October 13th, 2023 | 9 min. read
Learn how to find the perfect laundry products with our Washer Buying Guide
Heat pumps are the standard in Europe due to their efficiency and lower cost of operation.
In this article, you will learn about the three best brands and their pros and cons, including videos on each model.
We'll also look at how heat pump dryers work and why they should be considered for your next dryer.
Now, let's look at the best heat pump dryers.
Key Takeaway: Running a dryer is expensive. Just remember that when doing your laundry.
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The 3 Best Heat Pump Dryers for 2023
Miele Compact Dryers
In 2018, Miele made a bold move by switching all their dryers to heat pump technology, completely doing away with condenser and vented laundry.
They were also the first with a 110-volt heat pump dryer, so you can place the washer and dryer anywhere with basic power, water, and a drain.
You should know about the washer because it is essential to understand the dryer.
Washer Models
Miele WXI860 WCS
WXI860 WCS TDos & IntenseWash
Washer Highlights
Honeycomb Drums
Miele is the best for fabric care with their perforated honeycomb drums in the washer and dryer, designed so zippers don't stick or rip and fray in your dryer.
They are the only manufacturer to wash and dry silks and other fine washables.
You have a silk cycle along with many other unique cycles like proofing, which helps reactivate the water-repellent properties of certain fabrics.
Caplet Dispensing
Miele is also the only compact washer to dispense caplets. Miele has their own special application caplets, or you can buy your own.
Auto Dispenser
An auto dispenser releases the exact amount of detergent and bleach needed at the right time.
Miele is the only company to dispense detergent and bleach automatically.
However, you have to buy Miele detergents and bleach. You can always use the regular or caplet dispensers.
Steam
You have steam in all their models for the washer to loosen tough stains.
QuickIntenseWash
Their best machines use a QuickIntense wash cycle to completely saturate your clothes from top to bottom.
Spin Speed
Miele spins the fastest at 1600 RPM, far faster than the industry average of 1200, so the clothes are much drier from a Miele than any other washer.
That's important because heat pumps typically take longer to dry due to lower temperatures and better airflow, so a faster spin is important.
Miele Dryers
Dryer Highlights
110 Volt Drying
A 110-volt dryer will allow you to place Miele anywhere with a regular outlet, water, and a drain.
Perfect Drying
You probably think a 110-volt heat pump dryer would be painfully slow and take hours to run.
However, thanks to its mineral and moisture sensors for more accurate drying, Miele's 110-volt dryer dries clothes as fast as Bosch's 220-volt dryer.
The Perfect Dry system uses sensors to measure the calcium content of the water and adjust the drying accordingly. Miele is an especially good option if you have hard water, like well water.
Steam
Their better dryer employs steam to refresh your clothes or reduce the need for ironing.
It is the only dryer on the market that allows you to add fragrances through a special "fragrance dispenser." Therefore, your blankets can smell like an ocean breeze.
Cons to a Miele Heat Pump Dryer
Capacity
The cons to a Miele is size. The dryer has a capacity of four cubic feet, but the identical washer is 2.5 cubic feet.
Price
Miele is an excellent set and has been around the longest, but with the washer and dryer, the price range is $2,899-$4,899.
The price for the set is $1,000 more on average than even the much larger LG WashTower.
Read More: Differences Between Miele Compact Washers and Dryers
LG WashTower
The WashTower was introduced in 2020. It's a one-piece stackable unit with the controls in the middle, compared to having the dryer on the top in a stackable installation at over 6 feet.
Their laundry is one of the most reliable single appliances you can buy with a 2.1% service rate in the first year, based on over 33,000 service calls logged by our service team.
Appliances, in general, have an average service rate of 9.5%.
LG WashTower WKHC202HBA
LG WashTower Highlights
AI DD
The Artificial Intelligence Direct Drive, or AI DD in the washer, uses 11,000 data points to assess the washer cycle, time, and motion based on the weight and softness of the clothes.
You don't have to think; you just hit a button.
The smart learner remembers any of your favorite cycles.
TurboWash360
The washer has the TurboWash360, using five high-pressure hoses, shortening a medium load to just 30 minutes.
Dryer
The dryer is huge with a capacity of 7.2 cubic feet, and like Miele, it is equipped with steam to refresh clothes and reduce the need for ironing.
The WashTower was only 7-10 minutes slower than a regular vented dryer for washing and then drying colors and whites.
Cons to the LG WashTower
Long Drying Times
The cons of a sensor system are that it can sometimes take a lot of time.
The dryer took over four hours for bedding and comforters to complete the cycle because it was trying to make it completely dry.
But the “mostly dry” cycle that we're used to takes about 2.5-3 hours in a timed cycle.
The heat pump WashTower does not have an auto dispenser, which is important because it prevents future service problems from overloading your washer with detergent.
Service
The WashTower is the first popular larger heat pump. Like Miele, current heat pumps are all smaller, so reliability and repair could be a concern.
Price
LG’s WashTower prices vary greatly from $1,899 to $2,899, so buy around a holiday to save the most.
Read More: The LG WashTower WKHC202HBA with a Ventless Heat Pump Dryer (2023 Review)
GE Profile UltraFast Combo Washer & Dryer
The UltraFast combines two machines that should never go together: a washer and a dryer.
Combos are a good idea until you use them frequently because they can't remove the lint, which will cause an expensive future service call.
But the UltraFast is different. It employs a huge double-sided filter on the top next to the heat exchanger to remove the lint.
That being so, the UltraFast can take your dirty clothes and leave them clean and dry. If you want to do a wash before going to bed or work, it's a handy option.
GE Profile PFQ97HSPVDS
GE Profile UltraFast Highlights
Microban
Essentially, the UltraFast combines a GE washer's best features with a Microban coating to resist mold and mildew.
Auto Dispenser
Auto dispensers are a worthwhile feature. You can load up to 32 loads of detergent, and the machine releases the exact amount of detergent required at the right time.
Most people add too much detergent, and that excess foam stays inside the machine for an expensive future service call.
By the way, I have an older top-load washer in my home. I have to stop myself from adding too much. It's not like my mom's front-load washer.
120-Volts Operation
The 120-volt power will allow you to place The UltraFast anywhere with water, power, and a drain.
For people in apartments with less available amperage, the UltraFast is a great option.
Cons to the GE Profile UltraFast
Long Cycles
The main benefit of combining a washer and dryer is also the main drawback, as whites and colors take longer - one hour to one and a half hours longer than the WashTower for colors and whites.
You can also reload the washer in separate machines while the combo is still in its original setting.
Consequently, you can almost do twice the amount of laundry in separate machines than with this combo.
Lint Removal
You also must remove the lint religiously. Yes, I would do it after every load. Then again, you should do it after every load in any dryer.
Read More: GE Profile UltraFast Combo Washer & Dryer Performance Review
What to Know About Heat Pump Dryers
History of the Heat Pump
Heat pumps were invented in 1856, so we are not discussing new technology. They became popular in the 1970s in HVAC systems as a response to OPEC and the rising oil costs.
The first heat pump dryer was manufactured by Electrolux in 1997.
However, the last three years have been the most significant, with Miele, LG, and GE Profile adding new heat pump dryers to their lineup.
Heat Pump Drying: How it Works
Heat pumps work on a closed-loop system. The evaporator removes the moisture, which is heated by a compressor through an air exchanger.
Heat pumps save money because the compressor continues to heat increasingly hot air.
Heat Pump Dryer Benefits
- Ventless Operation - Heat pumps are ventless, so you can place them anywhere.
- Lower Temperatures - Heat pumps will dry at lower temperatures, reducing shrinkage and damage to your clothes.
- Huge Energy Savings - In another article, I calculated the cost of running an average dryer in Boston to be about 0.96 cents per load. Yes, we pay 0.28 cents per KWH, while Whirlpool calculates the average dryer to use roughly 0.34 kWH. For a family of five doing multiple loads on an older dryer, the savings are roughly $300-$500.
Heat Pumps vs. Standard Drying
Regular dryers, in contrast, pull air from the room, heat it with elements, and then project that heat through a vent through your house.
Heat pumps recycle the heat for greater energy savings.
Heat Pumps vs. Condenser Drying
You don't see condenser drying much anymore due to the popularity of heat pump dryers.
Both are ventless, but condensers use heating elements and project the heat back into your house, whereas heat pump dryers recycle it through the machine.
Heat Pump Dryer Reliability
We don't have any data on the GE Profile UltraFast combo washer & dryer and the WashTower yet, but the Miele looks bad at first glance.
Moreover, a 75% of the dryer service calls we received in the previous year were related to an error code to remove lint.
Therefore, heat pump reliability is about the same as a regular dryer, at least in a compact laundry. We will have to wait and see for LG and GE Profile.
Read More: The Most Reliable Compact Washers & Dryers
Heat Pump Dryer Cons
Service
Appliance service is tragic to begin with, even for mundane items. You must check if someone in your area knows how to fix one.
You may want to check with refrigeration or HVAC technicians because the systems are similar.
Up Front Costs
You will pay $300-$500 more for a heat pump dryer. You will see an ROI within three years or sooner, depending on how much you use your laundry machines.
Longer Dry Times
Heat pump cycles are 7-10 minutes longer than a standard dryer. It's not much more, except on the GE Profile Ultrafast combo washer and dryer.
Read More: The Pros & Cons of Heat Pump Dryers
The Best Heat Pump Dryers: Conclusion
First, that innocent-looking dryer costs you almost $1 per load. Heat pumps are more efficient and will save you roughly half.
That said, Miele’s heat pump dryer is excellent and has a proven track record, but it is smaller and more expensive. LG’s and GE Profile’s heat pump dryers are unique because of their size.
Over the next five years, I predict everyone will own a heat pump dryer. We will have to wait and see about reliability.
What do you think?
FAQs
Additional Resources
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