If you do laundry frequently or your airer takes up a room for long periods, a heat pump tumble dryer could be a practical choice, provided you have a suitable space for it and are happy to wait for its cycles to finish. If your laundry can dry without getting in the way in a sufficiently large, well-ventilated room, keeping your airer is still an option. ADEME highlights the importance of ventilation when drying laundry indoors.
If your airer is always in a living room or bedroom, compare the space it takes up with the space needed for the appliance you’re considering. Also check the room’s ventilation and the requirements in the appliance manual.
When you have one load after another, capacity, programme times and electricity consumption matter just as much as being able to put your airer away sooner.
If your clothes have different care instructions, check their labels first, then look at the programmes and load limits for the appliance. A dedicated programme doesn’t mean every fabric is suitable for machine drying.
Consider one if: you do laundry regularly and can install an appliance in line with its manual, without an exhaust hose leading outdoors.
Bear in mind: Que Choisir notes that these models generally use less energy than conventional condenser dryers. Beko says heat pump cycles can take longer and require maintenance.
Consider one: mainly to understand how an appliance you already own works, or to assess a second-hand model separately.
Limitation: according to the European Commission, the rules in force since 1 July 2025 mean that only heat pump models can be placed on the market as domestic tumble dryers. This rule does not determine the status of second-hand appliances or older stock.
Keep using one if: your laundry volume and available space make it possible to dry clothes in a sufficiently large, well-ventilated room, or one with a mechanical ventilation extract vent, as ADEME recommends.
Bear in mind: your laundry stays out while it dries and takes up space, even though you’re not using a tumble dryer’s electricity.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and ventilation | Measure the space for the appliance and check its manual. If you use an airer, consider the space available and the room’s ventilation. | If your airer takes up a living space for long periods, getting that space back without overlooking drying conditions becomes a priority; around 31% of consumers would put space and ventilation first. |
| Laundry loads and energy use | Compare the capacity with your usual loads, and check the energy label and the stated consumption per 100 cycles. | When I have one load after another, I want to dry them without losing sight of the electricity used; around 31% of consumers would prioritise this recurring running cost. |
| Drying time | Check the Eco programme duration and, for any quick programme, the permitted load and fabrics. | If you need to get bedding or clothes back into use quickly, waiting time may matter more than other features; nearly 23% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Fabric care | Follow the care labels on your clothes and check the available programmes and their maximum loads. | When fabrics have different care instructions, I’d rather sort them and choose a suitable programme than dry everything together; around 15% of consumers would prioritise this precaution. |
Que Choisir says these appliances use more energy than heat pump models. According to the European Commission, since 1 July 2025, only heat pump tumble dryers can be placed on the market under the new EU rules. Second-hand appliances and older stock need to be considered separately.
When comparing new models, start with heat pump dryers and compare their capacity, energy label and Eco programme duration with your needs.
A condenser dryer doesn’t need an exhaust hose leading outdoors, but its dimensions, clearance and suitability for stacking are still subject to the instructions in its manual. The Bosch WTH8300SFR manual, for example, requires a suitable connection kit for stacking.
Measure the space and check the manual for the model you’ve chosen. If you plan to stack the appliances, make sure both models and the kit specified by the manufacturer are compatible.
Having a delicate or wool programme doesn’t mean you can skip checking whether each garment is suitable for tumble drying, as Electrolux support reminds customers.
Sort fabrics according to their care labels, and use the right programme and load limit for any items that can go in the tumble dryer.
An appliance can free up floor space while your laundry dries, but it won’t solve a lack of space, long waiting times or poor ventilation in the same way. ADEME highlights the ventilation conditions to consider when drying laundry at home.
Take note of your usual loads, how much space your airer takes up and what’s causing the most inconvenience. You can then compare a different way of arranging your airer with installing a tumble dryer.
Bosch’s range of heat pump tumble dryers in France includes models with 8 kg and 9 kg capacities.
Beko offers heat pump tumble dryers in a range of capacities, with programmes and features that vary by model.
Electrolux offers heat pump tumble dryers with programmes for different fabrics, depending on the model.
Miele’s range in France includes 8 kg and 9 kg heat pump tumble dryers, with features that vary by model.
These three heat pump models are worth considering if your airer takes up too much space or you have one load of laundry after another. Before choosing, compare their specifications with your available space, usual loads and programme times.
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Worth considering if you regularly dry loads suited to its stated 8 kg capacity. The title lists an energy rating of C and a white finish; also compare the Eco programme duration and the consumption shown on the energy label.
Before deciding where to put it, check the dimensions and installation requirements for this model in its manual.
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Compare this model if your loads are suitable for its stated 8 kg capacity. The title lists an energy rating of D and a white finish; check the Eco programme duration and energy consumption to see how it fits your laundry routine.
Check the dimensions and installation instructions for this model before setting aside a space for it.
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This heat pump model is worth considering if you want to replace some of your air-drying. Its title lists an energy rating of D. Its capacity is listed as both 10 kg and 8 kg, so check the exact variant before comparing it with your usual loads.
Before choosing, also check the Eco programme duration, energy consumption, dimensions and installation instructions.
No. If you can use a sufficiently large, well-ventilated room, you can keep using an airer. A study supported by ADEME describes indoor drying as a source of humidity and recommends using a well-ventilated room or one with a mechanical ventilation extract vent.
If you’re looking at a new appliance placed on the market since 1 July 2025, focus your comparison on heat pump models. According to the European Commission, the new rules only allow this technology to be placed on the market. This rule alone doesn’t determine the status of second-hand appliances, older stock or appliances already installed.
No. A condenser dryer with a heat pump doesn’t need the outdoor exhaust hose used by a vented tumble dryer. However, check the manual for clearance requirements, the electrical supply, condensate disposal and any other installation requirements specific to the model.
Compare their A to G energy labels and consumption figures, then check their capacity and Eco programme duration to make sure they suit your laundry loads. According to the European Commission, the A to G label has applied to the relevant tumble dryer displays since 1 July 2025.
No. As Electrolux support reminds customers, only put fabrics in the tumble dryer if their care labels allow machine drying. Then choose a programme that’s suitable for the garment and stick to its load limit.