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Last updated: 26 January 2023
A vented tumble dryer is the cheapest type of dryer, and is also the most traditional. It works by pumping all the hot, damp air out of the machine, through a hose, and out of your house. There are two main ways you can use this: Permanently venting the hose through the wall, or by positioning the hose out of an opening (such as a window or door). Of course, the latter is not ideal in the colder months.
A freestanding vented tumble dryer, the Beko DTGV7000W is a great bit of kit. It’s recommendable to anyone looking for a small, simple dryer to take care of their weekly load. It may have a C energy rating, but depending on the amount you use it, this shouldn’t have too much of an impact on your energy bills
The Beko DTGV7000W is an impressive dryer in two areas - price and size. The compact size of the Beko means it can be neatly tucked away in houses where space may be an issue. And compared to other similar models, it’s pretty inexpensive, so it’s good for the budget conscious.
On the other hand, it can be a challenge to figure out which of the Beko’s settings is best for which type of load. You may have to resort to trial and error to understand which programmes produce the best results.
Vented dryers typically cost a lot less than condenser and heat pump dryers, and the Indesit Ecotime IDV75 is no exception. It is a very simple machine that lacks any of the mod cons you might find on a top range dryer. This isn’t a bad thing, however, as it makes for a super simple operation.
Not only that, but it is a fair amount cheaper than many other vented dryers. Of course, like all vented dryers, the need to remove water through a hose can make installing the IDV75 an annoyance - especially if it means you have to rearrange the layout of your home to accommodate it.
Overall, the sub-£200 price tag may be enough to sway you to purchase the Indesit IDV7, especially if you’re replacing another vented tumble dryer and don’t need to worry so much about installation and placement.
These are now incredibly common, partly thanks to their ease of use. They work by condensing and collecting the water from the air inside the drum. The water is collected in a separate compartment which needs to be emptied when it gets full.
There should even be an indicator light to let you know when the compartment needs emptying. Additionally, since the tumble dryer stores the removed water, you can place it wherever it’s needed, unlike vented tumble dryers which need to be near a window or exterior wall.
The Bosch WTN85251GB is an excellent tumble dryer which boasts a multitude of great features. These include specialised modes to properly dry clothes that may be too delicate to be used in more abrasive dryers.
The most impressive of these is the Outdoor+ drying mode, which makes light work of outdoor clothing, such as warm, puffy coats, which can otherwise be a nightmare to wash and dry. Whereas other machines may dry the coat too quickly, or use too much heat, causing damage, the Bosche WTN85251GB is able to gently dry your coat with ease.
The sensor drying option is not perfect, however, as it can still leave some moisture in your clothes to ensure it doesn’t damage them. This is easily combated by letting your clothes air-dry over a banister for a short time. The 8kg drum also makes it an excellent option for medium-sized households, letting you quickly dry everyone’s clothes together. Handy when you need to make sure that the kids’ uniforms are ready alongside your work clothes.
Perhaps the greatest feature of the Zanussi Lindo300 is how it uses magnets to turn its motor, instead of using brushes like other tumble dryers. Consequently, the inverter motor is far quieter than most other models. Combine this with the Lindo300’s low cost, and it is a great choice to have in your home.
It’s also an incredibly useful dryer if you have a musty wardrobe, as it can quickly refresh your clothes and leave them smelling newly washed. This feature alone could save you a lot of money you’d waste by rewashing unworn clothes.
Unfortunately, the Lindo300 may be a little confusing to get to grips with. Some users have reported that the instructions are unclear, so the dryer may need a little trial and error to figure out properly.
If you’re looking for a condenser dryer that gets the job done, and won’t set you back too much, the Hotpoint TDHP871RP may just be the choice for you. It’s simple to use and has an A+ energy rating, which should stop you from spending unnecessarily on your energy bills.
The Hotpoint is not incredibly advanced, especially when compared to newer and more expensive tumble dryers. However, this does result in a lower price and eloquent simplicity in its usage.
It also boasts an A+ energy efficiency rating. This is extremely useful for keeping long-term costs down, and helping the environment while you’re at it. Combine the lower long-term costs with the very reasonable initial cost of the dryer, and the Hotpoint works out to be a very economical machine.
A brilliant budget tumble dryer that offers nearly as much as bigger brands do on their pricier models. The Candy Grand’O Vita is truly exceptional. The greatest selling point of the Candy Grand’O has to be its value for money.
At the time of writing, the Grand’O was available for a mere £279. Considering all the added features it comes with, that is an astounding price, and may be why it’s so common to find it out of stock. If you do manage to find a Candy Grand’O in stock, it’s definitely worth checking out before that one gets snapped up too.
Like other budget tumble dryers, the Grand’O can be a bit noisy while a programme is running. If you’re not put off by this, you will enjoy the 10kg drum and smartphone controls, but nevertheless, it can be annoying in the long term or if you’re drying at night.
Heat pump tumble dryers are typically the most expensive to buy. However, this is generally offset by lower long-term running costs.
They work by sending wet air through a filter which removes and collects the water and then reuses the same hot air to continue drying your clothes. Like condensers, a heat pump collects water so it can be positioned anywhere you need.
Of course, the heat pump does have some running issues. While it may be cheaper in the long term, experts have deduced it may take 11 years to eventually equal the cost of a vented or condenser tumble dryer. Not only that, but they’ll also take far longer to dry your clothes and will often refuse to work properly in temperatures below 10˚C.
The Miele TWJ660 is probably the most capable tumble dryer available. It has a myriad of features designed to protect your clothes, and make your life as simple as possible.
The fact that it has WiFi functionality makes it incredibly simple to monitor and manage your clothes, even if you need to leave the house and are worried about your clothes either being in too long, or not long enough.
It’s one of the more expensive tumble dryers on the market, costing over £1,200 at the time of writing, but the incredible features it has packed into it make it more than worth that price. Minor additions, such as the fragrance flacons, show an impeccable attention to detail and desire for customer satisfaction.
Probably one of the top tumble dryers on this list, there is very little that the LG FDV909S cannot do. In fact, if you have the accompanying washer, they can even exchange information and prepare the ideal drying cycle for your clothes.
The FDV909S has also been awarded the highest energy-efficiency rating, which means it will definitely save you money on your energy bills, especially when compared to other dryers.
LG have gone above and beyond with specialised modes. The Eco Hybrid mode is able to save you either time or money, and the allergy care mode has been certified to kill 99.9% of dust mites. The only flaw with the LG FDV909S is that it doesn’t alert you when the water collector is full, but simply checking before you use it can nullify this.
Cons:
This is an absolutely excellent tumble dryer. It runs relatively quietly, and can easily handle a larger household’s washing thanks to its 9kg drum. It also possesses some great cost-saving features, such as Optimal Dry technology, to keep long term spending down.
This can be very beneficial to busy households where you may not have the time to juggle between waiting for the drying to be ready. With its SmartControl+ feature, the Samsung DV90T6240LN is able to not only send push notifications to your phone, but even to your TV, alerting you to the fact your cycle is finished.
If you want to dry your clothes with a strong focus on energy-efficiency and ease of use, then the AEG SensiDry is a solid option. Like all heat pump dryers, it is initially expensive, but will save you money in the long run.
Perhaps the best feature of the SensiDry is that it’s incredibly simple to use. Whilst some dryers need you to constantly refer back to their manual in order to use their functions properly, the SensiDry’s UI (User Interface) is incredibly simple to get to grips with.
Unfortunately, the SensiDry can be loud when in use. Some customers have reported that it makes annoying noises, but that doesn’t stop this from being an excellent dryer. Especially when you consider that AEG have thought about the usage and placement in the home, by including an adjustable door.
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Whatever tumble dryer you end up settling on, make sure it’s the right fit for you and your household. They typically last for years and can make your life far easier than trying to air-dry all your clothes straight out of the washing machine.
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