Without an external air vent, a heat pump condenser tumble dryer is a good option if you have room for a separate appliance: it doesn’t need a duct to the outside, according to UFC-Que Choisir. If you only have space for one appliance, consider a washer-dryer instead, and check its drying capacity separately from its washing capacity. For a new purchase, the European Commission says that tumble dryers newly placed on the EU market must use heat pump technology from 1 July 2025.
If you can’t install a duct to the outside, look at condenser appliances. UFC-Que Choisir says they don’t need this type of connection. You’ll still need to check how the collected water is dealt with and what installation requirements are set out in the manual.
A washer-dryer combines both functions in one appliance. However, compare the load limits for each function: Bosch lists 9 kg for washing and 6 kg for the wash-and-dry cycle on the WNG24402FR, while Whirlpool product specifications list 9 kg for washing and either 6 or 7 kg for drying, depending on the model.
If you run frequent cycles, compare the energy use, duration and drying capacity of the models you’re considering. UFC-Que Choisir includes cycle duration and electricity use in its tumble dryer testing protocol. Space and maintenance also matter in everyday use.
Start with the space available and the size of the load you need to dry, then compare installation requirements and the details of the cycle you’re interested in.
Consider this if: you can fit a separate appliance without an air exhaust duct.
Trade-off: it takes up an extra space. Compare programme times with energy use rather than judging by the technology alone.
Worth considering: if you already own this type of appliance, check its energy label and condition.
Limitation: since 1 July 2025, the European Commission has restricted newly placed tumble dryers on the EU market to heat pump models.
Consider this if: you only have space for one appliance to handle both washing and drying.
Trade-off: the permitted drying load may be smaller than the washing load, as shown by the separate capacities listed by Bosch and Whirlpool for some models.
| Factor | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Check the manual for clearance requirements, permitted room temperature and how to manage condensed water: a tank or a compatible drain connection. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a condenser tumble dryer doesn’t need a duct to the outside. | I don’t have an external air vent and want to know whether the appliance can be installed in the room I have in mind. |
| Capacity | Compare the drying capacity with your usual load sizes. For a washer-dryer, check the limit for the wash-and-dry cycle, not just the washing capacity: the Bosch WNG24402FR is listed at 9 kg for washing and 6 kg for the full cycle. | If I wash a large load, I want to know whether I can dry it all without taking some of the clothes out. |
| Cycles | Compare energy use and duration for similar programmes and loads, and check the label supplied with each appliance. UFC-Que Choisir includes both of these measurements in its tumble dryer testing protocol. | I dry clothes often and want to consider both the electricity used and the time needed. |
| Making an informed choice | Remember that drying a load of washing is different from ventilating your home. ADEME describes indoor air-drying as an activity that releases moisture; an appliance isn’t a way to diagnose damp in your home. | I’d like to hang fewer clothes around my flat without assuming that a tumble dryer will solve a ventilation problem. |
A condenser tumble dryer doesn’t need an external air vent, but the collected water still needs to be drained away or the tank emptied.
Check the manual for details of the tank, its full alert and whether the model can be connected to a drain.
With a washer-dryer, the washing load may be larger than the permitted drying load. The capacities listed by Bosch and Whirlpool for some models show this difference.
Choose based on the stated drying capacity. If needed, take some clothes out before starting the drying cycle.
Guide Topten France notes that a new energy label for tumble dryers came into force on 1 July 2025. An old A+++ rating isn’t on the same scale as the new A to G rating.
Ask to see the label for the appliance you’re considering and compare energy use, capacity and cycle duration on a like-for-like basis.
ADEME describes clothes air-dried indoors as a source of moisture. Drying a load in an appliance can reduce the amount of laundry hung up, but it won’t explain other possible causes of damp.
Keep ventilating your home when air-drying clothes, and look into any concerns about ventilation or damp separately.
The range includes washer-dryers and heat pump tumble dryers.
The brand’s range includes heat pump tumble dryers.
The washer-dryer range offers options that combine both functions in one appliance.
Miele lists the TCA520WP among its 8 kg heat pump tumble dryers.
These three separate 8 kg appliances suit anyone looking for mechanical drying without an external air duct. Before choosing, check the space available, how condensed water is managed and the energy label for each model. A washer-dryer is another option if you only have room for one appliance.
Image unavailable
A separate appliance to consider if you have room to dry loads of up to its stated capacity of 8 kg. Check the dimensions in the manual and compare the energy use on the label for the product being sold.
Image unavailable
This separate condenser tumble dryer has a stated capacity of 8 kg. Before choosing it as a new purchase in France, confirm its exact technology and check the label that applies to the product being sold.
Image unavailable
This heat pump model has a stated drying capacity of 8 kg in a separate appliance. Check its dimensions, how the water is collected and its energy use in the model documentation.
No. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a condenser tumble dryer can be installed without a duct to the outside. However, check the manual for how to manage condensed water, clearance requirements, and electrical and temperature conditions.
Not if its drying capacity is less than 9 kg. For example, Bosch lists the WNG24402FR at 9 kg for washing and 6 kg for the wash-and-dry cycle. Remove some clothes if the washed load exceeds your model’s drying limit.
No. ADEME says that hanging clothes to dry indoors releases moisture. Drying a load in an appliance can avoid hanging those clothes up, but it doesn’t replace ventilation or investigating a damp problem in your home.
First, compare labels from the same system and figures for similar cycles. Guide Topten France dates the introduction of the new label to 1 July 2025, so an old A+++ rating can’t be directly compared with a letter on the new A to G scale.
Take it to an appropriate collection point for electrical and electronic equipment rather than putting it in household rubbish. The French ministries responsible for the ecological transition say you can look for a collection point. You can also check the take-back options offered when you buy a new appliance.