Clothes Dryer Buying Guide 2021

Malaysia is truly blessed with warm and sunny weather throughout the year, making it great for hanging laundry out to dry for free! Nevertheless, having a clothes dryer can be a great backup home appliance for rainy or hectic work days.

There are two main categories for clothes dryers: Gas Dryer and Electric Dryer. This buying guide outlines the features you should consider when purchasing a clothes dryers. Let’s get right to it!

Types of clothes dryer

The operating principle of “Clothes Dryer” is basically using a flow of hot air to absorb moisture from clothes. Upon starting up the dryer, the heater in the machine will begin heating up and a fan will blow the hot air into the rotating dryer.

The hot and humid air will flow out of the machine through a built-in ventilation. Besides the common gas clothes dryer, there are two other types of electric clothes dryers: vented and condenser.

Gas Dryers

A gas dryer needs to be installed in a location with a gas pipe cover and proper air circulation. It must not be installed in a bathroom for safety reasons. Since gas is used to generate heat, the drying effect is fast and energy efficient.

It is important to note that the method of draining water for gas clothes dryers is “vented type”. Therefore, it is necessary to reserve some space for the piping.

Pros: Fast drying speed, low power consumptions

Cons: Inconvenient installation

Electric Dryers

There are more types of electric dryers to choose compared to gas dryers as it uses electric heating to operate. The way of water draining for electric dryers can be divided into the two types: Vented Type and Condenser Type.

A. Vented Type

To prevent moisture from accumulating in the room, manufacturers usually provide an exhaust hose to remove the moisture from the house. Since there is no built-in compressor, exhaust dryers are lighter in weight and more affordable, but they take longer to dry.

Pros: Affordable and easy installation

Cons: Longer drying time

B. Condenser Type

Condenser dryers have a built-in condenser, which does not discharge water vapor during operation, but uses cold air to turn the vapor back into water and then stores the moisture in a water tank inside the machine.

In addition, there is a heat pump condenser type (Heat Pump) dryer on the market, which can be considered an upgraded version of the condenser type. With a built-in heat pump and cooling system, it uses waste heat to heat the air in a recycled way to achieve its drying effect. This method effectively reduces energy consumption, but the price is significantly higher.

Pros: Energy efficient, No restriction on the installation location

Cons: Higher Price

Functions of clothes dryer

Apart from drying, many clothes dryers have a variety of other functions for the user’s convenience.

Electric Sensor

Generally, dryers are equipped with a “self-regulating drying time” function which allows users to choose the drying temperature or heat according to the type of clothing, and then choose the drying time. However, there is a chance that the clothes may not be dried or damaged from overheating due to improper selection of drying time.

Therefore, some new models are equipped with an “automatic sensor stop” function, which detects the humidity or temperature inside the machine through an electronic sensor, and will automatically stop drying when the humidity or temperature inside the machine reaches a predetermined target.

Wrinkle Shield Feature

To prevent wrinkles during the drying process, some dryers are equipped with a two-way drum rotation function (also known as reverse rotation or rotary drying function), which changes the direction of rotation from time to time during the drying process to evenly dry clothes and prevent tangles at the same time.

Lint Filters

Many dryers are equipped with a lint filter, which can remove the fibers raised in the drum to avoid the accumulation of fiber fines that may affect the operation of the machine.

Safety Design

Although the heat generated during the drying process may not necessarily cause burns, there is a chance of being injured by the rotating rollers if the dryer door is opened during operation. Therefore, most dryers will come complete with a safety lock or automatic stop function to prevent accidents from happening.

Tips for Clothes Dryer Buying Guide

There are various types of clothes dryer: Gas Dryer, Electric Dryer, Vented type, Condenser type. If you have no idea which suits you the most, here are 3 tips for you to consider before purchasing the clothes dryer.

Size

If you find yourself confined to a limited living space, you may consider choosing two-in-one washing machines with washing and drying functions, you can also choose some slim, wall-mounted or shelf-stacked models to reduce the space occupied.

Capacity

Similar to washing machines, dryers too have capacity limitation. It is best to purchase the same capacity for your dryer and washing machine.

The following is the recommended capacity based on number of household size.

Household size (pax)	Recommended capacity
1	3kg
2 – 4	6-8kg
5 or more	9kg and above

Power Consumption

Clothes dryers are some of the most power hungry appliances in your home. So, be sure to check the Energy Star Rating when purchasing.

For electric exhaust dryers that consume more electricity, consider using larger rollers to consume less electricity and reduce wrinkles, and those with built-in humidity or temperature sensors to save electricity.

In addition, some 2-in-1 washer and dryer have energy efficiency labels released by Malaysia’s Energy Commission, which consumers can refer to from the label information.

Maintenance Tips for Clothes Dryer

1. The dryer should not be placed outdoors or in the bathroom in order to prevent any water penetration into the dryer machine.
2. Reserve a cool space for the clothes dryer.
3. Use a separate power socket for the dryer due to the high electric consumption
4. Users should not exceed the capacity of garments as it may overload the clothes dryer.
5. Do not put clothes that contain wax, down coat or jacket into the dryer as the heat may cause the release of toxins.
6. Avoid garments with zippers and make sure there are no coins or leather belts as it will damage the dryer machine.
7. When using the self-regulating function, it is advisable to adjust the appropriate drying time and temperature according to the amount and type of clothes.
8. Avoid blocking the exhaust pipe of the clothes dryer. Check the filter net before drying clothes as it may not affect the air circulation of the dryer machine.
9. Turn off the power source and dryer door immediately after using.
10. Stop using immediately if you notice any strange sound or smell and schedule for maintenance and repair. 

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