Green move will ban sale of some tumble dryers
A decision to ban the sale of new vented, condenser, and gas-fired tumble dryers in Great Britain from January 19, 2027, is a sensible move, says Midlands green energy expert Ron Fox.
He was commenting on a move by the Government that only heat pump models which meet the new minimum energy performance standard can be sold as new.
Householders will be allowed to continue owning, repairing and buying older traditional models second-hand, but they will no longer be available as new purchases.
“I agree with the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who said the move is part of a wider clean energy transition moving from fossil fuel to green energy,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd, at Keele University’s Science and Innovation Park.
“But the big benefit for residents will be cheaper energy bills as heat pump dryers use lower temperatures and heat-recycling technology, saving up to £910 over a 20-year lifespan,” he continued. “However, the downside is that they are noisier, more expensive and take longer to dry clothes.”
The legislation is part of the UK’s strategy to cut household electricity use and carbon emissions to reach net-zero and mirror EU rules.
Traditional condenser tumble dryers use a heating condenser to warm air, running at about 70 °C, which passes through wet clothes and removes moisture. The moisture is then condensed into water and collected before being drained.
A heat pump dryer recycles warm air to suck out moisture, running at a lower temperature of 50 °C and with lower carbon emissions. These dryers cost about £40 more to buy on average than traditional condenser models.
There are also gas-heated tumble dryers and high-speed spin dryers. Neither uses gas to spin, but they serve different laundry needs.
Gas-Fired Tumble Dryers are large-capacity commercial appliances, like those in launderettes, that tumble clothes while blowing hot air heated by Natural Gas or LPG. They dry much faster and are significantly cheaper to run per cycle than electric models.
High-Speed Spin Dryers are compact, electrical, gravity-draining machines that spin at up to 2,800 RPM, which are far faster than a standard washing machine and remove up to 80 per cent of water.
The process began with a consultation launched in July 2025 that gathered responses from industry, academics, and consumers. Following the EU’s introduction of similar rules, full enforcement of the UK rules are set for January 2027.
This article raises some important questions, said Ron. Do you agree that this is a good environmental move, as many of our readers have? Will you be swapping your tumble dryer? Should the Government be quicker to move over to green energy? Send your views to Ron Fox at [email protected]
If you want more advice on heat pumps and green energy, contact Ron, of Noreus Ltd, on 0845 474 6641 or contact him here
Caption: In a spin as sales of some tumble dryers will be banned from next January. Picture: John Butterworth
