You want the dryer that costs the least to run all winter. Fair enough. Power bills bite hardest when the sun never comes out and the line never dries.
Here is the honest answer up front. A heat pump dryer uses the least power per load. But a vented dryer is usually the cheapest to buy and run for a normal family once you count the purchase price. The right pick depends on how often you dry and whether you can vent outside.
Let us break it down. Then browse our dryer parts and vent kits when you know your setup.
The Three Dryer Types
Vented dryer
Heats air. Blows it through your clothes. Pushes the warm wet air out the back or front. It must be ducted outside or it dumps moisture into your laundry. Cheapest to buy. Uses the most power per load.
Condenser dryer
Pulls the moisture out and collects it in a tank or drains it away. No outside vent needed. Sits in the middle for price and running cost.
Heat pump dryer
A type of condenser dryer that recycles its own heat instead of throwing it away. The most energy efficient by a clear margin. Costs more to buy. Runs cooler and gentler on clothes.
According to EECA heat pump dryers are the most energy efficient option and now make up around 45 percent of new dryer sales in New Zealand.
The Running Cost Maths for a NZ Winter
Here is how to work out your own cost. You need two numbers.
The power your dryer uses per load. This is on the Energy Rating Label as the yearly kWh figure. The label assumes 52 loads a year so divide that figure by 52 for a rough per load number.
The price you pay for power. The national average in New Zealand is about 32 cents per kWh according to Consumer NZ.
Now multiply. As a rough example a vented load that uses around 3 kWh costs about 96 cents at that price. A heat pump load using around 1.5 kWh costs about 48 cents. So per load the heat pump is roughly half the running cost.
Want your exact numbers? Pop your model into the EECA efficient appliance calculator and it does the maths for you.
So Why Is Vented Often Still the Cheapest Overall?
Per load the heat pump wins. Over the whole life of the machine it is closer than you think.
Heat pump dryers cost a lot more to buy. Consumer NZ worked out the full life cycle cost and found you would need to run a heat pump dryer around 549 times a year to beat a vented dryer once the purchase price is counted. That is more than ten loads a week every week of the year.
So for a typical family a vented dryer is usually the cheapest option to buy and run. A heat pump only pulls ahead if you dry loads almost every day like a big household or a busy flat.
Why Winter Changes the Decision
Running cost is only half the story in a Kiwi winter.
A vented dryer must push its wet air outside. If it is not ducted properly it pumps litres of moisture into a cold closed up house. That feeds condensation and mould. Stats NZ data shows more than one in five New Zealand homes are already damp so adding more moisture is the last thing you want. If you go vented make sure you have a proper dryer vent kit ducting it outside. If you cannot duct outside a condenser box catches the water instead.
A heat pump dryer keeps almost all that moisture out of the room because it traps the water in a tank. In a damp NZ winter that is a real plus. The trade off is a longer gentler cycle so each load takes more time.
If your laundry is a cold garage note that very cold air can slightly slow a heat pump dryer. It still runs but it works best in a space that is not freezing.
Which Dryer Should You Buy?
Quick guide.
Dry a few loads a week and have a wall to duct through? A vented dryer is cheapest to buy and run. Just vent it outside. Cannot vent outside and live in a flat or apartment? A condenser or heat pump dryer is your friend. Dry loads almost every day or hate adding damp to the house? A heat pump dryer earns its higher price over time. Worried about mould in a tight winter home? A heat pump keeps the moisture out of the room.
Whatever you run keep it efficient with a clean filter and a clear vent. We stock Fisher and Paykel dryer parts and Samsung dryer parts by model.
Pick the Dryer That Fits Your Winter
Per load the heat pump dryer is the cheapest to run. Over its life a vented dryer usually wins for a normal family because it is far cheaper to buy. The tie breaker in a Kiwi winter is moisture. Vent it outside or trap it in a tank and your home stays dry.
Work out your loads per week. Check the Energy Rating Label. Pick the dryer that fits.
Ready? Browse dryer vent kits and parts or email steve@appliancespares.nz with your model number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do heat pump dryers take longer to dry than vented dryers?
Yes. Heat pump dryers run at a lower temperature to save energy and protect your clothes so a cycle takes longer than a hot vented dryer. You trade speed for lower running costs and gentler drying.
Do I still need to vent a heat pump dryer?
Not to the outside. A heat pump dryer keeps the moisture in a tank or drains it away so there is no duct. It still needs a bit of clear air space around it to work well and you do need to empty the water tank after each load.
Can I put a heat pump dryer in a small room or cupboard?
It can go in a small room but it needs airflow around it to breathe. Leave a few centimetres at the back and sides. A sealed cupboard with no air gap will make it run hotter and slower.
Why is my heat pump dryer slower in a cold garage?
Heat pump dryers pull warmth from the air around them so very cold air gives them less to work with. In a freezing garage the cycle slows down. It still works but a slightly warmer space dries faster.
Is a cheap vented dryer a false economy?
Not for most families. A vented dryer is cheaper to buy and run unless you dry loads almost every day. The catch is you must vent it outside or it adds damp to your home. Sort the venting and a vented dryer is a sensible buy.