Heat pump tumble dryers and the new tumble dryer energy labels in Northern Ireland

The main changes to tumble dryers in Northern Ireland include:

• A new A-G energy rating, which removes the old A+++/A++/A+ ratings.
• Higher minimum energy efficiency standards.

The higher standards means that some older tumble dryers can no longer be sold because they’re considered too energy inefficient.

Tumble dryer energy labels have changed in Northern Ireland because of new EU regulations about energy efficient products. After Brexit, some EU regulations still apply to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, including energy efficiency labelling.

The update is designed to push the tumble dryer market to be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. This means:

• Lowering the energy consumption of appliances.
• Making it easier to recycle or repair appliances.
• Introducing new standards to reduce condensation issues that can cause damp and mould.

The changes to tumble dryer energy labels in Northern Ireland make it easier to compare different models. By choosing a more energy efficient appliance, you can:

• Cut your energy usage.
• Save on your energy bills.

It’s also likely to reduce the range of tumble dryers available in shops in Northern Ireland. This is because condenser dryer models no longer meet the new standards.

Shops are no longer able to sell new condenser dryers, so you might only see new heat pump tumble dryers for sale. While heat pump tumble dryers are generally more expensive to buy, they’re much cheaper to run:

Replacing a top-rated condenser tumble dryer to a heat pump tumble dryer can save you around £85 a year on your energy bills*

*Based on around 160 cycles a year on an average Northern Ireland electricity tariff of 30.8p/kWh. Figures correct as of November 2025.

You might also find it easier to repair new tumble dryers. This is because the requirements mean manufacturers must make spare parts available for longer and improve access to information about how to repair them. This should help extend the lifetime of a new tumble dryer. It also makes it easier to get it repaired rather than having to replace it if something goes wrong.

Most manufacturers advise against using heat pump dryers in spaces that are below 5–7°C. Garages and outbuildings in Northern Ireland can fall below this temperature regularly.

Using heat pumper dryers below 5–7°C may:

• dry clothes slowly
• use more energy
• cause faults or automatic shutdowns

It might also invalidate warranties as you won’t be following the manufacturer’s guidelines. Try to install a heat pump tumble dryer in a heated space (eg in a utility room) but this might be tricky for some homes.

If you can’t fit a heat pump tumble dryer inside your home, you can:

• Buy a heat pump tumble dryer and keep using it in an unheated space: but this might cause issues especially in cold temperatures. Using it in these conditions could also affect the warranty, so it’s worth checking with the manufacturer or retailer.
• Find a second-hand or refurbished condenser dryer: you can’t buy new condenser dryers, but you might be able to get one second-hand. However, these appliances are likely to be less energy efficient, more likely to fail due to their age, and harder to get a warranty.

Currently, tumble dryers in Great Britain use a different energy scale of A+++ to D. The UK Government ran a consultation about raising product standards for tumble dryers in 2025. This covered phasing out the least efficient types and aligning to the new EU regulations.

At the moment, there’s no guarantee that England, Scotland, and Wales will follow Northern Ireland, but we’ll keep a look out for any updates.

Energy efficiency labels help you understand the energy efficiency, running costs and CO₂ emissions of home appliances including:

• fridges and freezers
• washing machines
• washer-dyers

The energy label gives appliances a rating of A to G. A is the most energy efficient and G the least energy efficient.

In 2021, the labels changed to reset the A to G scale. This happened because as appliances became more energy efficient, it led to ratings like A+++. The new version makes it easier to compare the energy efficiency of different models.

However: the new scale only applied to certain appliances. This didn’t include tumble dryers, which used a different energy rating scale of A+++ to D.

In July 2025, new, stricter energy labels for tumble dryers came into effect in Northern Ireland to align with EU regulations.

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