Heat Pump Clothes Dryer Buyer's Guide

What to Know About the Cleaner, More Efficient Way to Do Laundry

When it comes to saving energy at home, there are a variety of energy-efficient equipment and renewable energy technologies to choose from. Heat pumps – a type of dual heating and cooling equipment – continue to grow in popularity for their efficiency and emission-free operations, outselling gas furnaces for two consecutive years. However, heat pump technology is also used in water heaters and clothes dryers, offering additional ways to cut home energy costs, especially for renters.

Around 80% of U.S. households have a clothes dryer, with the average household using their dryer for nearly 300 loads of laundry per year^[1]. Those who switch to an ENERGY STAR® certified heat pump clothes dryer from a standard electric dryer can expect to save an average of $330 annually^[2]. For New York households, the superior efficiency of a heat pump dryer could come at a discount through Appliance Upgrade Program rebates of up to $840.

If you’re looking to pump up your home’s energy efficiency, there are some key considerations to keep in mind when selecting and installing a heat pump clothes dryer. Here’s everything you need to know to about the cleaner way to do laundry at home.

How Do Heat Pump Dryers Work?

Heat pump technology works by transferring heat from one place to another rather than creating it. Instead of releasing warm air and moisture through an exhaust vent, heat pump dryers continually recycle air and collect moisture while drying clothes. This translates to around 30% less energy consumption than conventional gas and electric dryers^[1].

Heat pump dryers extract heat from the surrounding air and pump it into the tumbler. The air that enters the dryer is warmed by condenser coils so it can absorb more moisture from the tumbler. Air then exits the tumbler and passes through evaporator coils, where it cools, and excess moisture is released.

Depending on the heat pump dryer design, the water either gets pumped down a drain or collected in a receptacle that is to be emptied after two or three loads. Meanwhile, the remaining heat is redirected back into the tumbler and this process continues until the laundry is dry.

Besides efficiency, this self-contained drying process offers multiple benefits for households. The ventless design allows heat pump dryers to be installed in various locations in a home, including apartments and rooms without existing dryer vents.

They’re also gentler on clothes and linens because they operate on lower temperatures and use moisture sensors to shut off when clothes are dry. Replacing a gas dryer or conventional electric dryer with a heat pump dryer is also an investment in a lower carbon footprint.

Key Considerations for Installing a Heat Pump Dryer

Heat pump dryers offer convenience and flexibility, but there are still some factors to consider before choosing and installing a model.

For example, heat pump dryers come in varying designs and configurations. Some heat pump dryer models can be stacked with a washing machine or installed side by side. Alternatively, there are all-in-one combination washers/dryers that can handle laundry in a single machine.

These combo units can come in handy for space-constrained homes and apartments. They also have the advantage of automatically switching over to drying mode after washing, eliminating the hassle of transferring loads. On the other hand, they have longer drying times than standalone heat pump dryers and forgo the option to wash a second load while the first is in the dryer.

When comparing heat pump dryer options, keep an eye out for ENERGY STAR® certified models to ensure the equipment will deliver energy savings for years to come.

If you already have a conventional electric dryer, swapping it out for a heat pump clothes dryer is usually a straightforward process since they have comparable electrical requirements. Although there are heat pump dryers that can run on a standard 120-volt outlet, households replacing a gas dryer or installing a dryer where there wasn’t one previously may need wiring or electrical upgrades.

To address this potential barrier, electrical wiring and electrical panel upgrades are also eligible for Appliance Upgrade Program rebates. Depending on household income and size, you could get up to $4,000 off an electrical panel upgrade and $2,500 off electrical wiring upgrades as part of a heat pump clothes dryer installation. Additionally, Inflation Reduction Act tax credits can cover up to $600 of the cost of home electrical upgrades.

Start Planning Your Dryer Upgrade

Heat pump clothes dryers are available at retailers across New York State. When browsing and comparing options, keep in mind that heat pump clothes dryers may be listed or marketed as ventless dryers.

Eligibility for rebate funding on a heat pump clothes dryer is based on location, household size, and household income. To determine if you qualify for rebate funding, simply choose your county and enter the number of people in your household on the Appliance Upgrade Program webpage.

If you’re eligible to apply for rebates toward a heat pump clothes dryer, you will need to create a profile on the MyEnergy Portal and complete an Appliance Upgrade Program application.

After submitting an Appliance Upgrade Program application online, you’ll receive an email with two coupon codes to be used at a participating retailer, plus a list of participating contractors qualified to perform any necessary electrical upgrades. As of January 2025, nearly 20 retailers [PDF] are participating in the Appliance Upgrade Program, with most offering online and in-store purchases. 

To plan ahead and determine if electrical upgrades may be necessary, New Yorkers can get a no-cost energy assessment. Starting with a home energy assessment can also help identify other energy-saving opportunities and available financial incentives to complete the work.

Footnotes

1. Save money with a heat pump dryer. ENERGY STAR. (n.d.). https://www.energystar.gov/products/ask-the-experts/save-more-laundry-heat-pump-clothes-dryer (opens in new window)
2. Clothes dryers. MyEnergy.NY.gov. (2024, December 26). https://myenergy.ny.gov/how-to-upgrade/appliances-electronics/clothes-dryers/ (opens in new window)