If you don't have room for a second appliance or you only do small loads, first compare your washing machine's spin efficiency with the space available for drying your clothes. If you do frequent loads and want to dry them in a machine, a heat pump tumble dryer could be an option without an external air vent, according to Miele France and Beko France. However, check the dimensions, installation instructions and condensate management requirements for the model you choose.
How often you do the laundry isn't the only factor: where your appliances will go and how much room you have to dry a load also matter.
If you dry your clothes on a rack in your flat, consider the size of your usual loads, spin efficiency and how much space the drying rack takes up. ADEME highlights the benefits of an effective spin cycle when clothes need to dry quickly indoors.
Before adding a tumble dryer, check that it will fit through the access points and that you can open the door where you plan to put it. The type of dryer also affects what you need to check about airflow and the water produced during drying.
If you plan to put a washing machine in a bathroom, check the location and electrical circuit before choosing an appliance. Promotelec sets out requirements for earthing, RCD protection and positioning the washing machine beyond zone 2. These guidelines alone do not cover the installation of a tumble dryer.
Consider this if: you can hang up your usual loads and don't have room for a second appliance.
Bear in mind: you'll still need to hang up your clothes, and the spin cycle won't dry them completely.
Consider this if: you often dry loads in a machine but don't have an external air vent; Miele France and Beko France describe models that condense water.
Bear in mind: you'll need space for the appliance and a suitable way to collect or drain condensate, depending on the model.
Consider this if: your home has a suitable external outlet for the air vent, as specified by Miele France.
Bear in mind: a household water drain does not replace the air outlet this type of dryer needs.
Once you've identified an option that works in your home, compare your usual loads with the specifications of the specific model.
| Priority | What to check | Consider your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Spin cycle | Compare the washing machine's spin-drying efficiency rating on its label, rather than looking at its speed in tr/min alone. ADEME recommends choosing class A if clothes need to dry quickly indoors or in a tumble dryer. | I dry my clothes in my flat and want to reduce how much water they retain after washing, but I don't expect the spin cycle to dry them completely. |
| Airflow and condensate | Check the tumble dryer's technology. Miele France says a vented model needs access to the outdoors. For an appliance that condenses water, check the instructions for details of the tank and drainage options. | Without a suitable air outlet, I need to rule out a vented tumble dryer and check how another model collects the water. |
| Capacity and space | Match the capacity in kg to the loads you actually dry. Measure the space, doorways and room needed in front of the door; Miele France recommends choosing a tumble dryer with a capacity close to that of your washing machine, if possible. | If my large loads are bigger than the capacity of the tumble dryer I'm considering, I'll need to split them up for drying. The appliance also needs to be practical to use in the room. |
| Noise and energy use | Compare the noise level and energy label for the specific models you're considering. ADEME recommends checking how noisy the washing machine is; a brand's general specifications won't apply to every model. | I may need to run cycles when people are at home, so I want to compare the stated noise level and energy information for the appliances I'm considering. |
| Bathroom | For a washing machine in a bathroom, Promotelec specifies an earth connection, a circuit protected by a 30 mA RCD and a position beyond zone 2. Get any uncertain location checked, particularly if you plan to put the appliance in a cupboard. | If I plan to put the washing machine near a bath or shower, having a socket nearby isn't enough to confirm that the location is suitable. |
According to Miele France, a vented tumble dryer needs access to the outdoors. A tank or hose for collecting condensed water serves a different purpose.
Check the exact technology, then read the instructions to find out whether the model needs an air outlet, has a tank to empty or can be connected to a compatible drain.
A capacity in kg doesn't tell you whether the appliance will fit through the door, whether you can open it easily or whether you'll be able to reach the water tank.
Measure the access route, the space for the appliance and the room needed to use it before comparing programmes.
ADEME highlights the benefits of an effective spin cycle for clothes dried indoors, but you'll still need to hang them up or dry them in a machine.
Compare the spin-drying efficiency rating, then choose a drying method to suit your load and the space available.
For a washing machine, Promotelec specifies electrical protection requirements and a position beyond zone 2. The presence of a socket doesn't tell you whether all these requirements are met.
Have the planned circuit and location checked, especially if the room is small or the appliance is going in a cupboard.
These range examples can help you compare the specifications of individual models, but they don't indicate which products are available below.
Bosch offers heat pump tumble dryers with capacities and features that vary by model.
Miele offers tumble dryers in 7, 8 and 9 kg capacities, and recommends choosing a capacity close to that of your washing machine, if possible.
Beko describes heat pump tumble dryers that condense water, which is worth considering if your home has no external air outlet.
This selection includes heat pump tumble dryers, a condenser tumble dryer and a washing machine to pair with air-drying or machine-drying. The fact that these options are included doesn't mean they'll fit your space, so check the instructions and dimensions of each appliance.
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Worth comparing if you want to machine-dry loads that match its stated capacity of 8 kg.
The product title lists a C energy class. Check the instructions for the dimensions, required clearances and drain hose configuration before deciding where to put it.
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Compare its stated capacity of 10 kg with the loads you usually dry and the space you have available.
The product title lists a D energy class. Check the model's instructions for its dimensions and condensate management. The product page's safety information refers to food storage rather than this tumble dryer, so don't rely on it when planning the installation.
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You can compare this 8 kg model with the loads you plan to dry in a machine, but don't assume it'll suit every space.
The product title lists a D energy class. Check the model's instructions for its dimensions and condensate management. The product page's safety information refers to food storage, so use the tumble dryer's own instructions to plan its installation.
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Worth considering if you plan to wash your clothes before drying them indoors: the spin cycle doesn't replace drying.
The product title lists an 8 kg capacity and a spin speed of 1 400 tr/min. Also compare the spin-drying efficiency rating on the label; ADEME recommends choosing class A when clothes need to dry quickly indoors. Check the dimensions and, if installing it in a bathroom, have the electrical installation checked.
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This 8 kg model offers another type of machine drying to consider for a flat.
Miele France says conventional condenser tumble dryers need access to the outdoors or good air circulation to remove the heat and moisture they produce. Check the instructions for this model to find out what it requires for airflow and installation before choosing a room for it.
No, not if your home doesn't have a suitable external outlet for the air: Miele France says this type of dryer needs one. A water drain hose doesn't serve the same purpose.
According to Miele France and Beko France, heat pump models condense water rather than needing an external air vent. However, check the model's instructions for its location, required clearances and how to collect or drain the water.
Yes, if the model allows it and the accessory you're using is compatible. Electrolux, for example, offers a kit for directing water from a condenser tumble dryer to a drain. That doesn't mean the kit is compatible with every appliance.
For the washing machine, Promotelec specifies an earth connection, a circuit protected by a 30 mA RCD and a position beyond zone 2. If the appliance is going in a cupboard or a small room, have the planned location checked rather than relying on the presence of a socket.
Not for every load: choose according to the loads you actually dry in a machine. Miele France recommends choosing a tumble dryer with a capacity close to that of your washing machine, if possible. If the dryer has a smaller capacity, you'll need to split larger loads.