Where is the difference between condenser dryer and heat pump dryer?

Again and again there is confusion regarding the heat pump driers currently being promoted so much. They are basically also condenser dryer, but with little difference in construction. Where exactly these differences lie, what effects they have, and whether a purchase is actually worthwhile for cost reasons, we will inform you in detail in this post.

Further development of the condenser dryer

The heat pump dryer is just a further development of the conventional condenser to make it more energy efficient.

For the energy consumption, which is generally very high for dryers, the condenser dryer is responsible for the constantly necessary heating of the air. Similar to the hair dryer, the supply air is constantly heated, and then cooled again to dehumidify. The heat escapes unused.

The heat pump dryer uses exactly this heat. It extracts the previously supplied heat from the exhaust air and recirculates it to the supply air via a heat exchanger. Thus, the heat once generated can be used again and again.

This is basically the only difference between condenser dryers and heat pump dryers. Another important difference lies in the purchase price. Heat pump dryers are several hundred euros more expensive than condenser dryers.

Differences in drying time

Since heat pump dryers operate at much lower temperatures compared to condenser dryers, drying times on heat pump dryers are much longer - often even a small dryer load takes 3 hours to "cupboard dry".

Heat pump dryers work with 45 - 60° C, condenser dryers with 100 - 125° C.

Effects of reuse of waste heat

Since the heating of the supply air at the heat pump dryer is eliminated, energy can be saved. Technically, it can be assumed that the heat pump dryer consumes around 40 to 50 percent less energy during operation.

Economic benefits

50 percent energy saving sounds like a lot - but it is not in practice. If one uses average equipment and average, everyday conditions, then about 1.5 kWh can be saved per dryer charge.

This equates to a sum of less than 50 cents per dryer load. But this is offset by acquisition costs, which are equal to several hundred euros higher.

Alone until the amortization of the higher purchase price, years pass already. Only then does the saving in terms of electricity costs have an economic impact.

Ecological benefits

Basically, one can assume that devices that consume less power, of course, are a bit more ecological.

But many other factors play a role in the overall life cycle assessment. Devices that are more complex and resource-intensive are, in turn, more non-ecological than simply built, low-input, and easy-to-use devices.

Difference in life

Whether heat pump dryers actually have a shorter life than conventional condensate dryers is not conclusive and unequivocal, although there are some indications.

Whether it is "teething troubles" of an improved technology or an actually reduced durability, can probably say only in a few years.

Tips & Tricks

The most ecological and cost-effective way of drying clothes is of course on the clothes horse or the clothesline. Often this is just a matter of organization to be able to plan with the longer drying times.

Video Board: Condenser Dryers & Heat Pump Dryers Explained by E&S Trading