Pros and cons of a tumble dryer

The rationale for purchasing a tumble dryer is a contentious issue among homeowners. Some are convinced of the necessity of purchasing the equipment and can cite its many advantages. Others consider such an investment completely pointless and see only disadvantages in a tumble dryer. If you're considering installing a tumble dryer at home, you should explore all the nuances of its use and make your own subjective assessment of the unit. We'll help you with this and discuss the main pros and cons of a tumble dryer.

When is this type of equipment required?

Many housewives face the problem of drying clothes. The lack of a balcony in the apartment, bad weather conditions, small living space, etc. can make it difficult to dry laundry properly. The natural drying process also increases humidity in the apartment, which isn't always comfortable for family members. Dry clothes often look wrinkled, requiring a lot of time to smooth out the fabric.

A tumble dryer will relieve a housewife of virtually all of these problems. This technology will make work easier and save family members' nerves if one of these factors prevents natural drying.

Frequent washing. This problem is especially acute for families with small children. Clean clothes simply don't have time to dry, leaving no room to hang the next load. So, the next wash is often postponed for a day, resulting in an ever-increasing pile of soiled items.

A modern machine can dry up to 8 kg of clothes in 60 minutes.

Small living spaces. Due to a lack of space to dry clothes, owners of small apartments hang bed linens on interior doors and fill all radiators, bathrooms, and balconies with other clothes. If constantly having clothes on display is a nuisance, it's better to invest in a dryer that can dry textiles in an hour.
If you don't have a balcony, you'll have to buy special laundry racks and install them in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, etc. A structure covered in wet laundry isn't exactly aesthetically pleasing, which can't be said for a modern, stylish drying rack, which takes up even less space.

Items removed from the dryer are virtually wrinkle-free, so smoothing the fabric requires minimal time. This helpful equipment will help housewives forget about all the hassles associated with air-drying their laundry.

What types of dryers are there and how do they work?

The first thing you need to do is understand how the equipment operates and evaluate the equipment offerings on the market. The operating principle of a tumble dryer is very simple: moisture evaporates from the fabric naturally, and the unit simply speeds up the process. Today, device manufacturers offer several types of home drying equipment for purchase.

Drying cabinet. A freestanding unit consisting of a chamber equipped with several shelves on which piles of clothes are placed. Moisture is evaporated from the fibers of the fabric by a blast of hot air. This type of equipment is relatively inexpensive, but the size of the models is quite large, making them unpopular.
A machine equipped with a drum. Visually, the device resembles a regular washing machine, as it has a similar door and control panel. Clothes are also dried using dry steam, but instead of being stacked on shelves, they rotate in the drum. This speeds up drying.

A distinction is made between ventilation and condensation drum machines. Drum machines with condensation moisture removal are in high demand. This type of equipment is much more convenient to use, as the evaporated droplets are discharged into a special tank rather than outside.

Advantages and disadvantages

Every product has its advantages and disadvantages. After carefully reviewing user reviews, we can identify the following benefits of owning a tumble dryer:

drying speed;
no need to constantly hang out washed laundry;
Depending on the fabric type, you can dry the item to the optimal humidity level. This will make ironing even the most delicate items a breeze.
Some items don't need to be ironed at all, as the forced removal of moisture from the material slightly smooths the fabric;
the ability to “refresh” laundry by treating it with steam without the main wash process.

Drying units also have their drawbacks. The main disadvantages include the high cost of the equipment, its bulkiness, and the need for a separate space in the room for the unit.

Maximum attention should be paid to the choice of drying mode depending on the type of product loaded into the chamber.

Some fabrics can't be tumble dried. Don't expect to forget about ironing once you buy a dryer. Certain garments will still require additional ironing.

What should you pay attention to when choosing?

If you decide to purchase a tumble dryer, be sure to thoroughly study the main characteristics and parameters of the equipment. It is important to choose a machine that provides optimal drying quality and maximum operating comfort. First of all, decide what kind of equipment you want to place in your home: a drum or a cabinet?

If you don't have enough space in your apartment, you can purchase a washing machine with a drying function.

Once you've decided on the type of equipment, you can move on to a more detailed evaluation of the models you like. First, pay attention to the following parameters:

Allowable load capacity. It's important to select the chamber or drum size based on your family's needs. It's best to find a machine with a capacity that avoids constantly running it half-empty. The most popular machines are those that can hold up to 6-8 kg of laundry at a time;
Energy efficiency class. It's best to choose the most energy-efficient appliances to avoid shocking your electricity bill;
Power. The higher this value, the faster the drying process. However, first, check whether your home's electrical wiring can handle the connection of excessively powerful equipment.
The drum rotation method. Depending on the model, it may rotate either continuously in one direction or alternately in opposite directions. The first option is preferable, as one-way rotation puts less stress and wear on the motor, resulting in a longer dryer life.
Moisture removal type. It's best to purchase equipment with a condensation drying system.

By taking the time to understand the key features of a tumble dryer, you can choose the one that best meets your needs. With some research, you can find a compact model that makes your life significantly easier, doesn't require much space, offers decent performance, and is equipped with just the essential features.

There's no place without nice little things

The above-described equipment characteristics should be given primary consideration. However, don't neglect the device's additional features, which can either make the operation easier or more difficult.

Equipped with filter elements. High-quality equipment has at least one, if not several, filters that collect small debris, lint, hair, etc. It's important to evaluate the ease of access to the element; it should be easily removed from the housing for cleaning.
Control method. The choice of mechanical or electronic control depends solely on the user's habits and preferences; the systems are essentially equivalent. A particular model may benefit from a convenient digital display that shows the program progress.
A range of drying modes. The number of programs needed will vary for each homeowner. More convenient are the models where you can independently set the percentage of residual moisture in the fabric, set the drying time, and select the “Easy ironing” option.
The ventilation function is a useful addition that allows you to quickly refresh your clothes without a full wash. It involves steaming the load.
Other extras. These include a child lock feature, the ability to delay the start, and the option to lock the control panel while the machine is running.

Today, the market is overflowing with tumble dryers. Almost all brands that produce washing machines also produce dryers. Therefore, you can confidently buy equipment from the manufacturer of your washing machine. In this case, the interface will be very similar, and you won't have to spend much time learning how to operate the device.

Choosing the perfect drying machine isn't easy. To simplify your life, you need to carefully consider your family's needs and choose a good model that will make drying a seamless and enjoyable experience.