

Revolutionary TechnologyĪ stainless steel drum-we'd expect no less for a machine this expensive. Whirlpool is working with utilities to offer rebates for early adopters, however, which should bring down the price considerably. On sale for $1,525, the WED99HEDW costs almost double what you’d pay for a low- to mid-range conventional dryer. The only downside we can see at the moment is the price. Consistently lower temperatures on the Balanced and Eco settings mean you’ll be able to dry more delicate items like dresses or blouses without having to worry as much about fabric wear or shrinkage. Since the heat pump dryer only uses a little bit of external air for an entire cycle, heaters and air conditioners won’t have to work as hard to make up for all the climate-controlled air that's sucked outside, further reducing your seasonal electric bill.Ī heat pump dryer is better for your clothes, too. If you live somewhere with extreme weather, whether it's Duluth or Death Valley, you're pumping heated or air conditioned air outside whenever you do laundry. Conventional dryers suck air out of your laundry room, heat it, and then pump the used air outside. Whirlpool says the most efficient cycle is Casual in Eco mode, which took an hour and nine minutes to get our test load 96 percent dry at just 117✯.Īccording to this reminder sticker, Casual on Eco is the most energy efficient setting available. Compared to a traditional dryer, a cycle with the heat pump model could use anywhere from 25-50 percent less energy, depending on what you're drying and which cycle you’re using. The most obvious perk behind a heat pump dryer is reduced energy consumption. Pros & Cons of a Heat Pump Direct and indirect energy savings galore All you get is a control lock, a wrinkle shield, and a damp dry signal with two volume levels.įor in-depth performance information, please visit the Science Page. There are no overly fancy features like steam, either. Three dryness levels and four temperature settings-an air dry only option is, of course, absent-actually means less customization than other dryers in this price range. In terms of bells and whistles, the WED99HEDW is on par with a traditional mid-range dryer-surprising for such an expensive machine. The available cycle options aren't all that extensive, but still cover all the basics.
