can hear about dryers without draining into the sewer . Of course, these are not washing and drying units, but purely drying units. They do not require connection to communications with a water supply. A constructive solution was found long ago, and it is quite elegant - a tank for a liquid of a certain shape.

Practice shows that machines without draining can work stably for many years. Removing the tank and putting it back in is easy.

For your information: there are many models where the sewer and accumulative drainage of liquid are combined. Advanced devices sometimes allow the use of a warm air mode. It is realized thanks to a special heat pump (heat pump).

Such systems are more economical than capacitor technology . However, the market value of such models is slightly higher. When the pump pumps portions of warm air into the dryer drum, this speeds up drying and makes it more complete. The danger disappears that moist, gradually deforming fibers will remain somewhere. Devices with a steam function are also useful. The carefully calculated steam jet freshens up your everyday clothes. But it is worth considering that usually before this you have to independently moisten the laundry using a spray bottle.

Almost anyway you will need to pay attention to connecting the dryer to the outlet . This socket must be grounded. Important: it is advisable to arrange the power supply of the washing and drying devices along different lines. There is no need to connect the tumble dryer to the electrical network if it uses a gas heating unit. There are such machines in both the household and the professional segment. However, their exploitation in Russia is fraught with a number of restrictions, and first of all these are legal barriers. Gas heating is considered the most economical option.

Attention: the requirements of gas safety must be observed strictly.

Application

Household and industrial dryers can be used in a wide variety of applications. It should be noted that contrary to popular stereotype, this technique does not take up space uselessly, but saves it . Hanging laundry on the balcony or in the bathroom only makes you waste valuable space. The most common purpose of dryers is for everyday wear and underwear. But they can not only "drive out" excess water, there are also special modes designed for ironing.

Then people do not have to manually drive the iron on the surface at all. Or this procedure will take very little time.

Note: Steam also helps to remove creases. But even this, and even working with pillows, with elegant tulle and thick curtains, is not all. In advanced dryers, you can dry sneakers, other shoes made of soft textile fabric. Usually a separate program is provided for this purpose.

Manufacturers overview

Whatever the technical features, you need to pay attention to trademarks. More precisely, on specific models that were included in the ratings according to various industry experts. Very popular Candy GrandO` Vita GVC D1013B-07 . Despite the budget cost, there are 4 different drying options according to the degree of readiness. Consumers note the attractive design and proven construction.

Drying by time may take 1, 5-3 hours, depending on the selected mode. There are 5 special programs, including a quick dry at 40 degrees and an individually memorized mode. As with advanced washing devices, Candy's engineers took care of a 24-hour start delay. The electronic control is equipped with a countdown timer.

The reviews say:

• a container for condensate located directly on the door;
• galvanized drum coating;
• manufacturing at proven Turkish factories;
• the need to clean the condenser;
• sound volume of 68 dB.

Whirlpool DSCX 90120 - an attractive American brand car, assembled in France. Electronic control allows you to successfully coordinate the drying of all 9 kg of loaded laundry. There are modes of steaming and airing. There is even a refreshing "tedding" after the end of the working cycle.

Unfortunately, the sound volume is even higher than that of the previous model - 69 dB. But the temperature and humidity inside the drum are constantly monitored by sensors.

Has very good prospects and Beko DCU 7332 … The designers have taken care of the ability to dry any fabric. There is also a smoothing mode, but without additional work with the iron, it rarely does. You can put up to 7 kg of damp laundry inside. The child protection option deserves approval.

Unfortunately, the information displayed on the display is not always accurate.

Selection recommendations

It would take a long time to list and analyze all the models of drying machines that you can choose (even those that just hit the ratings). But anyway it is worth buying only those models that can stand in the designated place for them . This means not only certain requirements for dimensions, but also aesthetic compliance. In this case, one must also pay attention to the capacity of the device. Many of the disappointments are due precisely to the fact that she was not taken into account.

It is very important to give preference to products of famous brands … Products from little-known companies are rarely of good quality. The number of programs must be selected strictly according to your needs, there are no strict standards here. Naturally, the more modes are available, the higher the price of the finished product. The same can be said for additional functions: the simplest mechanical units are only suitable for people on a budget.

Maintenance and repair

Modern drying technology is very reliable, such products rarely fail. But all the same, in some cases, a complete bulkhead and restoration of the device's operability is required. True, this usually applies to very worn out or water-filled devices.

Most of the damaged parts are accessible after removing the rear panel. The need to disassemble something else rarely arises, and it is better to entrust such work to professionals.

Before starting the dryer for the first time must be connected correctly . It is logical to perform a bundle with ventilation using a flexible air duct. Position it as conveniently as possible, trying to minimize the number of turns. Connecting to a sewer is no different from connecting a conventional washing machine to it. To extend the life of the product, you need to connect it through an RCD, and then use only original original spare parts for any repair.

Quite often, there are complaints of dust after drying, covering or clogging clothes. In this case it is enough to clean the special fluff filter, and it will begin to perform its function again . The situation is much more serious if the equipment has stopped drying the laundry completely. The defect can concern both the heating element and the electronics. Sometimes the electrical circuit connecting them is broken.

Such breakdowns can occur with equipment of any brand, regardless of the degree of wear. You can also assume:

• failure of the thermal sensor;
• jerks of tension;
• service errors (indicated by special codes).

But it is equally important to know what to do if the machine does not turn on . Sometimes it's my fault thermal fuse . It cannot be fixed. Problems can be with start switch, door close indicator or control electronic board . But most serious of all looks engine failure (drum models) , this is the most expensive breakdown. Due to the listed problems, the device sometimes turns off ahead of time. The same can happen if:

• voltage is very low;
• the voltage is very high;
• defective socket;
• the network connection is not correct.

To improve the smell, you can only use the freshener that complies with the instructions of the machine manufacturer, and strictly in the prescribed dosage. But sometimes freshening up doesn't help and the laundry smells like rubber. This problem usually occurs in new machines until the rubber parts are adapted to the operating conditions. To get rid of the smell, you need clean filters regularly . Useful also drain water and systematically ventilate the device.

In severe cases have to do cleaning with citric acid … The run is carried out at a temperature of 90 degrees. If there is no compartment for adding powder, simply set the hottest program for 15 minutes. The owners themselves decide how often to drain the condensate. But with normal use, this has to be done every 7-10 days.

Some dryers make unusual noises. For the first time, a whistle, creak, squeak can be triggered by the opening of the transport bolts. Sometimes moving the device away from the wall helps. But a creak in the process of work can talk about:

• blocking the motor;
• overloading the machine;
• mechanical obstruction to the circulation of the engine.

Important: the dryer normally does not spoil things. If this happens, it has a serious defect or is being used in a gross violation of the rules. It is necessary to take into account the main features of each program, do not turn on the machine at a higher temperature than the fabric allows.

Finally, it is worth examining the problems with compressor overheating. This problem is provoked by:

• partial closure of the heating element;
• complete or partial blocking of the air channel;
• malfunction of the thermostat responsible for the operating cycles;
• wear or damage to the felt insulation;
• malfunctions of the fan impeller.