Freshly washed linen, dried in the sun and a light breeze, that is probably the ideal idea when it comes to the drying of linen. However, drying outdoors is only possible for those who have a garden or at least a balcony to hang the laundry outside and also this type of laundry drying is of course highly dependent on the weather. Then there are those who have a dry floor or a special drying room. But even there, drying the laundry not only takes up a lot of space but also takes up a lot of time.
If you want to dry your laundry faster and do without bulky clothes dryers in the apartment, you can fall back on an electronic clothes dryer. Therefore, we take a close look at the exhaust air dryer and in our guide here at STERN.de you can read how the exhaust air dryer differs from the condenser with and without heat pump, how the exhaust air dryer works and what you have to consider when buying.
Top 10 Exhaust Air Dryers
- ✨No More Hot Air Incomes :Windows seal Mobile Air-Conditioning keeps the warm air coming from the hose of your portable air conditioner away by...
- ✨ Reduced Energy Consumption：This window seal helps to reduce energy consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which is particularly high...
- ✨ Universal Fit : Suitable for all portable air conditioners and tumble dryers and Fits for all the kinds of window as long as the maximum perimeter...
- Universal Application: It fits a 4-inch pipe diameter / vent opening, the outside dimensions of the cap cover plate is 6x6"
- Great Home Improvement: Helps keep wind, rain and snow from entering outdoor dryer vents, also keeps out birds and rodents
- Easy Installation: Easy to install louvered vent cap for dryer and bath fan venting
- Size: Fits a 4-inch pipe diameter/vent opening, The outside dimensions of the cap cover plate is 6” x 6”
- Easy to install and opens with ease for maximum exhaust flow. Helps keep wind, rain and snow from entering outdoor dryer vents
- Paintable plastic components contain UV stabilizer to reduce fading due to exposure to sunlight
- This duct connector is a three-hole connector with two branches. With the dryer vent hose it can be connected to exhaust fans, dryer vent covers and...
- Easy to install and durable, just push-fit duct and fittings together. Made of high quality ABS plastic, it is a material with high strength, good...
- The interior of the duct splitter is smooth, and its reasonable curvature greatly reduces the wind resistance. At the same time, it can discharge air...
- LOW NOISE SILENCER: designed for reducing noise from fans and carbon filter systems, can decrease the noise by up to 50%.
- 3" DUCTING LIGHTPROOF: Thick layer of Black PVC on Hon&Guan ducting prevents light leaks. Works with exhaust and intake fans, carbon filters and...
- 3-LAYER TOUGH: Keep your ventilation system free of rips and pin holes. Under the Black PVC layer our ducting is built with 2 layers of Aluminum Foil...
- 🔧🔧 PARTS NUMBER: 1 Pack Universal Cloth Dryer Exhaust Filter Replacements
- 🔧🔧 TRAPS LINT FLOW Rated to Trap Fine Lint and Dust Particles. 1 Package Filters Contains: 8 Pcs xExhaust PAPER Filters; 2 Pcs xAIR Intake Paper...
- 🔧🔧 EASY TO CLEAN Filter can be lightly vacuumed for longer use. IMPROVES AIR QUALITY Protects your indoor air quality
- ✅【PRODUCT FUNCTION】: Panda dryer lint filter Rated to trap fine lint and dust particles.Panda filters for dryer can be lightly vacuumed for...
- ✅【25 PIECES FILTERS CONTAINS】 : Includes 20Pcs x Exhaust PAPER Filters,5 Pcs x AIR Intake Paper Filer. ➤The diameter of panda dryer filter...
- ✅【EASY TO CLEAN】Please remove the paper filter gently and clean them with a soft brush or vacuum cleaner, do not wash with water or other...
- ❤ APPLICATION: These Cloth Dryer Exhaust Filters fit for Sonya dryer model SYD-40E/SYD-60E, Panda dryer model PAN40SF/PAN760SF and other brand...
- ❤ PREMIUM QUALITY: Constructed with high-quality material to ensure a proper fit and longer service life.
- ❤ FUNCTION: Helps to keep dryer running at optimum efficiency to extend its lifespan.
- ► Dryer Vent Hose - 4 inch 8 feet, with 2 clamps. Dryer hose is the flexible material that can be used to transition between the dryer and the duct....
- ► Excellent Product Performance - Made from durable high-quality material and well-tested before shipping. It will fit perfectly when properly...
- ► Quick Repair - This is a pretty easy repair, simply remove the old hose and replace it with the new one.
- Suitable for all commonly-used door types and can be used it on a Left and right sliding door. Not suitable for wooden doors.
- User-friendly design: universal type, no need to distinguish mobile air conditioner and dryer brand,block hot air back into the room, To keep your...
- Full frame velcro design:The door seal is constructed with the zipper and full frame velcro design to help you remove it easily for storage.
Different types of clothes dryers
For tumble dryers, three different variants are distinguished.
- vented dryer
- condenser
- heat pump dryer
Although this guide on STERN.de will deal with exhaust air dryers, we would like to briefly introduce the other dryer models so that you can get a comprehensive overview and know what differentiates the exhaust air dryer from the condenser dryer and the heat pump dryer. Before we introduce you to the exhaust air dryer, let’s take a quick look at the condenser dryer and the heat pump dryer. As the name suggests, the condensing dryer works with condensing moisture. The moisture that is drawn from the wet laundry remains in a closed loop where it condenses and collects in a condensate tank.
Condensers have the advantage that they can be placed anywhere and that they achieve good drying results. However, to dry the laundry, the condenser dryer requires a relatively large amount of energy and, moreover, it is quite time-consuming to maintain. So not only does the lint filter have to be cleaned regularly, but also the condenser has to be freed from fluff and lint. In addition, the condensate tank, in which the moisture collected from the laundry collects, must be emptied regularly. The heat pump dryer is currently the most modern tumble dryer. It is a further development of the condenser dryer and also the heat pump dryer retains the moisture that is pulled out of the laundry in a closed circuit.
Unlike the condenser dryer, however, the heat pump dryer has a second circuit, which cools the air in the condenser and absorbs the heat. The stored heat is released from the second cycle again and thus heats the air with which the laundry is dried. As a result, the heat pump dryer consumes much less energy, which makes it a very efficient device with low consumption costs. A disadvantage of heat pump dryers, however, are the high prices, which exceed the price of an exhaust air dryer many times over. In addition, the heat pump dryer is very maintenance-intensive and the filters must be cleaned regularly. The drying of the laundry also takes longer than with an exhaust air dryer.
The exhaust air dryer
After a brief glance at the condenser dryer and the heat pump dryer, we now turn to the subject of this guide, the exhaust air dryer. Unlike the condenser dryer and the heat pump dryer, the humid air in the exhaust air dryer does not remain in a closed system. Rather, the exhaust air dryer directs the moisture that it pulls out of the laundry, directly with the exhaust air outside. For this to be possible, an exhaust hose must lead into the open air. This can be done either through a wall breach, if the dryer is permanently installed and should remain at its location for a long time, or the hose can easily through an open window led to the outside. Especially in rented apartments, where there is no wall opening for the exhaust hose, this solution is simple and usually well practicable.
Condition for the operation of a vented dryer is thus an unhindered access to the outside for the exhaust hose. As a result, the operation of a vented dryer is a bit limited, because in a bathroom without a window in which no wall opening for the exhaust hose can be placed, or in another windowless room without wall breakthrough, the exhaust air dryer can not be used. Admittedly, he is not one of the most modern devices in the market of tumble dryer, because he, for example, in terms of energy efficiency of a heat pump dryer can not reach the water. Nevertheless, the exhaust air dryer is far from obsolete and is still produced and offered by many manufacturers.
This is mainly due to the fact that he also has some advantages:
- Exhaust air dryers are often much cheaper than condenser dryers or even heat pump dryers in the purchase price
- Exhaust air dryers are low maintenance
- Exhaust air dryers achieve a good drying result and are in no way inferior to the condenser dryers and heat pump dryers
- Exhaust air dryers usually dry laundry faster than condenser dryer with or without heat pump
- Exhaust air dryers consume more electricity than modern heat pump dryers
- Exhaust air dryers can not be placed anywhere, but can only be installed where there is a possibility to direct the exhaust hose directly into the open air
History of the exhaust air dryer
The exhaust air dryer was the first device in the series of electronic clothes dryers, which could prevail in the market. The first, still manually operated tumble dryer was developed at the beginning of the 19th century by the Frenchman M. Pochon. In this first clothes dryer, the wrung-out laundry was filled in a metal cylinder provided with holes. This cylinder was then manually turned over an open fire with a crank. The idea of turning the laundry in a drum and drying it faster by heating it went quite in the right direction, but in practice, this tumble dryer often led to burn holes and also to an unpleasant smell of smoke in the laundry.
The device could therefore not prevail and it took until the 1930s until the Americans J. Ross More patented an electronic clothes dryer on the principle of the exhaust air dryer. This invention was much more popular and already in 1947 more than 60,000 dryers were sold each year. In Europe, the first clothes dryer was manufactured in 1958 by the Gütersloh company Miele.
This is how the exhaust air dryer works
Unlike a condenser dryer or heat pump dryer, an exhaust air dryer does not operate with a closed circuit in which moisture is condensed and collected. Rather, the exhaust air dryer ensures a constant exchange of air inside the dryer and thus transports the absorbed moisture. In detail, this works like this: When the dryer is turned on, a blower blows air out of the dryer. Room air is sucked in by the resulting negative pressure in the dryer. The aspirated room air is heated in the dryer by a heater and fed into the drum.
Temperature sensors ensure a constant temperature. Meanwhile, the drum is spinning and the laundry is whirling around in the warm air. This heats the laundry and the moisture begins to evaporate. The resulting water vapour is absorbed by the warm air and led with her through the exhaust hose to the outside. At the same time, cool room air is supplied to the dryer again due to the resulting negative pressure and this process, a so-called recirculation cycle is repeated until the laundry is dry or the dryer is switched off. When operating the exhaust air dryer and especially when choosing the location for the device, there are some things to keep in mind:
- The exhaust air dryer may only be installed in a room where it is possible to direct the warm, moist air into the open air
- The exhaust hose should have a slight slope of about 2 ° at the end. This prevents condensate from collecting in the exhaust hose
- Caution is advised when an exhaust air dryer is in the same room as a gas boiler, an oven or a boiler. The slight negative pressure generated by the tumble dryer to draw in ambient air from outside may be sufficient to interfere with the proper exhaust of the exhaust gases through the chimney. This can lead to severe poisoning by carbon monoxide and other exhaust gases. If the gas boiler, stoves or boiler are in the same room as the exhaust air dryer, when operating the dryer, for example, a tilted window must provide for an influx of fresh air, so that no negative pressure can arise in the room
- Low pressure in a room or building can also suck in radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the soil. To suck in the gas-only a small vacuum is necessary, as it can be caused by a vented dryer during operation. An increased radon concentration can lead to an increased radiation exposure and therefore should always be ensured for this reason for a supply of fresh air when the exhaust air dryer is in a basement room in operation.
- The exhaust hose of the dryer should have a diameter of at least 10 cm. This prevents a back pressure in the hose
- The length of the exhaust hose should not exceed 3 meters
The modern exhaust air dryer
Since its invention in the 1930s and its introduction to the German market in the late 1950s, not much has changed in the operation of the exhaust air dryer. Dry, cool indoor air is sucked in, heated and then led outwards with the moisture from the laundry. Nevertheless, there is a big difference between today’s exhaust air drying and the first generation devices. The devices now have much better equipment, with which they do not have to hide behind the condenser dryers with and without heat pump. We would like to introduce you to some of these modern features and their meaning in this guide on STERN.de.
- Crease protection: Most modern exhaust air dryers have crease protection. It prevents excessive wrinkles in the laundry during drying, making ironing easier or even superfluous. The crease protection is mainly in a regular loosening of the laundry in the drum.
- Reversing function: The reversing function is the ability of the laundry drum to change the direction of rotation at regular intervals. This prevents entanglement and knotting of the laundry in the drum. The laundry dries more evenly and faster, the fibres are spared and there are fewer wrinkles.
- Temperature sensors: Temperature sensors ensure a constant air temperature inside the dryer. Depending on the amount of load, the structure of the textiles and the moisture content of the textiles, the air must be heated differently in order to maintain a constant temperature inside the drum.
- Overheating protection: Overheating protection is an important safety feature. He makes sure that the dryer turns off when it gets too hot inside. Overheating can be triggered for example by a clogged lint filter.
- Moisture sensors: Moisture sensors check the moisture level of the laundry. This function is particularly important for drying programs such as cupboard dryers or ironing damps because here the dryer can not work purely on time. Rather, sensors, the humidity sensors, must regularly check the degree of trying to run the program properly.
- Additional programs: Most exhaust air dryers have a number of standard programs, such as cotton cupboard dry or iron damp. In addition, pure time programs can usually be selected in which the dryer runs for example for 30 or 45 minutes. However, some models also offer special additional programs that can be used to dry shirts and blouses particularly gently and wrinkle-free, with which clothes can be refreshed or which are suitable for special functional fabrics of sports and outdoor clothing.
- Child Lock: The child lock ensures that children can not accidentally turn the tumble dryer on or off, or change the settings
- LED display: Some modern dryers are equipped with an LED display, for example, to read off the program or the remaining time. Modern LED displays make the operation of the dryer often easier and more comfortable.
- Time delay: You can use the time delay to time the dryer to switch on. For example, you can set the laundry to come out of the dryer pleasantly warm and fresh in the morning when it comes up, or it can be used to operate the exhaust air dryer at a low cost.
- Residual run indicator: The remaining run indicator is a very handy feature that shows you how long the dryer program is still running. So you always know when your laundry has dried.
- Acoustic signal: Many tumble dryers emit an audible signal telling them that the drying program has passed. If you do not want to beep at the end of the drying process, modern tumble dryers often offer the option of switching the acoustic signal on or off at your discretion.
Safety during operation of the exhaust air dryer
The biggest danger when using tumble dryers is the risk of fire. According to press reports, household appliances are the cause of one-third of all apartment fires in Germany. For example, the NDR reported in March 2015. Tumble dryers can also cause a fire in the home and often cause short circuits or other technical defects in the device. You should, therefore, be careful not to run the dryer without supervision. This applies, for example, to an operation during the night or when nobody is at home. The R & V insurance, which declared dryers to be one of the most dangerous domestic appliances in the household in 2017, as the appliances cause the most common household fires, also advises placing the dryer as free-standing as possible in a room with adequate ventilation.
In practice, however, it is not just technical faults that can lead to a fire of the tumble dryer. If, for example, vegetable oils or animal fats are left on the laundry after washing, they can catch fire at temperatures above 70 ° C, causing the entire appliance to catch fire and trigger a fire in the home. In addition, you should always make sure to clean the lint filter regularly, because if the dryer overheats, lint can ignite quickly. Furthermore, you should not use synthetic materials that do not tolerate heat in the exhaust air dryer.
The right cleaning and care for the exhaust air dryer
Your exhaust air dryer should be maintained regularly and cleaned well. This not only increases the life of the appliance and guarantees the freshness of the dried laundry, but regular cleaning and care of the exhaust air dryer also means that the drying process takes less time and thus less energy is consumed.
Cleaning the lint filter
One of the most important points in the care and cleaning of the exhaust air dryer is the cleaning of the lint filter already mentioned several times. If there are too many lint and fluff there, the air can no longer flow unhindered to the outside. As a result, the drying process takes more time and it can also lead to overheating of the exhaust air dryer. To clean the lint filter, follow these steps: As a rule, the lint filter is located near the dryer door. Often it is inserted directly into the door. Take out the lint filter. By hand, a small brush or a damp cloth, you can now remove the fluff from the sieve. You should also remove any lint that is around the lint filter support. This cleaning should be done after each drying cycle.
Cleaning the exhaust hose
Approximately every three months you should check the exhaust hose. Remove dirt and debris as far as you can reach them and if necessary, replace the exhaust hose if, for example, you notice the formation of mould due to precipitated condensation.
Cleaning the humidity sensors
The moisture sensors inside the dryer are important for the dryer to determine the moisture level of the laundry. They are usually found in the drum of the tumble dryer. However, depending on the model and manufacturer, this may be different, so you should look in the instructions for use if you are not sure. After prolonged use of the exhaust air dryer, it can happen that the moisture sensors are covered with a layer of limescale, especially in the case of calcareous water.
This leads to inaccuracies and measuring errors and the dryer, for example, switches off the drying program, even though the laundry is not yet dry. The moisture sensors are best cleaned with vinegar. Gently rub the sensors with a cloth or sponge which you previously soaked in vinegar. Alternatively, you can use a soft brush that you dip into the vinegar. Instead of vinegar, you can also use a special descaling agent for dryers, which is available from specialist retailers. Then wipe the moisture sensors carefully and thoroughly dry.
Cleaning the drum
The drum of the tumble dryer should also be cleaned regularly. It usually suffices to wipe them with a damp cloth. If the drum is very dirty, for example, because you have forgotten a paper tissue or similar in a trouser pocket, you should remove any residue from the drum. If necessary, especially with unpleasant odours, you can also use a cloth soaked in vinegar to clean the drum.
Exterior cleaning of the exhaust air dryer
The housing and the control panel of the exhaust air dryer should also be cleaned regularly. Use a soft, if necessary slightly damp cloth and do without the use of sharp cleaning agents or abrasives.
Accessories for the exhaust air dryer
For the exhaust air dryer, there are many accessories in the specialized trade. Although the dryer, with the exception of the exhaust hose, can be operated without this accessory, the accessories can still perform well. That is why we present the most important accessories for the exhaust air dryer in this guide on STERN.de.
- The exhaust hose The most important accessory for the exhaust air dryer is, of course, the exhaust hose. It is often included in the delivery of the dryer, but can also be purchased separately if required. The correct diameter depends on the connection to the device and you can either remove it from the operating instructions or measure it directly on the device. The length of the hose should not be more than 3 m.
- The Condenser Box With the help of a condenser box, the exhaust air dryer can also be operated in rooms where the hose can not be led outside to the outside. The exhaust hose is instead connected to the condenser box. Coolants are often cold water or cold packs that are frozen in the freezer, and the box does not consume electric power to cool. The warm, moist air from the exhaust air dryer cools down in the box, the moisture condenses and is collected in the condenser box.
- Intermediate frame or connection frame Dryer and washing machine often takes up a lot of space and with the help of an intermediate frame or connecting frame, it is possible to place the dryer on the washing machine.
- Substructure base A sub base is a practical accessory for the exhaust air dryer. It makes the filling and removal of the laundry easier since you no longer have to bend down so much and usually also offers a storage compartment for detergents or the like.
- Anti-vibration mat or vibration damper An exhaust air dryer can generate vibrations during operation, which can cause noise in particular in adjacent and underlying rooms and may also affect the stability of the unit, which may cause scratches on the floor. If the dryer is placed on vibration dampers or an anti-vibration mat, the vibration is absorbed and the device is much safer.
- Underplate dryers are often free-standing, but some units are also suitable for substructure. For this purpose, the top cover of the dryer is usually removed and replaced by a sub-base plate.
- Dryer balls are placed in the drum of the exhaust air dryer with the laundry. By spinning balls around the laundry is well loosened, which on the one hand can reduce the drying time and on the other hand makes the laundry very soft.
Alternatives to the exhaust air dryer
The exhaust air dryer is of course not the only way to dry laundry. Alternatives include, for example, condenser dryers and heat pump dryers and, above all, for those who have little space available, is also a washer-dryer good alternative. With his washing machine and dryer are united in one device. But even without a tumble dryer, the laundry can be dried naturally. This works best if you have a garden or at least a balcony and can hang the laundry outside. Especially in summer, this kind of laundry drying offers, but in rainy weather without dryers remains only the option to dry the laundry in the house. Here you are in good hands if you have a drying room or a laundry floor, otherwise, the bulky clothes rack with the wet laundry must be located somewhere in the apartment.
You must pay attention to this when buying an exhaust air dryer
If you have decided to buy an exhaust air dryer, there are many things to consider before you buy. We have put together the most important purchase criteria for you.
The energy efficiency class
When buying an exhaust air dryer, pay attention to the energy efficiency class. Since exhaust air dryers are not among the most advanced tumble dryers and can not compete with a heat pump tumble dryer in terms of energy efficiency, most units have energy efficiency class C. When buying, be careful not to purchase a unit with a lower energy efficiency rating and expect a better energy efficiency rating good against whether the usually higher purchase price is offset by the lower consumption costs. Especially if the dryer is not used frequently, a lower-priced device with an energy efficiency class C may have the edge in the end.
The capacity
If you take full advantage of the capacity of the exhaust air dryer, you save electricity and thus costs during drying. Therefore, make sure that the capacity of the tumble dryer matches your personal needs. In a four-member family, for example, far more laundry is usually required than in a single household or a couple without children.
The door stop
With many exhaust air dryers, you can choose whether the doorstop should be left or right. Depending on where the dryer is to be installed, this is very important, since the door can often be opened only in one direction, especially in the bathroom. Therefore, always pay attention to the door stop and whether you can change it if necessary before buying.
The hose connection
The connection for the exhaust hose is also important. The distance between the exhaust hose and the guide to the outside should be as low as possible. Many exhaust air dryers offer the possibility of attaching the hose right or left or even in the middle. If there is no option, make sure that the connection is in the right place.
Top loader or front loader
Most of the exhaust air dryers are front loaders. This means that the door of the exhaust air dryer, as you know it from the washing machine, goes forward. However, even if the space is limited, this can be quite problematic. In this case, a top loader is recommended, which opens upwards and thus saves a lot of space.
Measurements and weight
You also have to pay attention to dimensions and weight before buying. The dimensions of the device must match the space available to you. Since tumble dryers are often placed in the bathroom and find their place, for example, between washbasin and bathtub, it is also not possible to create more space by repositioning, since the bathroom sink is of course permanently installed. So this is really about every millimetre and you should measure the available space well before buying. Above all, if you want to place the dryer on the washing machine with the aid of a suitable intermediate construction frame, you should also keep an eye on the weight. If you would like to use the exhaust air dryer as an under-construction unit, you must ensure that the dryer is also suitable for the substructure before you buy it.
The volume
Even an exhaust air dryer does not work silently and depending on where the unit is set up, the noise emission of the dryer also plays a role. In general, the volume of an exhaust air dryer ranges between 50 and 70 dB, with 50 dB roughly equivalent to the volume in an office, but 70 dB already the volume of a running vacuum cleaner.
The equipment
Modern exhaust air dryers are equipped with a multiplicity of characteristics. The most important ones are listed above in this guide, and you should weigh up what features are important to you before you buy. For safety reasons, you should not give up overheating protection, but in a child-free household, for example, you will not need parental controls, whereas a special extra for drying blouses or shirts is certainly convenient if you always have to be properly dressed professionally.
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