Clothes Dryer Shopping Guide Key points for purchasing a clothes dryer Clothes dryers recommendation Related product recommendations Consumer Council's Clothes Dryer Report Clothes dryer usage tips

Key points for purchasing a clothes dryer

Principle of clothes dryer

Clothes dryers use flowing hot air to absorb moisture from clothes. During operation, the built-in heater of the dryer heats the air, and then uses a fan to blow the hot air into the rotating drying barrel. The flowing hot air absorbs moisture from the clothes, and then discharges the hot and humid air out of the dryer.

Clothes dryer types

There are different types of clothes dryers, each with its own characteristics and suitable for different homes. For example:

1. Gas clothes dryer

Gas clothes dryer uses gas to generate heat, which dries clothes quickly and saves energy. However, should pay more attention to the convenience of installation. Since the way of discharging water is "exhaust type", you need to reserve space to install the exhaust pipe. In addition, since it uses gas, it needs to be installed in a location covered by gas pipes and with air circulation. For safety reasons, it should not be installed in the bathroom.

Advantages: fast drying speed, low power consumption

Disadvantages: inconvenient installation is not convenient

2. Electric clothes dryer—exhaust type

This type of clothes dryer discharges water vapor directly out of the machine through the exhaust port to prevent moisture from accumulating indoors. Manufacturers usually provide exhaust pipes to discharge moisture outside the house. Since there is no built-in compressor, this dryer is lighter and cheaper, but please note that the drying time will be longer.

Advantages: Affordable price, simple and convenient installation

Disadvantages: longer drying time

3. Electric clothes dryer - condensing type

Condenser dryer has a built-in condenser, so it does not emit water vapor during operation. The principle is to use cold air to turn the vapor back into water, and then store the water in the water storage tank in the machine. No need to connect the exhaust pipe, but the price is relatively high.

In addition, there is another type of dryer on the market that uses heat pump condensing, which is called the upgraded version of condensing type, which has two built-in heat pump (heating) and refrigeration systems to heat the air in a recycled way to achieve the drying effect and reduce energy consumption, but it is very expensive.

Advantages: It is more energy-saving than exhaust type, and there is no restriction on the installation position

Disadvantages: Expensive

Volume

After knowing which dryer to buy, you should pay attention to the size of the dryer. Due to the limited living environment in Hong Kong, choose a washing machine with a washer-dryer function to save more space. The slim, wall-mounted or stacked models are recommended.

Capacity

Clothes dryers have a capacity limit. Most of the people buy clothes dryers with the same capacity as washing machines.

In addition, the required capacity can also be calculated according to the number of family members. The whole set of clothing included shirts, pants, jackets, socks and underwear is about 1KG capacity, 3KG capacity is suitable for using alone, 6-8KG for 2-4 people, 9KG or more for 5 people or above.

Energy consumption

If you are interested in purchasing an vented tumble dryers with higher power consumption, consider choosing a larger drum model that consumes less electricity while reducing wrinkles, and a dryer that requires a built-in humidity or temperature sensor can also save on electricity consumption. If you want to know the power consumption of the dryer more simply, you can refer to the voluntary energy efficiency information on the body.

Functions

Clothes dryers do not only have the function of drying clothes, most of the dryers on the market have the following functions in order to provide with a better user experience:

• Electronic sensors: Most dryers are equipped with a "Linear Drying Time" function, which allows users to select the temperature or heat of the drying according to the type of clothes, and then select the drying time. However, this function may lead to improper drying time, so that the clothes do not dry well or overheat, and each garment is damaged, wasting energy and time. Some of the new models are also equipped with an "Auto-Sensing Shutdown" function, which uses an electronic sensor to detect the humidity or temperature in the machine, and automatically stops drying clothes when the humidity or temperature in the machine reaches a predetermined level.
• Anti-wrinkle function: In order to prevent wrinkles caused by the drying process, some dryers are equipped with a two-way rotation function (also known as reverse rotation or rotary drying function), which will change the steering from time to time during the drying process, so as to ensure a uniform drying effect and prevent entanglement of the clothes.
• Cotton wool filter: It can isolate the clothing fibers raised in the barrel to avoid the accumulation of fiber filaments and affect the operation of the parts. After each drying session, the user should also clean the lint filter.
• Safety design: Although the heat generated during the drying process may not cause burns, it may be injured by the rotating drum when the dryer door is opened during operation. Therefore, the dryer will basically be equipped with a safety lock or automatic shutdown function to prevent accidents.
• Easy Ironing Function: Some dryers are equipped with this innovative feature, which can save users up to 50% of ironing time.
• Drying rack: There is a drying machine with a special drying rack that can be used to dry shoes or woollen clothes.

 

【Special recommendations】2024 Popular Small Dryer Recommendations:

Small dryer Recommendation 1: MorusZero Disinfecting Clothes Dryer

 

 

The Morus Zero Disinfecting Clothes Dryer has 8 modes to meet your various needs. The patented drying technology shortens the drying time to 15 minutes. And the UVC ultraviolet light sterilization helps eliminate up to 99.99% of viruses and allergies.

Small dryer recommendation 2: IRIS OHYAMAFK-W2 Double-Tubes Multi-purposes Dehumidifier

IRIS OHYAMA FK-W2 Double-Tubes Multi-purposes Dehumidifier has a double-pipe air outlet design. One machine with multiple functions: warm quilt, remove mites, dry shoes, dry clothes.

Related product recommendations 2024

Recommendation 1: PanasonicNH-H4500T Clothes Dryer

 

 

It can dry 4.5kg of clothes and is suitable for family of two. It is equipped with hot air circulation airflow, and you can choose strong or weak heat to protect each piece of your clothes. The built-in double fiber filter can prevent the accumulation of fiber filaments and affect the operation of the machine.

 


Recommendation 2: WhirlpoolAWD712S 7KG Cloth Dryer

 

 

It can bring 7 kg of dry clothes to the user and is suitable for an average family of 2-4 people. Equipped with 6 drying programs, there is no problem no matter what type of clothes you are dealing with.

 


Recommendation 3: Siemens WD14S460HK Front Load Inverter Washer Dryer

 

With a drying capacity of 5kg, it is definitely enough for a family of 4 people. Three-in-one function, washing, drying, and hot drying sterilization procedures (99.99% sterilization), washing and drying can be completed in 60 minutes, and the clothes can be kept soft after drying.

Recommendation 4: Philco PD3EV 3kg Vented Cloth Dryer

 

 

It has 5 temperature settings, suitable for different clothing materials, and supports floor-standing or wall-mounted designs, making it suitable for small family space designs!

Consumer Council's Clothes Dryer Report

In February 2018, the Consumer Council selected a total of 46 clothes dryers from 20 brands on the market for research, including 20 exhaust-type electric dryers, 24 condensation-type electric dryers and 2 exhaust-type gas dryers. Clothes dryers, priced from $2,790 to $34,800. Heat pump dryers are more expensive than non-heat pump dryers, but they save more energy.

Brand	Model	Claimed capacity	Rated input power	Claimed function
日riston	TVF75C6H1	7kg	2400W	Automatic sensor, quick drying, two-way rotation of the drum, cooling and anti-wrinkle, tumbling and anti-wrinkle, remaining drying time display, lint filter cleaning display
Candy	GCV580NC-S	8kg	2300W	Automatic induction, quick drying, two-way rotation of the drum, cooling and anti-wrinkle, tumbling and anti-wrinkle, cleaning lint filter display
Cinetron	CD-6	6kg	1800W	Automatic sensor, quick drying, bi-directional drum rotation, cooling and anti-wrinkle, remaining drying time display, lint filter cleaning display
Gala	GDI6D	6kg	2700W	Two-way rotation of the drum, cooling and anti-wrinkle, remaining drying time display
Indesit	IS41V	4kg	2200W	Two-way rotation of the drum, cooling and anti-wrinkle, remaining drying time display
Panasonic	NH-H4500T	4.5kg	1300W	Cooling, anti-wrinkle, remaining drying time display
PHILCO	PD50M	5kg	2250W	Two-way rotation of the drum, cooling and anti-wrinkle, remaining drying time display
Siemens	WT34A201HK	7kg	2000W	Automatic sensor, quick drying, tumble anti-wrinkle, remaining drying time display, lint filter cleaning display
Whirlpool	AWG788	7kg	2450W	Two-way rotation of the drum, cooling and anti-wrinkle, display of remaining drying time, display of cleaning lint filter
White-Westinghouse	WKFK07GGAW3	7kg	2240W	Automatic induction, two-way rotation of the drum, cooling and anti-wrinkle, tumbling and anti-wrinkle, cleaning lint filter display
ZANUSSI	ZDV7552	7.5kg	2250W	Automatic induction, two-way rotation of the drum, cooling and anti-wrinkle, display of remaining drying time, display of cleaning lint filter

Clothes dryer usage tips:

• In order to prevent waterproofing from penetrating into the inside of the body, the dryer should not be placed outdoors or in the bathroom, and try not to allow moisture to flow or splash on the dryer.
• Appropriate space should be reserved for heat dissipation in the dryer.
• Due to the high power supply, it is recommended that the dryer use a separate power outlet.
• To avoid overloading the machine, users should put in clothes of the recommended capacity to ensure that the dry volume is not overloaded.
• Do not put down, gum or waxy clothes in the dryer as heating may melt, burn and even release toxic gases.
• Beware of hard objects such as zippers, metal stamps, belts, etc., that damage parts or wear the clothes drying bucket.
• When using the self-regulation program, it is advisable to adjust the appropriate drying time and temperature according to the amount of drying and the type of clothing.
• Avoid blocking the exhaust port of the dryer and check whether too many fibre filaments have accumulated on the filter before drying the clothes so as not to affect the air circulation in the dryer.
• After use, the door and the electrical system should be closed immediately.
• If you find that the dryer emits strange noises or smells, stop using it immediately and arrange for joint venture personnel to inspect and repair it.