Photo of the interior drum of a heat pump dryer with a lone towel inside

Arguably, heat pump dryers are more energy-efficient than traditional dryers, making them a good choice for people looking to save money on their energy bills. 

But will a heat pump dryer work in a cold room?

This post will explain if it’s a good idea to use a heat pump dryer in a cold room and provide tips for drying clothes when it’s cold out.

So, let’s get into it!

Will a Heat Pump Dryer Work in a Cold Room?

A heat pump dryer will not work in a cold room. The air getting into the dryer will also be cool when the temperature outside is cold. As a result, the clothes may take longer to dry and may not come out completely dry. If you have a cold room, it’s best to use a traditional dryer or a clothesline.

At What Temperature Do Heat Pump Dryers Stop Functioning Well?

As the introduction mentions, a heat pump dryer won’t work effectively in a cold room. A UK-based appliances designer, Hoover, reports that these dryers can’t work when the temperature is below 44ºF (7°C)

But, why is that?

Why Do Heat Pump Dryers Struggle Below 44ºF?

A few reasons a heat pump dryer won’t work well in a cold room include:

The Heat Pump Technology Will Struggle To Function

One reason a heat pump dryer doesn’t work well in a cold room is that the dryer technology will struggle to function. To understand why you need to know how these dryers work.

A heat pump dryer uses a heat pump to circulate warm air. Specifically, the pump uses refrigerant to absorb heat from the air and then pumps it into the dryer. The appliance then uses a fan to circulate the warm air, which dries the clothes.

illustration of technology behind heat pump dryers in relation to conventional dryers
Courtesy of Stark’s Appliances

Now, the air getting into the dryer will also be cold when the temperature outside is cold. As a result, the heat pump will have to work harder to warm the air.

The Cold Will Offset the Heat Pump’s Performance

Another reason a heat pump dryer doesn’t work well in a cold room is that the cold will offset the heat pump’s functionality. Even if you have a high-efficiency dryer, it must first heat the air before it can start to dry your clothes.

As the temperature outside gets colder, it takes longer for the heat pump to warm the air. Unfortunately, that means your clothes will take longer to dry and may not come out completely dry.

The Clothes May Not Dry Evenly

Another reason a heat pump dryer doesn’t work well in a cold room is because the clothes may not dry evenly. Cold air can cause damp clothes to dry unevenly, leaving some areas wetter than others.

That can lengthen the drying time and result in wrinkled or damaged clothes. Besides, if the clothes are not completely dry, they can develop musty smells.

Tips for Drying Clothes in a Cold Room

Now that we’ve explained why you shouldn’t use a heat pump dryer in a cold room let’s discuss some tips for drying clothes when it’s frigid outside.

Use a Fan To Help Circulate Air

One way to dry clothes in a cold room is to use a fan to help circulate the air. By spreading the air, you can help the clothes dry faster.

A box fan in an open window

Here’s how to use a fan to dry clothes in a cold room:

  1. Hang your wet clothes up on a clothesline or drying rack.
  2. Position the fan to blow air over the wet clothes.
  3. Turn the fan on to the lowest setting.
  4. Leave the room and let the fan do its job.

Remember that you’ll need to monitor the clothes to avoid wasting energy. For example, if the clothes are dry, turn off the fan.

Separate Wet Items Into Smaller Groups

Another way to dry clothes in a cold room is to separate wet items into smaller groups. If you have too many wet items in one pile, they will take longer to dry and may not come out as evenly dried as you would like them to be. 

Besides, if you have a lot of wet clothes in one pile, they can develop musty smells. To avoid that, separate wet items into smaller groups and dry them separately.

Hang Clothes Up As Soon as Possible

Another way to dry clothes in a cold room is to hang them up as soon as possible. When clothes are hung up, they can dry faster than if left in a pile on the floor. Besides, that ensures the clothes dry more evenly than if you left them in a wet heap on the floor. 

Several items of clothing drying on a rack

Hanging up clothes helps to prevent wrinkles and creases. If you’re hanging up clothes that are likely to wrinkle, like dress shirts or blouses, use hangers with broad shoulders. That will help to distribute the weight of the wet garment and prevent creases. 

Also, hanging it up will make your job much more manageable if anything needs ironing.

Open the Door to Your Room

One way to dry clothes in a cold room is to open the door to your room. Opening the door will allow warmer air from the rest of your house to circulate. That can help speed up the drying process and prevent musty smells.

Note: If you have pets or small children, you’ll need to be careful that they don’t go into the room and disturb the clothes. Otherwise, you’ll have a bigger mess to deal with.

Shake Laundry After Washing

One often overlooked step in doing laundry is shaking the clothes after they have been washed. This simple act can help to remove any excess water from the fabric and speed up the drying process, especially if you are washing clothes in a cold room.

Simply take the time to give your clothes a good shake before you hang them up to dry, and you’ll save yourself some time and effort in the long run.

That said, here’s a video that will come in handy if you need tips for drying your clothes fast:

A screenshot from a video demonstrating ways to dry clothes without a dryer
Courtesy of Small Space Organizing

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a few reasons why a heat pump dryer doesn’t work well in a cold room. However, the tips provided can come in handy when you need to dry clothes when it’s cold outside.

By using a fan, separating wet items into smaller groups, and hanging clothes up as soon as possible, you can dry your clothes quickly and efficiently. So don’t let the cold weather keep you from getting your laundry done.

Sources

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