If you don’t have an external air vent, choose a condenser tumble dryer, with or without a heat pump. A vented model needs a suitable opening or duct. If you dry clothes often, a heat-pump model is worth considering because it generally uses less electricity, although cycles can take longer. If speed matters most, compare the cycle times of standard condenser models. Then check the capacity, dimensions and how the model you’re considering handles condensed water.
In a flat or utility room without a duct to the outside, condenser models, including heat-pump dryers, avoid the external air connection needed by a vented tumble dryer. Be sure to check the installation instructions for the model you choose. UFC-Que Choisir explains the differences between these technologies.
If you regularly put several loads through the tumble dryer, energy use per cycle becomes an important factor. UFC-Que Choisir says heat-pump models generally use less energy than standard condenser or vented dryers, although their cycles can take longer.
If you need your clothes back in use quickly, compare the duration of a programme suitable for your usual load, rather than looking only at an express cycle. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the trade-off between speed and energy use across different types of tumble dryer.
First, check whether you can actually use an external air vent. Then compare energy use and cycle duration, and choose a capacity that suits your laundry.
Worth considering: for regular drying without an external duct, especially if keeping electricity use down is a priority.
Bear in mind: cycles are generally longer than those of the other types described by UFC-Que Choisir.
Worth considering: if you don’t have an external vent and drying time matters more to you.
Bear in mind: it generally uses more energy than a heat-pump model, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Worth considering: only if you have access to an external opening or suitable ventilation duct.
Bear in mind: it needs a connection to expel moist air outside and generally uses more energy than a heat-pump model, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
| Factor | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Check whether you can access an external opening or duct, then measure the space and check how the appliance collects condensed water. | If my home has no external vent, I need to rule out a vented installation that the room can’t accommodate. Around 31% of consumers put this installation requirement first. |
| Energy use | Compare the stated energy use per 100 cycles and the duration of the Eco programme across models with a suitable capacity. | If I dry several loads each week, I want to use less electricity, even if I have to wait longer for a cycle to finish. This is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Cycle duration | Check how long the Eco programme takes, and the load and fabric limits for quick programmes. | When I have several loads to get through, I want to know how long it will take to get a load ready to use. Speed comes before other factors for around 19% of consumers. |
| Capacity and fit | Match the capacity in kg to your usual loads. Measure the space with the door open, and compare the stated noise level. | In a small space or with lots of laundry, I need to be able to load and use the appliance without running extra cycles. Capacity and fit are the top priority for around 19% of consumers. |
According to UFC-Que Choisir, this type of dryer needs an opening to the outside or access to a ventilation duct. A room without a suitable route for the air is therefore not suitable for the installation you have in mind.
Check where a duct could go before choosing a dryer type. If there’s no suitable access, consider condenser models.
A condensate drain hose is not a substitute for the air vent on a vented tumble dryer. It handles water collected by some condenser models.
Check the drying technology and whether condensed water can be drained separately in the instructions for the exact model. If the water collects in a tank, you’ll need to empty it as instructed.
The energy rating letter on its own doesn’t tell you how long your laundry will take to dry or how noisy the appliance is.
Also compare energy use per 100 cycles, the duration of the Eco programme and the noise level, taking the capacity you need into account.
A quick programme may be designed for a smaller load or specific fabrics. Its stated duration may not reflect how long your usual load will take to dry.
Check the quick programme requirements in the instructions, and look at the duration of the Eco programme too.
The details below apply to specific models. Check the specifications of the one you’re considering rather than assuming they apply to the whole brand.
The French range includes 8 and 9 kg heat-pump tumble dryers, which are useful for comparing capacity, noise and condensate management.
Beko also offers a vented model, which is only worth considering if your home can accommodate the external air vent this technology requires.
The French range includes 8 and 9 kg heat-pump models, with differences in condensation features and cycle duration.
These condenser models, several of them heat-pump dryers, are suitable for drying clothes indoors without an external air duct. Compare each model against the space you have, your laundry loads and the cycle duration that works for you.
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This 8 kg heat-pump tumble dryer is worth considering if you dry clothes regularly and don’t have an external air vent.
The product title gives it a C energy rating. To compare it with other models for everyday use, check the Eco programme duration, energy use per 100 cycles and appliance dimensions.
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This 8 kg heat-pump model could be a good option for regular drying without an external duct.
The product title gives it a D energy rating. If a quick programme is one of the reasons you’re considering it, check the load and fabrics it’s designed for in the instructions. Also compare the Eco programme duration and the space it takes up.
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This 8 kg condenser tumble dryer could work in a home without an external air duct.
If you plan to use it often, compare its cycle duration and energy-use figures with those of heat-pump models. Measure the space you have and check the clearance required in the instructions.
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This heat-pump model is worth considering for drying clothes indoors without an external air vent.
Check its capacity before choosing it for your usual loads: the product title gives 10 kg, while another description says 8 kg. Also check the Eco programme duration and dimensions.
Yes. A condenser tumble dryer, including a heat-pump model, doesn’t need an air duct to the outside. UFC-Que Choisir says a vented model, however, needs an external opening or access to a ventilation duct. Also follow the location and installation instructions for the model you choose.
Not necessarily. Condensed water can collect in a tank, while some models can be connected directly to a drain. Bosch Electroménager France lists a water drain hose for the WQG2450SFR, but not for the WTH83V01FF. Check the product details and instructions for the exact model.
Look at the energy use per 100 cycles, the Eco programme duration and the capacity that suits your loads. An energy rating on its own doesn’t tell you how long your clothes will be in the dryer. Check the conditions for quick cycles too if you plan to use them.
It’s most worth considering if energy use matters and you’ll be drying clothes regularly. UFC-Que Choisir says heat-pump cycles are generally longer than those of standard dryers. If you need to get through several loads, compare the duration of programmes suited to your laundry. A vented model still needs a suitable external air vent.
For clothes drying naturally on an airer, ADEME recommends using a large, well-ventilated room or one with a mechanical ventilation (VMC) extraction vent, preferably humidity-sensitive. This advice is for air-drying clothes. For a tumble dryer, follow the installation instructions for your appliance.