Along comes Bosch . . .
Energy efficiency is a huge deal on today's washers. Minimizing the amount of water and energy used is great, since it helps save both the environment and quite a chunk of change on your utility bills. But how often do hear about energy-efficient dryers? The only time you're likely to hear talk of energy efficiency in regards to dryers is when reading about Bosch models. You see, in the industry, it's an accepted fact that dryers are energy hogs. It takes quite a bit of energy to heat and circulate the air that dries your clothes. Due to the bounds imposed by the properties of science, that's not something that can be changed. So until recently, dryers have all used a pretty comparable, large amount of energy. Then along comes Bosch. These green do-gooders took a different approach in building their dryers to make them much more energy-efficient than your standard model. Read on to learn what Bosch does differently to make their dryers so much better on power consumption.
A whole new approach
Bosch does a couple of things differently on their dryers than most manufacturers. First of all, many companies build dryers that heat for a pre-set amount of time. The good news is that your clothes will be dried after enough time. The bad news is that the dryer won't stop once they are dry, but instead once time runs out. Not only does that extra "baking" of your clothes waste energy, it puts a ton of excess wear on your clothes, although, that might be a plus if you have new clothes and prefer the "distressed" look. If that's what you're going for, the WTVC6530 does include some timed cycles. Oh, and one other con to that system is that putting on clothes fresh out of the dryer can really hurt if they're too hot. For most cycles, instead of a time-based system, Bosch introduced what they call an EcoSense system. This system uses sensors to determine when your clothes have been dried properly. This saves energy used normally to dry clothes that are already dry, and also helps to make your clothes last a lot longer. The second big difference is the method Bosch uses to get the water out of your clothes. Many manufacturers use very hot air at a moderate rate. Bosch, on the other hand, lowers the temperature just a smidge and instead utilizes a higher air flow to get your clothes dry, with what they call DynamicAir. Dropping the heat a few degrees can save a lot on your power bill. And, just like with the EcoSense system, it's better for your clothes. Between saving money on utility bills, saving earth's resources, and having clothes that will last a lot longer (which can also save money and resources), what's not to love about this Bosch dryer?
A call to action
The EcoSense and DynamicAir systems on the WTVC6530US are both great improvements in the air of energy efficiency on your dryer. But the clever folks at Bosch decided to take efficiency one step further on this model. It's called EcoAction. This is actually a cycle option, as opposed to an automatic system. When the EcoAction option is selected, the temperature of the air is dropped a few more degrees, and a few minutes are added to the end of the cycle. So if you can spare a few minutes, you can use up to 10% less energy compared to a load without EcoAction selected. While 10% may not sound like much, it's important to remember that since dryers use so much energy to begin with, that 10% may well save you more than a washer that uses 20% less while activating EcoAction. Combine that with the EcoSense and DynamicAir, and the savings will really start to add up.
A fourth factor
There's another factor in the energy-efficiency of a dryer that often goes unheralded: the size. Why does it matter? Well, the larger the dryer, the more you clothes you can fit in a single load. And when you can get more clothes into a single load, you run fewer loads, which usually saves you energy. Of course, the 6.7 cubic feet of space in this stainless steel drum isn't just good for lowering the electrical bill. Running less loads also frees up a lot of extra time so you can do what you want. You may be asking why we felt compelled to mention that the drum is stainless steel. Well, because stainless steel is rather special. It starts out smooth, but with each load of clothes you dry, it gets more smooth so that your valuable clothes collection is pampered when it enters the dryer.
A match made in . . . Germany
While the WTVC6530 will work well with any washer you pair it with, it does have a special soulmate. The engineers at Bosch designed this dryer to pair with the WFVC6450UC. Put these two together and it's absolute harmony. They're both quiet, easy to use, and work spectacularly together. For example, the extra-fast spin speeds on the washer wick more water out of your clothes as they finish up in the washer, so they don't need to spend as much time in the dryer, resulting in, you guessed it, lower energy usage! Combine that with all the other "green" features of this dryer, and it's easily one of the most eco-friendly models in the market. But putting these two together also makes life easier on you since they're designed for flexible placement. The dryer's door is reversible and it has three-way venting for nearly limitless placement options. But with an additional kit, these two machines can even be stacked so they can fit in places like closets where laundry pairs haven't traditionally fit. They might have been designed for each other in Germany, but we think this is a match made in heaven.
Psst . . . the dryer's on
Dryers have gotten a pretty bad reputation over the years, from baking clothes to wasting energy to making such a ruckus that you can't get anything done while a cycle runs. But this Bosch is trying to convince you that not all dryers are miscreants. We already addressed the efficiency and clothes care claims. But what about the volume? We're proud to report that the WTVC6530US is quieter than your average conversation. "Chiming" in at only 64dB while running, this dryer can easily run in the background while you're doing most activities, including sleeping. The only real exceptions are if you need absolute silence. And since the matching washer is rated at only 52dB, count on this pair to keep things discreet.
Send your clothes to the sauna
Steam power is something that has provided many benefits to humans for hundreds of years. From purification ceremonies to railroad engines to soothing sore throats, steam is usually a great force. But did you know it's also great for your clothes? True story. The natural power of steam can relax wrinkles, remove odors, and even get rid of some grime on your clothes. Because of this, Bosch included three different steam cycles on their latest dryer. There's the 12-minute Wrinkle Relax, to take care of that shirt you forgot to fold. Then there's the 16-minute Refresh Cycle to gently lift any odors or wrinkles from something "clean" that you wore once. Finally, the 20-minute Touch Up cycle easily cleans slightly-dirty clothes so you have something to wear in a hurry. All three of these quick cycles are great for you, but your clothes will love them too. A Steam Cycle is to your clothes what a trip to the sauna is for you.
Clothes that fit . . . your schedule
Do you have to plan your day around your laundry? Well, you shouldn't. Helping you take back control of your schedule is the Bosch WTVC6530US. This convenient dryer lets you do clothes when it's most convenient for you, even if you're not going to be around. It has a Delay Start that puts off the beginning of your laundry load for up to 12 hours, so you could set the dryer to run clothes while you're at work, so the load will just be finishing as you get home. That way you don't have to stay up late at night folding clothes to avoid wrinkles setting in. But what happens if someone has an accident on the way home, blocking traffic on your normal route? Not to fear. This Bosch dryer also has a Wrinkle Prevention feature, which intermittently tumbles your finished load of clothes, without air or heat, for up to three hours after the end of the cycle, so even if you're running a little late, you won't have to worry about wrinkles. Isn't it nice not to have to plan around your laundry?
For each their own
While it might not be quite accurate to say that this dryer has a custom-tailored cycle for every single load of clothes you want to dry, it's not a stretch to say that there's a good cycle for every type of load. Counting the Steam Cycles, there are 15 different cycles available on this dryer each with options you can adjust to suit your selection of clothes. Whether you're trying to get the last bit of water out of a thick comforter, or trying to dry your delicates without hanging them on the line for the neighbors to see, the WTVC6530US has a cycle that's perfect for you.
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