Without an external air vent, rule out vented tumble dryers and consider conventional condenser or heat pump models. If you dry clothes frequently, compare their energy use and cycle times. If you prefer a clothes airer, make sure you can dry your washing in a sufficiently well-ventilated room. In every case, check the capacity and installation requirements of the model you choose.
If you run cycle after cycle, choose a capacity in kg that suits your usual loads, then compare the energy use of the models you’re considering. A heat pump model is worth looking at, taking cycle times and installation requirements into account.
A conventional condenser tumble dryer works without an external vent. Boulanger describes this type as generally faster than a heat pump model, but you should compare the duration of the programme that suits your laundry for each appliance.
Measure the space available and check the manual’s requirements before choosing a tumble dryer. If you’re considering a clothes airer instead, bear in mind the moisture released as your laundry dries indoors; Anses recommends using a well-ventilated room.
Consider it: if you want an appliance without an external vent and cycle times matter to you.
Bear in mind: Boulanger points to a possible trade-off between speed and energy use compared with a heat pump model; compare specific models.
Consider it: if you dry laundry regularly and energy use matters more to you than cycle speed.
Bear in mind: cycles may take longer than with a conventional condenser dryer, according to Boulanger’s comparison.
Consider it: if you prefer to dry your laundry without an appliance and have a well-ventilated room.
Bear in mind: your laundry dries in the room and adds moisture to it, as ADEME points out.
| Criterion | What to check | Relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use | Compare the kWh/100 cycles figures for specific models, as well as the duration of the programmes you’re likely to use. | If I dry laundry several times a week, I want to take the electricity used for each cycle into account. Around 33% of consumers would put energy use at the top of their list of concerns. |
| Capacity and available space | Choose a capacity in kg that suits your loads, and check the dimensions and the space needed to open the door. | With large loads to wash and little room in the utility room, I’m looking for an appliance that can handle my laundry and fit into the space. This would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Drying time | Check how long the programmes take for the type and amount of laundry you dry. | When I need my laundry ready quickly, I need to know how long the programme I’ll actually use takes. Speed would come first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Drying without an appliance | If you use an indoor clothes airer, choose a well-ventilated room and make sure you don’t block the air inlets. | If I want to use a clothes airer, I need to be able to manage the moisture while my laundry dries. Around 17% of consumers would prioritise this appliance-free option above all. |
A condenser dryer doesn’t need an external air vent, but its dimensions, room conditions and water management requirements vary by model.
Read the manual and check the installation diagram before deciding where to put it.
Energy use and drying times vary depending on the appliance and programme. Comparing technologies is no substitute for comparing the specific models you’re considering.
Compare the kWh/100 cycles figures and the duration of programmes suited to your laundry.
Cleaning the filters, accessing the condenser and emptying the tank, if required, are all part of everyday use. The steps involved vary by model.
Check the manual for maintenance instructions and how the appliance collects or drains water.
ADEME highlights the extra moisture released by laundry drying indoors. Anses recommends using a well-ventilated room when drying clothes inside.
Before making a clothes airer your main drying solution, check that the air can circulate in the room you plan to use.
A useful brand to look at if you’re considering a conventional condenser dryer without an external vent.
A useful brand to look at when comparing the features of a heat pump model.
A useful brand to look at if you want to check the dimensions and maintenance needs of a heat pump model.
This condenser tumble dryer may suit you if you’re looking for an appliance without an external vent. Before choosing it for your room, compare its features with the installation instructions in the manual.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a condenser tumble dryer for loads of up to 8 kg.
The product name mentions propane refrigerant and OptiSense. Check the manual for room requirements and water management details before choosing this model.
Yes, Whirlpool’s condenser tumble dryers work without an external vent. However, check the manual for your chosen model to find out about room requirements, water collection and maintenance.
Check the model’s manual and installation diagram for its dimensions, clearance requirements, permitted temperature range and water collection or drainage arrangements. For example, Electrolux gives an operating range of 5 °C to 35 °C for the EW7H5142SC; this does not automatically apply to another appliance.
If your model collects water in a tank, empty it as instructed in the manual. Whirlpool recommends removing lint from the filter after every cycle; other tasks, including condenser maintenance, depend on the appliance.
Compare their kWh/100 cycles figures on the same basis, then check how long the programmes suited to your laundry take. Don’t assume you can work out a model’s energy use from its technology alone or from the figures for another appliance.
Not necessarily: being able to refresh the air matters more than simply having a window. ADEME highlights the extra moisture released by laundry drying indoors, while Anses recommends drying it in a well-ventilated room.