briantrumpet
Timewaster
Since I know nothing about tumble driers, I followed a thread analysing the Telegraph claims...
https://skywriter.blue/@monkemma.bsky.social/3mkus3ns6tf2v
Starmer's vision quest
- Thread starter mjr
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Since I know nothing about tumble driers, I followed a thread analysing the Telegraph claims...
https://skywriter.blue/@monkemma.bsky.social/3mkus3ns6tf2v
bobzmyunkle
Veteran
What those wittering righties* don't understand is that there's very good reason to despise Starmer and it's nothing to do with him being left wing.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9pn2v7m2wo
* Actually I don't like that, I'm going to revert with referring to them in more insulting terms.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9pn2v7m2wo
* Actually I don't like that, I'm going to revert with referring to them in more insulting terms.
PurplePenguin
Senior Member
It does gloss over the fact that heat pump ones get more clogged up and therefore may not last as long and are more likely to be a fire risk.
briantrumpet
Timewaster
Since I know nothing about them, and being curious, I asked Gemini.
Actually, heat pump tumble dryers are generally considered safer and less of a fire risk than traditional vented or condenser dryers.
The primary reason for this is the way they handle heat. While traditional dryers use a heating element to reach high temperatures (often around 70°C to 80°C), heat pump dryers use a closed-loop refrigerant system—similar to a refrigerator running in reverse—to dry clothes at much lower temperatures, typically around 50°C.
Here is a breakdown of why they differ in terms of fire safety:
1. Operating Temperature
Because heat pump dryers operate at significantly lower temperatures, there is a much lower risk of fabrics overheating or scorching. In traditional dryers, if the airflow is restricted, the heating element can glow red hot, which is a major ignition source for accumulated lint.2. Lint Management
Lint is the leading cause of dryer fires.- Vented Dryers: Often push lint through a long hose where it can settle, compress, and become a "fuse" if the machine overheats.
- Heat Pump Dryers: Because they are ventless and use a sophisticated heat exchanger, they usually feature double or triple filtration systems. They are designed to be airtight to maintain efficiency, which often means they are better at trapping lint before it reaches the internal components.
3. Airflow Monitoring
Modern heat pump dryers are packed with sensors. They constantly monitor the temperature and moisture levels of the drum. If the sensors detect that the air isn't circulating properly or that a component is getting too warm, the machine will usually throw an error code and shut down automatically to prevent damage.
briantrumpet
Timewaster
I asked Copilot as well, making sure I asked a neutral question.
bobzmyunkle
Veteran
So the thing most likely to catch fire is an overheating gammon?
briantrumpet
Timewaster
I think that the safety mechanism is a self-detonating head that releases all the fire retardant that has displaced the brain that was there before they started reading the Mail and/or Telegraph.
PurplePenguin
Senior Member
That feels a bit like an AI fail. The most likely thing to cause a fire is lint, but the version of the dryer that retains all the lint is the safest? I'm no expert, but I looked at buying one recently and was put off by the inability to clean the heat pump ones properly, so over the years lint just builds up everywhere inside the machine.
briantrumpet
Timewaster
It might be, but as I am entirely ignorant on the subject (as I am on so many others), I thought I'd ask: I was surprised by the clear consensus and lack of caveats, I'll admit, as I didn't know what to expect from their verdict.
EDIT - I've done a quick search and can't find any statistics separating out the different types of tumble dryers implicated in domestic house fires.
C R
Legendary Member
Is that really the case? I know engineers are not what they used to be, but it sounds like a massive oversight.
PurplePenguin
Senior Member
Yes, a heat pump works by recycling the hot air. That's why it is more energy efficient, but it also means the lint does not leave through a vent or water. To solve that problem they have secondary filters which need regular cleaning, but anything that goes beyond the secondary filter is in the machine for life. In contrast, the condenser on the condenser version can be removed and cleaned, but it's more likely to break.
The upshot is that a vented dryer is likely to last a long time, and that increased lifespan should be factored into energy analysis. It may be the case that heat pump ones are still better, but I was a bit sceptical, so I took the path of least resistance and didn't buy any dryer.
briantrumpet
Timewaster
AuroraSaab
Pharaoh
I think the main issue is how much longer they take, some of them anyway. It does undermine the reason for buying a dryer in the first place I suppose but it likely just means a bit more planning. We have only ever had one tumble dryer. We only got it because there was a gap for one in the kitchen of our first house. Got rid of it when we moved because we never used it. I've never found them to be an indispensable item but others might feel differently.
secretsqirrel
Über Member
Never had a tumble dryer, they kill technical fabrics and delicates. I have a spin cycle on my washing machine and a clothes line. When drying outside is not an option I have a dehumidifier in a small room.
