What is a heat pump tumble dryer?
A heat pump tumble dryer is a more energy-efficient way to dry your clothes, running at low temperatures and recirculating the heat generated inside the drum for enhanced drying capabilities without increased running costs.
How do heat pump tumble dryers work?
Unlikely condenser and vented tumble dryers which expel warm air, heat pump tumble dryers recycle the heat generated during the cycle, pumping it back into the appliance to dry clothes more efficiently.
Moisture removed from the clothes evaporates and condenses into a water tank, which is quick and easy to empty.
Do heat pump tumble dryers need a vent?
No, unlike the traditional vented tumble dryers, heat pump tumble dryers do not need to be vented to the outside of your home.
Because of this, heat pump tumble dryers can be positioned almost anywhere in the home, including outbuildings and garages.
While not essential, you can attach a drainage hose to the waste pipe if you don’t want the manual task of emptying the water tank.
Are heat pump tumble dryers cheaper to run?
Heat pump tumble dryers may cost more initially, but they are much more energy efficient to run, costing less money in the long term by reduced running costs.
The cycles can take a little longer, but most heat pump tumble dryers have excellent energy efficiency ratings. By running at lower temperatures and recycling generated heat, they use up to 50% less energy than standard condenser models.
What’s the best heat pump tumble dryer to buy?
We think the Hoover H Dry 500 9KG NDEH9A2TCE Freestanding Heat Pump Tumble Dryer is the best heat pump tumble dryer you can buy today thanks to its affordable price point, large capacity drum, accurate sensors and range of quick dry programmes, making a great all-rounder for most families.
How we chose the best heat pump tumble dryers
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
To begin our search for the best heat pump tumble dryer, we turned to the Mumsnet forums to draw on the wealth of experience from our 10 million Mumsnetters. We know that laundry is a popular topic, so we sought out recommendations for heat pump tumble dryers that Mumsnet users rated highly and would happily recommend to others. We also looked for any negative reviews, where Mumsnet users highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, overpriced, took an eternity to dry or dried unevenly. That way, we could exclude these from our list.
Expert opinions
Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We always want to be confident that the products we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning or well-regarded products, including any recommended by consumer champions such as Which?.
Verified customer reviews
Finally, we thoroughly investigated genuine customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, AO.com and Currys to get a comprehensive picture of consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
Celebrated Tumble Dryers
Using our triple-check vetting process has allowed us to guarantee that every tumble dryer on this list has earned its right to be there, creating a guide to the best tumble dryers that is honest, balanced and up-to-date.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases.
Lucy loves scrutinising kitchen appliances and has written several SwearBy posts including the best budget washing machines, best kettle and toaster sets and best American fridge freezer.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.