How Does a Condensation Dryer Work?

Air-Cooled Condensation Dryer

• An air-cooled condensation dryer uses room air to dry the clothes. The dryer takes in the air from the room, which flows over and cools the condenser, which removes the moisture from the clothes. The water removed from the clothes, drains into a storage tank on the bottom of the dryer. The warm air is then expelled back into the room without the moisture. The storage tank must be manually emptied when it is full.

Water-Cooled Condensation Dryer

• Water-cooled condensation dryers need a hookup to a cold water faucet and a floor drain. The air in the dryer circulates over the heater and condensing coil, which is cooled by the cold water coming in from the faucet. The heated air is returned to the dryer to dry the clothes. Excess water drains out of the dryer into the drain.

Styles

• Condensation dryers are either stand-alone or combination washer and dryer units. Stand-alone dryers are air-cooled condensation dryers and the combination dryers are water-cooled units. The combination washer and dryer will wash the clothes and dry the clothes in the same drum. As soon as the wash cycle is completed, the dryer cycle starts.

Advantages and Disadvantages

• Stand-alone condensation dryers are more energy-efficient than a dryer that is vented according to the U.S. Energy Department's Building Energy Codes Program Resource Center. Combination washer and dryer units take up less space and can fit into smaller spaces easily, where a stand-alone dryer cannot. The combination units take longer to dry clothes. The combination units don’t allow you to wash one load and dry another at the same time.