Capacity
The maximum amount of laundry that can be loaded into the dryer; in other words, the largest weight of laundry that the machine can efficiently process in one cycle.
Capacity is usually indicated by the weight of the dry laundry. Thanks to this, when preparing the laundry for washing, you can immediately assess whether it will fit in the dryer at a time or, on the contrary, you can get by with
a small drying. However, even the most modest modern dryers (and even
slim ones up to 50 cm) in most cases hold
7 kg — this is comparable to loading the drum of a medium-capacity washing machine. And in the most
capacious models, this figure can reach 10 – 11 kg. It is quite enough for domestic and even professional use (for example, in laundromats or laundries of hotels, etc.). However, the typical figures are
drying for 8 kg and
models for 9 kg of laundry. Bigger capacity is relevant for industrial equipment and is not found in consumer-level models.
Also, when choosing, note that in the specs the maximum capacity is usually indicated for linen made of cotton fabric. For other, more voluminous materials, the capacity can be noticeably less — for example, the weight limit for wool products is usually 4-5 times less than for cotton.
Custom programme
Itis an ability to set the machine
custom programme of work. In such a programme, the user can specify the operating parameters (duration, temperature, rotation intensity, etc.) at his discretion; this gives additional options for managing the unit. The custom programme can be useful in non-standard situations, when none of the predefined operating modes is suitable.
Note that the set of parameters that are set when creating your programme may be different in different models; these details need to be clarified separately.
Refresh cycle
A programme designed to remove odours from clothes, such as tobacco smoke, or an unpleasant odour that appears after a long period of storage.
The refresh programme is useful if the clothes are clean, but the smell still needs to be eliminated — refreshing in the dryer takes less time and effort than quick washing and then drying (even if using the same dryer). This function is especially relevant for
drying cabinets.
Drying basket
The presence
of a drying basket allows you to carefully place woollen items, as well as shoes, which contributes to delicate drying and the laundry does not “fly” around the drum like in washing machines.
Drain into sewer
This option allows you to automate the process of draining the condensate collection tank (respectively, it is relevant only for dryers with a condensation principle of operation). At the end of the drying process, the condensate accumulated in the tank is automatically drained into the sewer. To do this, a pump and a hose are provided in
a dryer with a drain into the sewer. The function of draining into the sewer allows you to significantly simplify the operation of the dryer, while in models without this option, the user must drain the condensate tank manually. Of course, manual emptying does not require much effort because the average condensate collection tank has a volume of about 5 litres, but still not very convenient.
Drying class
Drying class describes the overall drying efficiency that the machine provides. It is denoted by a Latin letter, where A is the best efficiency, and further in decreasing order (
drying class B is inferior to
class A, but exceeds
class C). Naturally, higher efficiency machines cost more (ceteris paribus).
Energy class
The energy consumption class shows not the actual energy consumption but the efficiency of the dryer. In other words, what part of the electricity consumed goes directly to useful work. For dryers, this parameter is especially important because such devices have high electricity consumption. As a result, models with the same capabilities but different energy efficiency classes differ markedly in terms of operating costs (in terms of electricity bills). However, more economical units themselves are more expensive. nevertheless, this difference quickly pays off.
Initially, classes were marked in Latin letters from
A(the highest class) and further alphabetically. In the course of technology development, more economical levels of consumption than the original class A appeared — they are labelled as A+,
A++, A+++, etc. Actually, the highest efficiency class in modern dryers is exactly
A +++ ; level A —
A+ can be called good,
B — average, C — acceptable.
Display
The type of display provided in the design of the dryer.
The screen located on the control panel provides additional convenience: it can display various information about the operation of the machine. In this case, the specific functionality of the screen depends on its type. So, in the vast majority of cases, the simplest
LED displays are used. They can only display numbers and some special characters, but even this is usually sufficient. In some models,
TFT display can be installed — similar to those used in smartphones. Such a display can display not only textual information but also various graphics, and sometimes it is even made touch-sensitive. However, it makes sense to use such screens only in high-end devices with an abundance of functions.
Door opening
The direction in which the door of the dryer opens.
Most users are right-handed, so from this point of view, the best option is
leftward opening — the free space for loading and unloading laundry is just under the right hand. However, specifically in dryers, the
rightward opening is noticeably more common. It is because such units usually complement washing machines and are most often installed side by side. And in most washers, the door opens just to the left (again, based on convenience for right-handed people). Therefore, it is most convenient to place the dryer on the right and equip it with a hatch that opens to the right — this will allow you to overload the laundry from washer to dryer with minimal effort and time. And vice versa, if the door in the washing machine opens to the right, then it is better to choose a dryer with a leftward opening and install it on the left.
Sometimes both machines are installed as a column — a dryer on top of a washing machine. In such cases, the hatches of both machines should open in one direction — this is more convenient both from the point of view of ergonomics and purely psychologically. Moreover, if the "column” adjoins the wall sideways, then the opening should also occur towards the wall; otherwise, the laundry will have to be loaded and unloaded through the space between the open hatch and the wall, which can be very inconvenient.
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Note that in some dryers both opening options are claimed. It usually means that the door has a reversible mount, and the direction of opening can be chosen at your discretion. However, this feature does not hurt to clarify before buying.
