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Published October 19, 2026. Prices and specs checked October 17, 2026.
A heat pump dryer uses far less electricity than a vented dryer and needs no outside vent, but it costs more up front and runs longer. In ENERGY STAR’s listings, LG’s DLHC5502W heat pump model uses 266 kWh a year against 607 kWh for LG’s vented DLE3400W.
I have lived with vented dryers in houses and in apartments for years, and the duct is the part nobody budgets for. Lint builds up past the screen, a long run through a wall slows every load, and the cleaning keeps getting put off. A dryer with no duct at all sounds good to me. The price is what makes me hesitate.
The short version, before the arithmetic:
- Cost to run: the heat pump saves about $62 a year at 18.2 cents per kWh.
- Cost to buy: it is $600 more on LG’s own pages, so repaying that takes about 9.7 years at that rate.
- Cycle length: the heat pump test cycle is 68 minutes against 56 to 57 for the vented model.
Heat Pump vs Vented Dryer
Both machines below are LG, both are electric, and both are sold on LG’s own site, so the comparison stays on the dryer type rather than the brand. Prices come from LG’s product pages on October 17, 2026. Energy, cycle time and size come from ENERGY STAR’s product data.
| Spec | LG DLHC5502W (heat pump) | LG DLE3400W (vented) |
|---|---|---|
| Price on LG.com, white | $1,349 | $749 |
| Drum size | 7.8 cu ft | 7.4 cu ft |
| Height × width × depth | 39 × 27 × 32.3 in | 38.69 × 27 × 30 in |
| Venting | None (ventless) | Duct to the outside |
| ENERGY STAR estimated use | 266 kWh a year | 607 kWh a year |
| ENERGY STAR test cycle | 68 minutes | 56 to 57 minutes |
| Combined Energy Factor | 9 | 3.94 |
Other stores charge more for the vented DLE3400W: Best Buy lists it at $929.99 and Home Depot at $1,049, so LG’s own page has the lowest price of the three. Lowe’s and Home Depot also carry the DLHC5502W, though neither page showed a price on October 17. The CPSC recall database lists no recall for either model. LG’s one dryer recall there, in 2012, covered gas dryers.
Heat Pump vs Vented Dryer Cost to Run
ENERGY STAR gives each dryer an estimated yearly energy use. Multiply that by what you pay per kilowatt-hour and you have the yearly bill. EIA’s October 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook projects a U.S. residential average of 18.2 cents per kWh for 2026, so that is the rate used here.
| Dryer | kWh a year | × rate | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG DLHC5502W (heat pump) | 266 | × $0.182 | $48.41 |
| LG DLE3400W (vented) | 607 | × $0.182 | $110.47 |
| Difference | 341 | × $0.182 | $62.06 |
That is 341 fewer kilowatt-hours, or 56 percent less than the vented dryer (341 ÷ 607). ENERGY STAR says heat pump dryers in general use around 70 percent less than conventional ones. The 56 percent comes straight from these two listings, so it is the number to plan around.
ENERGY STAR’s figures are estimates for a standard test schedule. A household that dries more loads than that uses more of both machines, and the gap in dollars widens with it. Dryer energy is also only part of laundry cost; the other part is detergent cost per load.
Are Heat Pump Dryers Worth It?
Only if the savings repay the price gap in a stretch you will actually own the machine. The gap here is $600, which is $1,349 minus $749 on LG’s pages. Divide it by the yearly saving to get the payback. The 12-cent and 30-cent rows are example rates, not EIA figures, so swap in the rate on your own bill.
| Rate per kWh | Heat pump a year | Vented a year | Saved a year | Years to repay $600 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.12 | 266 × 0.12 = $31.92 | 607 × 0.12 = $72.84 | $40.92 | 600 ÷ 40.92 = 14.7 |
| $0.182 | 266 × 0.182 = $48.41 | 607 × 0.182 = $110.47 | $62.06 | 600 ÷ 62.06 = 9.7 |
| $0.30 | 266 × 0.30 = $79.80 | 607 × 0.30 = $182.10 | $102.30 | 600 ÷ 102.30 = 5.9 |
At the national average the payback is close to ten years, which is a long time to wait on a dryer. At 30 cents it is under six. ENERGY STAR itself puts it plainly: a heat pump model costs more up front and can save more energy and money with each load. The case gets stronger when the real payoff is not the power bill at all, as the vent section below explains.
Heat Pump Dryer Drying Time
Slower is the trade. ENERGY STAR’s test cycle, a normal cycle on normal dry, takes 68 minutes for the DLHC5502W and 56 to 57 minutes for the DLE3400W. That is 11 to 12 minutes longer, or 19 to 21 percent (68 ÷ 57 and 68 ÷ 56). ENERGY STAR notes that its certified dryers generally run at lower temperatures, and ShopAppliances’ FAQ for the LG heat pump says it may take longer than a regular dryer.
One test load is not your laundry, so a heavy load of towels or jeans will not match those minutes on either machine. The ratio is the useful part. If you do several loads in a row on a weekend, a cycle that runs a fifth longer adds up.
Do Heat Pump Dryers Need a Vent?
No. ENERGY STAR says a heat pump dryer does not release air through the outside wall, so there is no need for a dryer vent. That is the real selling point, because it lets the dryer go in a closet, a hallway or an interior laundry nook with no wall to cut through.
It is not hookup-free. ShopAppliances’ spec table for the DLHC5502W says a drain is required and notes the dryer includes a drain hose for automatic drainage, so plan for a place to send the water. It lists 240 volts at 15 amps. Home Depot lists the vented DLE3400W at 240 volts and 30 amps and says the power cord is not included. Best Buy’s Q&A says the vented unit ships set to vent out the back, with an adapter kit (part 383EEL9001B) to change the exit to the bottom, left or right.
A vented dryer also asks for upkeep. The National Fire Protection Association’s fact sheet on home fires from 2003 to 2006 found failure to clean was the leading cause of clothes dryer and washer fires, at 29 percent. For either machine, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and look for a UL or ETL listing on the plug and cord.
Which Dryer Should I Buy?
Pick the heat pump if the laundry space has no outside wall, if you pay well above 18 cents per kWh, or if you run many loads a week. LG customer care says in a Best Buy Q&A that the DLHC5502W is designed to stack with front-load washers and names the HSTK1B stacking kit. Our front-load washers comparison covers the washer half of a stacked pair.
Pick the vented dryer if you already have a short, clean duct, pay close to the national average and would rather keep the $600. It also finishes the test load about 12 minutes sooner. With my own money, in a house with a duct that runs straight out the wall, I would buy the DLE3400W. In an interior closet I would pay for the heat pump. If you are replacing the whole pair, washer warranty by brand is worth a look first.
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the retailer before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heat Pump Dryers
Do Heat Pump Dryers Use Less Electricity?
Yes. ENERGY STAR lists 266 kWh a year for the LG DLHC5502W and 607 kWh for the vented LG DLE3400W, which is 56 percent less. ENERGY STAR describes heat pump dryers in general as using around 70 percent less energy than conventional dryers.
How Much Longer Does a Ventless Dryer Take?
For heat pump dryers, about a fifth longer in ENERGY STAR’s test cycle. The LG DLHC5502W takes 68 minutes and the vented LG DLE3400W takes 56 to 57 minutes. Real loads vary with size and fabric.
Can You Put a Ventless Dryer in a Closet?
As far as venting goes, yes. ENERGY STAR says heat pump dryers need no dryer vent. They do need a drain for the water they remove, and the LG listing at ShopAppliances says one is required, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions for clearances and hookups.
Are Heat Pump Dryers Worth the Extra Cost?
Only if you keep the machine long enough to repay it. At 18.2 cents per kWh, the $600 price gap between the two LG dryers takes about 9.7 years to repay (600 ÷ 62.06) in electricity savings. At 30 cents it is 5.9 years, and at 12 cents it is 14.7 years.
