Types of Dryers
Vented and Condenser Dryers

We answer the question about which one is right for you

Check out the different types of dryers to make sure you get the one which is right for you.

If you are like most people the only thing they know about dryers is putting the clothes on the right cycle, turning it on, and waiting for your clothes to dry.

However there is a little more to it than that. Knowing what dryer is the best one for drying your clothes and saving on your electricity bill is a plus.

Which one will do the best job for you? Have you heard of a condenser dryer? Do you know what it does differently than conventional dryers? Well, if not let’s take a look at the condenser dryer so you can get an idea of how it works.

The Condenser Dryer

Basically they look just like a regular dryer only it does not have an external vent. In this type of dryer the difference is inside.

The condensed dryer has two loops, one is sealed and air from the clothes dryer drum is warmed and circulates through your wet clothes.

This causes the water in the clothes to evaporate. The air this creates has moisture in it and it goes through a heat exchanger. This causes the water to leave the air and it is then reheated to be cycled back to the clothes in the drum. This is a continuous cycle until your clothes are dry.

The other loop of the condensed dryer is on the outside and holds water or air. Depending on the model they can be air cooled and use the air in the room to blow on the heat exchanger.

They will heat up your indoor air somewhat. However they do not release moisture, only heat. The moisture is pumped out to a drain line or there may be a container in the dryer that you empty.

Differences Between a Vented and Condenser Dryer

This is quite different from a vented types of dryers which uses air from the room to heat and circulate through your clothes as they are tumbled in the dryer drum.

The moisture in the clothes is evaporated and the remaining water is cycled with air through the vent either on the side or back of the dryer to an outside area.

The condensed types of dryers are preferred more by people who live in cold climates due to the fact that they heat the surrounding air. This type of dryer is counterproductive in the southern climate where air conditioning is used a large part of the year. It would be tantamount to running a heater at the same time as your air conditioning.

They are not quite as efficient as a vented dryer; however for small spaces such as an apartment where you have no outside vent, these are perfect. You can put them basically anywhere and the installation is simple.

They have a condenser unit that contains a module that has to be cleaned about once a month to prevent the lint from building up. This is a little more time consuming than the convention vented dryer which has a lint filter that just slides out to empty.

On the other hand with vented types of dryers you have to clean the ducts and hoses that lead to them on a regular basis to keep lint from building up there.

Which One Should You Choose?

The type of condensed dryer you buy has a lot to do with the efficiency and quality you get. A cheaper model may allow steam to escape into the room and cause it to stay damp all the time. This could create problems with mould and having your other furniture collect moisture.

In some cases this can cause a lot of damage. However if you buy a better quality dryer this should not happen.

The same holds true with vented dryers if they are not correctly vented. The hose must be free of any holes and fit securely into the hole that leads to the outside vent.

If not they can release moisture into the air as well Vented dryers are cheaper to use but the old saying holds true of getting what you pay for. The cheaper the dryer the less features it is going to have and certain built in features will cut down on problems you may experience with a cheaper dryer.

If you do not have easy access to a vent for the vented types dryers to hook into, you will have to run a longer hose from the dryer to the outside.

This will affect your drying time, running your power bill up, and can be quite aggravating. This is the reason a lot of people opt for a condenser unit. They can be put anywhere and do not require venting.

However a condenser unit, as stated before, have to be cleaned regularly to function properly. If they are not emptied of water and the condenser unit cleaned, they will cease to function efficiently.

Maintenance is cheaper on vented types of dryers. They are fairly easy to take apart and get to the inner workings to determine the cause for a problem. On the other hand, a condenser dryer is not.

It requires some extensive dismantling and parts are not cheap. Vented dryers are less expensive to run. If you do not have easy access to a method of venting them, through either a window or outside vent, the condenser unit might be the best.








Return From types of dryers to Clothes Dryers


Return From types of dryers to Washing Machine Review

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.