To dry a family’s laundry you don’t necessarily have to empty the account. Altroconsumo tested 188 heat pump dryers, 48 of which with a 9 kg drum. The results show that some of the more convenient models compare favorably with the more expensive ones.
The 9kg dryers with the best quality-price ratio
The name that stands out is that of the LG RNX1009NWK. It combines performance judged to be excellent (78 points out of 100) with a particularly competitive price, under 500 euros.
On the savings front, two Hotpoint Aristons stand out, the HPT 93D BS IT and the HPT 94D BS IT. Both score 73 points out of 100 and the overall quality stops at a good rating, it is the low annual cost that brings them to the top in terms of quality-price ratio.
If the priority is the bill, Altroconsumo highlights the Samsung DV90DG52A0AHET, which scores 66 points out of 100. Among the models of at least good quality, it is the one with the absolute lowest cost, just under 500 euros.
And the two best in the test? Altroconsumo reserves them for members in its comparator and only grants one curiosity, namely that one costs half as much as the other.
How much do you spend on a 9kg tumble dryer
In the last year, approximately 530 thousand dryers were sold in Italy, 1.9% less than the previous year. It’s a small thing, if you consider the over 2.1 million washing machines that left the shops in the same period. The imbalance can also be seen in homes: according to Istat, in 2021 there was a dryer in 15.2% of families, a washing machine in 97.3%. Machines with a capacity greater than 8 kg, the range in which those of 9 fall, are now worth 56% of sales and have grown by 14.8% in a year. The average price is around 610 euros, compared to around 510 for the 8 kg models and 460 for the 7 kg ones.
Why exactly 9 kg
For Altroconsumo it is the capacity that offers the best compromise between size, load and consumption. The most common standard size varies between 8 and 9 kg of cotton (3-4 kg of synthetics), so there is no shortage of choice. A 9kg machine is fine for an average family and remains efficient even when the drum is not full. With little space, or in a single house, you can go down in size; large families, on the other hand, would do well to move up.
When it’s worth spending more
A medium-high range model makes sense if the dryer works often, if there are many items, or if quick programs are needed. However, pay attention to the energy class, because the savings of a higher class are only real if the clothes come out dry on the first turn: in the event that a second one is needed, the advantage promised by the label would only remain on paper. For occasional use and small loads, an economical model is sufficient. In this case the quality-price ratio of the energy class weighs more, which can however be verified on the European EPREL database. In short, to retire the drying rack, the top of the range is not necessarily mandatory.
