By Ruislip Appliances, independent kitchen and laundry appliance specialist in Ruislip since 1958. Updated October 2026.
There are three types of tumble dryer. The right one depends on where it will go and how often you will use it.
Heat pump dryers recycle warm air, so they use far less electricity than other types, often around half. They cost more to buy but less to run, and they are gentler on clothes because they dry at lower temperatures. Cycles are a little longer. If you use a dryer several times a week, a heat pump dryer usually pays back the difference. Most of our dryers are heat pump models.
Condenser dryers collect the water in a tank, which you empty, or drain it to a waste pipe. They can go anywhere with a socket and some airflow, and cost less to buy than a heat pump dryer, but more to run.
Vented dryers push damp air outside through a hose, so they need to be near a window, door or a vent in the wall. They are simple and the cheapest to buy, but use the most energy.
Choose a drum at least as large as your washing machine's, ideally a kilo or two larger, so a full wash load dries in one go and clothes have room to tumble.
Heat pump and condenser dryers work best in a room that is not too cold. Garages and outbuildings can be too cold in winter, so check the manufacturer's guidance for unheated rooms. We take away and recycle your old dryer.