The Hoover HGD 8N2BBC-80 is a freestanding 8 kg heat pump tumble dryer, rated A++ on the UK energy label. A heat pump dries at a lower temperature and collects the moisture as water, so no outside vent is needed. It suits a home that dries most loads indoors and wants to keep running costs down.

Drying

The drum takes 8 kg of cotton and has a volume of 111 litres. The energy label gives 218 kWh a year, a standard cotton cycle of 200 minutes and a noise level of 65 dB. Water collects in a tank that you empty after drying, with an indicator to tell you when it is full, and a drain hose comes in the box if you would rather run it to a waste pipe. Condensation efficiency is class B, at 88 %, and the heat pump uses R290 refrigerant.

Programmes and controls

A programme knob, touch buttons and an LED display run the dryer. The 16 programmes include:

• Eco, the most efficient programme for everyday cottons
• Wool, for up to 1 kg of machine-washable woollens
• Relax, which reduces creasing within 14 minutes
• Perfect 59', Special 45' and Special 30' timed cycles
• Whites, Darks & coloured, Jeans, Synthetics, Shirts, XXL, Sport plus, Small, Refresh and Mix & dry

The Dry Level button sets one of four finishes, and Delay start puts the cycle back by up to 24 hours in half-hour steps. Memo saves your preferred settings for each programme, and a child lock stops little hands changing them. The display shows the time remaining and reminds you to clean the filter.

Size and installation

The dryer is freestanding, 59.5 cm wide, 84.5 cm high and 61.6 cm deep, and weighs 43.2 kg. It plugs into a normal socket and needs no vent, but keep its ventilation openings clear. The door is not reversible, so check which way it opens before choosing a spot. The black cabinet and door suit a darker utility room.