Reviewing: LG FDV309W Heat Pump Tumble Dryer

A different type of video from me this week. Today, I'm reviewing LG's FDV309W tumble dryer which uses heat pump technology. With utility bills ever on the increase we need to be finding ways to make our homes more energy efficient.
Heat pump dryers are the latest innovation in tumble dryer design. The technology uses passing hot, humid air from the dryer through a heat pump for re-use. This new method is great at conserving heat and using up to 50% less energy.
We purchased this LG heat pump dryer a few weeks ago and have been testing out all the various functions and preset programmes. Here I talk about the pros (likes) and cons (dislikes) I've found with this tumble dryer.
Please note this item was purchased with my own money, it is not a sponsored video and I am not working in collaboration with the brand.
Products (or similar) mentioned:
LG FDV309W Heat Pump Tumble Dryer amzn.to/4a5QpzV
LG V7 F4V709STSE TurboWash 9kg (in graphite) amzn.to/3Gsxl1f
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting me so that I can continue to provide you with free content.

[@kellyandryanevans8702]

We have this set but in stainelss had them for around 2-3 years now. Despite the dryer having self cleaning we do find outselves manually activiating condensor cleaning every 6 months triggered by loads not coming out dry. We also have the dryer drainage plugged into the washer, it doesnt need its own plumbing when stacked, it will use the washers pump if both machines are on, and help heat the washer too, further reducing energy bills. Great combo. Super quiet when correctly levelled. I e you can have a low volume conversation in the same room without it interuppting you or causing you to speak up.

[@ritasstories9049]

Thanks for your comments. It's really nice to hear from someone that also rates this product. I've not had to manually activate the condensor cleaning mode. I'm not sure if I've just been lucky.....??

[@gabster4266]

Brilliant. This has been a very good education for me on heat pump machines. I am glad you can choose whether or not to link it to be drained automatically or not. I was a bit worried about where I would put a machine but since I can empty it myself for now at least while I am renting, it is good to know. Thanks Rita.

[@brunoshomelaundry2020]

Just to point out one thing: The model is FDV909W👍 The FDV309 you've mentioned has a different door design and it has white trim around the dial

[@wilsonmanch6773]

wow... thats so much different in price.

[@ritasstories9049]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@butchn2505]

The dislikes for color & size are moot since both units were not purchased at the same time. And they could have made them even in front if they tried. If they don't like the sticking out in front, make it even in front & the slight overhang will be in the back, a non issue. Remember folks, it's a washer & dryer, 2 different pieces of equipment that for some engineering reason cannot be exact to each other. Oh, and at time 4:26 fix senor to read sensor

[@ritasstories9049]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@ahmadali1758]

Regarding the warranty, you only get 10 years from lg on the motor. if you had opted for the 5 years from LG, parts and labour, you would pay for it and get 5 years from them. John Lewis therefore only do 2 years parts and labour when you buy from them, unless you fully register the machine for 5 years from LG parts and labour, then it will be 5 years from LG and LG alone. 10 years is only for the motor.

[@ritasstories9049]

OK. Thanks for your full explanation on this. :-)

[@aussiet5817]

Can the washer and dryer sing a duet?

[@mehakshabbir8037]

Hi Rita, thankyou for well explaining about condensed dryer

[@ritasstories9049]

My pleasure 😊 Glad it was helpful to you.

[@MrRonnie491]

The difference in colour between the two is most likely due to one being older (off white) i.e. yellowing and the new one (pure white).

[@ritasstories9049]

Yes, probably. But my kitchen doesn't get any direct sunlight and so I initially didn't think it could be that. But I guess UV rays can still discolour the white. Thanks!!! :-)

[@JayneO-qo1oi]

Hello, I have just bought my dual pump dryer and cannot for the life of me find any installation instructions. I think I have a somewhat similar model as yours, FDV309GN. You mentioned if not plumbing into the drains I can just plug it into the mains and its ready to go? I saw outlets, one at back near the middle with a black rubber cap and another one near the back on the left hand side of the machine, again with a black cap. Do I just leave those alone? Some water dripped from the outlet on the side. Wondering if that’s also normal😢

[@TheTommyloncar]

There is 2 lint filter just as you know😉 on below the one you tok out

[@onebicycle3772]

Does that heat pump dryer has a drainage at the back? I mean drainage for the excess water from the condenser?

[@ritasstories9049]

Yes, there is integrated condensed water drainage either at the back of the machine via a tube or it can be collected in the water tank (looks like the drawer).

[@rightpath4272]

Under the bottom of it theres a small hose thing with a cap thing do u open to drain?

[@ritasstories9049]

I don't and haven't in the past. All the drainage is plumped in and so I don't have to worry about that. Though if you don't have pipes to connect to at the back of the dryer then you can set it to use the drawer and it will collect the drainage that way. Hope this helps.

[@karene.4196]

Thank you for your thorough review!

[@ritasstories9049]

Hope it helped and if you ended up making a purchase, let me know.

[@tboahine]

Hi, just purchased this dryer I don’t have a way of connecting the hose to a sink, but I was wondering if you could show us your set up for the dryer in the back

[@uhjk91]

Once the programme ends, can you manually set the machine to run for a bit longer, ie, 5, 10, 15, 23, etc. minutes?

[@ritasstories9049]

I've never tried this. I don't think you can unless there is a way to download programmes onto the app and configure it that way.

[@nanaday7x293]

You don't need to, as there's a moisture sensor! So if your load isn't dry enough, the dryer automatically extends the drying time.

[@wojciechgorzynski]

Ventilation in that model is on the back and you need to leave 10cm space on the back and 2cm on both sides. It's a deal breaker for me. 😢

[@ritasstories9049]

Sorry to hear that. But yes, ventilation at the back of the machine is essential.

[@Rossigirl85]

Hi Rita, I am in search of a heat pump dryer. Now that you’ve had the dryer for some months, would you recommend it?

[@ritasstories9049]

This has been the only dryer that I've used and so hard to know if it's better than any others. Purely based on my experience with it, I have enjoyed using it and so I would recommend it.

[@zorg1010tube]

We like this dryer because it matches our washer... 🙈😂😂

[@ritasstories9049]

Hahahaa. Yes, aesthetic appeal is an important factor!! :-)

[@OO-ub6jj]

Be great if I could bring my washing round to use and see how they come out and I could leave a great review?

[@ritasstories9049]

Hahahahaaa. Good try :-p

[@goncalogarcia]

Hi Rita, who´s John Lewis? He seems to be a very nice guy :). Jokes apart, although I live in a sunny country I´m considering the addition of an LG heat pump (same here: I like LG and have a similar washing machine) for our apartment. One question about noise: how do you compare it to the spinning cycle in the sister machine, for example? My OCD suggests you to remove the red "steam" sticker on the washing machine :). Thanks from Lisbon, PT.

[@ritasstories9049]

Hahaha. OK I must remove the red sticker, we've had the washing machine since 2019. Ooops! Regarding the noise I honestly find it pretty quiet. This is my first ever dryer so I don't have anything else to compare it to. I definitely would say I don't find the dryer much louder than the washing on the spinning mode. Also to say the washing machine and dryer are located in the kitchen and usually I'm somewhere else in the house so don't hear it at all. It might be different if you're on a one level apartment. But let me know if you end up getting one.

[@adriennemakeupartistandhai2042]

Thank you! Perfect!

[@danandlaundry]

Lovely set

[@ritasstories9049]

Cheers!

[@yalrikabi2007]

This video got recommended for me

[@ritasstories9049]

Great. I hope you found it useful.

[@karlhuelser5356]

are there any cons with the performance of the dryer, ie are the clothes completely dry at the end of the cycle?

[@ritasstories9049]

So far I've honestly had no complaints with this dryer. Regarding how the clothes come out, it does come out dry. However, you need to make sure you don't overload the dryer and put too much in for each cycle.

[@stanislavnikolov3581]

hello, thank you for your review, awesome! I have a question - how is it going on after 1 year? and also what is the model of the washing machine - and how is the washing machine performing, really like the set, looking to get a set as well, and maybe stack them

[@ritasstories9049]

Yes, I am using the dryer more and more more recently as we are having building works done to the house which means limited space to hang clothes to air dry. So the dryer right now is a must after every washing cycle. I do really like it and have no complaints. I would say that some heavier garments like jeans do take a bit longer to dry and so either I would just take out the lighter items like t-shirts and dresses and run the heavier items for a bit longer or I will leave the jeans on a clothes horse to air dry as they are 80-90% there anyway. Regarding my washing machine, it is called "LG - TurboWash with AI DD V7 F4V709WTS WiFi-enabled 9 kg 1400 Spin Washing Machine - White". I bought it from Currys back in September 2019, so I'm not sure if they are still selling this model. Let me know if you end up getting either the dryer and/or washer. :-)

[@stanislavnikolov3581]

@ritasstories9049 Thank you for your reply. I was looking for this dryer yesterday to see where can buy it, but here in Germany seams they don't have it (, will search more, Will see what is with Washmashine as well, thank you for kind reply , ))

[@r.perzylo]

Thank-you Rita for this excellent review. In Canada, we are slowly moving towards a heat pump technology, but still watching for more selection to arrive. Currently liking the new LG all-in-one combo only available down south in the U.S.

[@sinaisme]

How much energy consumption (Kwh) for one drying cycle with full capacity?

[@faisalalghamdi100]

144kw/h

[@ritasstories9049]

This is a great question. However, a hard one to answer as it would really depend on what setting you put the dryer on. Additionally, the dryer uses sense drying technology which would adjusts the run time and energy consumption to each individual load size.

[@mrmmrm2]

Between 500w and 1200 w

[@furzanaafzal7288]

Hi where does the filter lint go. With a Samsung you have to clean the heat exchange. How does this get cleaned? Would be nice 8f you can show us.

[@ritasstories9049]

The filter for this is at the base of the drum at the front of the machine. It's the grey basket.

[@nanaday7x293]

The condenser does self-cleaning. So apart from throwing away the water collected and clean the *two (yes, there are 2) lint filters, you needn't do much to maintain the dryer.

[@lindawatmore3321]

Sadly don’t recommend this particular product because the new heat pump system tumble dryer doesn’t work in low temperatures in homes where it’s used for not having central heating or heating in the location it is housed on rooms below 50 degrees Fahrenheit takes over 4 hours to dry a single load of a spinning cycle of 1400 speed. I would never recommend it for people living in the UK when people are placing them in cold laundry rooms and outside buildings they don’t work at all when colder weather arrives in late autumn and winter and spring when temperatures are lower and the higher energy bills are cost of electricity and length of running the new heat pump system is not practical for families who have a low income. Compared to other makers vented dryer for a 8 kilogram load of taking 70 minutes to totally dry the clothes and a heat pump to take over 3 to 4 hours to still be damp in prices of a new heat pump is a lot more expensive to purchase than a vented dryer for 6 months ago I was talked into buying a new heat pump dryer for cost £449 six months of poor results from lengthy cycles and the sensor keeps extending the running time of early December 2022 I couldn’t use the dryer and thought it was broken down to a engineer for the manufacturer to take a look at it and told me it was because of the recent freezing cold weather and that they don’t work in cold temperatures in rooms that have not heating and air pump was scrapped because it’s not fit for purpose and I was not going to let someone else have high electricity bills for the hours running. I bought a C rated vented dryer for £229 and expecting it to take longer than my old dryer that failed in the summer of being 13 years old but amazing results 70 minutes to dry towel’s and 60 minutes for a mixed load of jeans and cotton pants and tea shirts etc. I have wasted £449 on a apparently energy saving new technology that takes 3 to 4 hours to dry a single load of laundry in now really not going to last longer for wearing the bearings and motor quicker than the old dryer is obviously going to be a issue for operating time to running for longer periods of the effects on the workings of components are in fact going to wear out sooner rather than later I don’t want a dryer that takes half a day to dry a single load of laundry when I can do two wash loads and then dry them completely in in half the time taking just over 4 hours instead of over 8 hours with the modem technology and longer cycles of new appliances I am 65 years old I have grown up with a mangle and wash tub, and a twin washer and spinner combo and a automatic washer dryer and separate washing machines and the older appliances were made to last longer and more reliable for hot water and cold water filling but the new ones are cold fill washers and have to heat up every single load to your choice of washing temperatures required for the longer times for the hottest cycles and takes over 3 hours per load this wasn’t the case with the older machines so how can you claim that they are more energy efficient but taking so much longer period of use for energy produced to running the motors and wearing the parts quicker for understanding marketing customers are being deceived and it is dishonest marketing to keep the economy going for the people involved in marketing inferior products not building to last longer and then paying more money to replace them for sales and marketing new products to find that they don’t deliver what they claim to deliver a false value to actually cost more in the long run rather than looking a at the heating system to their claims of using less heat to looking at the length of running for a complete cycle and energy resources for running the motors to disconnect from your electric power supply for the false claims that you only discover after purchasing a new heat pump dryer and comparing with the other older dryer’s that you have owned in the past.

[@neiIIism]

lol, i was struggling to read the end bit... thn realised it was because there wasn't a full stop 😅 (i have a disability btw) AGREE: that heat pumps take longer. but that because they dryer at a lower heat (which one could argue is better for your clothes). AGREE: old vented dryers may last longer (if built well). but that's the case with most simple devices with less technology as there are less moving parts and less that can go wrong. However, the energy efficiency is where it gets complicated, as heat pumps can seemingly defy the laws of thermodynamics, because they can deliver much more than one unit of heat (or cooling) per unit of electrical energy consumed 🤯 So yeah, not gonna even try explaining something so complex... in a single sentence/paragraph... online... 😅 that's just asking for trouble, lol What I will add though, is considering WHERE the energy is coming from. Taking longer doesn't always equate to using more power, if it's different technology. Like an LED vs incandescent light... the one using less power, shines brighter. Yes it's more expensive but it lasts longer too. Anyway, hope this helps 😊 My main point is that it isn't always that simple. But also agree that it is a case by case situation as to which one is "better". I guess the only way to tell in real life conditions, would be to actually measure the power consumption of both units, in the same location, at the same time 🤷🏾‍♂️ and check the results of the clothes at the end of their respective cycles 🤓

[@ritasstories9049]

Thanks for your reply. It was extremely detailed and covers pros and cons.

[@thomasscott8232]

Thanks for review. Does the machine Reverse Tumble? And How do you stop it rolling sheets into balls?

[@ritasstories9049]

No, I don't believe it does a reverse tumble. It's not a setting on the machine nor is it listed in the product specifications.

[@MieleW2573]

@@ritasstories9049 LG dryers reverse🙂

[@01killamic01]

Have you done a review showing the WiFi function or app use if it has one?

[@ritasstories9049]

No I haven't. I don't really use the WiFi function on the dryer.

[@mrmmrm2]

It is very energy efficient,but it must be terd down evry year,for cleaning,or it will stop working. Beastly mony you save on electricity,you spand on servesing.

[@ritasstories9049]

Thanks for your comment. I've not needed to get this machine maintained or serviced, yet. Maybe I'm just lucky.

[@bitcornbuyer]

Hi Rita - does it creases your clothes? Tyvm in advance

[@ritasstories9049]

Not at all, but the caveat is that you do need to take the clothes out of the dryer before the clothes cools down completely. Sometimes when I leave my dried clothes in the dryer over night or for several hours after the programme/cycle has finished then the clothes do crease. But a way round this is if you do a short programme to warm up the clothes again the creases normally fall out.

[@sinaisme]

What type of LG washer do you use? That energy A+++ -40% caught on my sight.

[@sinaisme]

i mean, what LG series washer do you use?

[@ritasstories9049]

I believe it is a series 7. But we bought it back in 2019, so not 100% sure.

[@sinaisme]

@@ritasstories9049 let me check on my country store for washer series 7.

[@uhjk91]

Does it release moist air into the room?

[@ritasstories9049]

I wouldn't say so. We've recently moved the dryer into our newly built utility room, which is small-ish and we've not noticed any moisture in the air. If there was I'm sure I would have noticed it with it being in a smaller room.

[@user-hv6uj8zx5l]

I don't understand, you make a review and you don't show the dryer operation?

[@ritasstories9049]

Sorry, maybe one to do as a follow up to this video.

[@peterli5152]

JL is also cheaper then Curry's..

[@ritasstories9049]

Thanks.

[@pussinboots1145]

You get the 2 year and 10 year warranty where ever you buy it.

[@ritasstories9049]

Thanks!

[@zanussi_and_aeg_fan]

How long does it take to dry a full load?

[@ritasstories9049]

It's really hard to answer this question as it depends on the setting that you put the machine on. Also some clothes depending on the fabrics can take a longer or shorter time to dry.

[@zanussi_and_aeg_fan]

@@ritasstories9049 Agree, but how long does it takes mostly? How long does it take to dry on the Cottons cupboard dry with a full load for example?

[@mattgreen2398]

What’s the noise like on these compared to a normal dryer ? Better or worse ?

[@mrmmrm2]

@@zanussi_and_aeg_fan it takes much longer then drayer without heat pump,olso it depends is machine in heated room,in cold room is not very efficient.

[@zanussi_and_aeg_fan]

@@mrmmrm2 I know, but every (heatpump) dryer is different, you have horrible dryer that takes ages to dry or very well made dryer with a good airflow etc, there are even heatpump dryers that dry as quick as a "normal" dryer. I had an LG EcoHybrid which had a lot of problems, and one of them was 6hours to dry a load...

[@Boschwash24]

dryer rack is shit, i prefer the dryer rack on hotpoint with two metal legs on the front

[@ritasstories9049]

I don't often use the dryer rack. Only really for trainers. But I do prefer having one than not. I've not seen the Hotpoint one, so I'll keep an eye out. Thanks!

[@lngakuru265]

It’s annoying listening to this… why do people say the same thing in 4-5sentences 🤷🏻‍♀️ get on with it

[@sandraalt1909]

I think she did a lovely job, and spoke well. I've ordered this dryer, and the explanation helped tremendously. Why criticize her? If you don't like it, turn it off, troll. Looking at you, L Ngakuru.

[@karene.4196]

100% agree! She did a fantastic job. Haters will always hate.

[@ritasstories9049]

Thanks!! I'm really happy you enjoyed my video. I'm still extremely new at making YT content (thanks for your support). I'm super excited you got this dryer and hope a bit of it was down to my video. Enjoy using it.

[@ritasstories9049]

Thanks for your support. It means a lot to me. I hope to have more videos coming out soon.

[@lngakuru265]

“If you don’t like it stacked you can have it side by side” well obviously durrrr!!🤦🏻‍♀️🙄

[@ritasstories9049]

Yes. I was trying to make the point that the dryer machine comes with wall brackets to stack on top of a washing machine, if you wanted that type of set-up. Thanks. :-)