What is a bottom mount fridge?

A bottom mount refrigerator is simply a fridge that has the freezer compartment at the bottom. They come in a variety of sizes (litres), allowing you to select based on your food storage needs. Find out more about Westinghouse Bottom Mount Fridges .

What is a French door fridge freezer?

French door fridges are two door fridges designed for larger households as they have additional storage space. Find out more about Westinghouse French Door Fridges .

What temperature should a fridge be?

The Australian Institute of Food Safety recommends storing food in a refrigerator that reaches no more than 5 degrees Celsius. Find out more about Westinghouse FlexSpace flexible temperature control feature .

How do you stack a fridge?

We have created a helpful fridge stacking guide here . Stacked with practical tips and tricks – from where to store the milk to make sure it remains fresh, to where to keep the fruit and veggies to keep them crisper for longer- the guide is designed to help busy Australian families maximise fridge space, keep food fresher for longer and make it easier to find things, ultimately reducing chaos, while saving time and money. Find out more articles about managing your home and family life at The Un-Glossy .

Dryer Buying Guide | Westinghouse Australia

1. Types Of Dryers

With so many differing dryers from vented to heat pump, it can be challenging to determine which suits your family best. In this buying guide we will go through the advantages of each & the trade-offs.

Vented

A vented dryer has an open system which requires a laundry with a window to the outside. It uses external air, drawn in over a heating coil, to dry laundry very quickly, expelling hot, moist air back out again. While the benefits of faster drying are undeniable, it performs less optimally in terms of energy ratings and isn’t usually appropriate for small-space laundries without access to a window.

See products

Capacity
524 - 702L
Convertible Fridge Storage
Choosing between 5 pre-defined settings ranging from -23C to +7C our Flexspace Fully Convertible Drawer adapts to your needs with a touch of a button*. You can adjust to your families needs with ease, whether you need extra space for after-dinner treats or drinks for entertaining this drawer takes the stress out of the fridge and freezer shuffle.
*within 2 hours.
Fresh tasting ingredients for longer
Automatic humidity control and sealed feature give you the flexibility to look after your fruit and vegetables the right way for longer. The FreshSeal crisper bins are on telescopic runners which allow you to open and close them even when they are full.
Fresh filtered water and ice
On the left-hand side door, you have access to filtered water as well as cubed or crushed ice at the touch of a button helping you keep your family and guests hydrated.

Flexspace for flexible storage
With moveable door bins and the flexibility to slide back or flip-up some of the fridges, shelving allows adjusting your fridge storage to suit each grocery shop.
Dark Stainless
You want your kitchen to survive the ever-changing trends by choosing timeless design elements and classic materials that will look good today and in a decade. You can incorporate dark stainless steel appliances into your plans taking your kitchen in a fresh new direction.
Keeping your fridge clean of fingerprints
Whether there are little fingerprints in your household or just adult ones, we know fingerprints on your fridge is a problem in every family. We have made selected fridges with fingerprint-resistant real stainless steel, keeping your fridge looking picture perfect at all times.

Recommended for you

Condenser

Condenser dryers operate on a closed system - meaning the air is blown over the heating coil, into the tumble drum. Hot, moist air is then blown into the condenser chamber at which point the moisture from the air is drawn out and stored in a removable water container, and the remaining air is blown back into the dryer to begin the process again. While these dryers are an excellent solution for smaller spaces to ensure they don’t release moisture into the room, they do have the slight disadvantage of taking longer to dry clothes, as well as being able to accommodate smaller loads.

See products

Capacity
620-690L
Keeping your fridge clean of fingerprints
Whether there are little fingerprints in your household or just adult ones, we know fingerprints on your fridge is a problem in every family. We have made selected fridges with fingerprint-resistant real stainless steel, keeping your fridge looking picture perfect at all times.
Flexspace for flexible storage
With moveable door bins and the flexibility to slide back or flip-up some of the fridge shelving makes you can adjust your fridge storage to suit each grocery shop.
Quick chill function
After the car road home from the grocery shop or you have guests arriving unexpectedly, you can use the Quick Chill function to cool things down quickly. For 20 minutes the fridge will bring its temperature down to cool down its contents, once the 20 minutes have elapsed the timer alarm will notify you.
Know your temperature
With temperature sensors and internal temperature display, you can see clearly what temperature your fridge and freezer are with a touch of a button.

Easy electronic controls
With internal electronic controls, you can easily adjust the temperature on your fridge or freezer to match your needs and use functions such as Quick chill with a timer or quick freeze function effortlessly.
You won't leave the door open
With a door sensor and door alarm you are notified when you leave your fridge door open, helping you to have your fridge working at its best.
Frost free
With a built-in frost-free system, gone are the days of needing to schedule in the freezer defrost.
LED lighting
Our fridges have LED lighting helping you see every cm of your fridge, ensuring no ingredients or food goes to waste.

Heat pump

A heat pump dryer works in a similar way to a condenser dryer, except that it doesn’t use a heat coil. Instead, it operates in much the same way as an air conditioning unit or fridge - compressing air via heat exchanger technology and utilising refrigerant, a working fluid that aids in the heating and extraction of hot air and water in your dryer. Like a condenser, it deposits water into a removable container, removing it from your clothes. The use of refrigerant instead of a heating coil, however, makes it the most energy efficient type of dryer on the market by far, meaning that while it can be more expensive to buy, it’s much cheaper to run in the long-term.

See products

Capacity
243 - 501L
Healthy continuous fresh water
Designed to keep your family and guests hydrated, the water dispenser built into the fridge door supplies filtered water at your convenience.
Fresh tasting ingredients for longer
Humidity control is important to keep your fruit and vegetables fresh and limit your food wastage. It is important to give your fruit and vegetables the right amount moisture for them to stay fresh and tasty. You will need to set your crisper to open for fruit as you need to allow for ethylene gases to escape and closed for vegetables as they need to retain moisture.
Keeping your fridge clean of fingerprints
Whether there are little fingerprints in your household or just adult ones, we know fingerprints on your fridge is a problem in every household . We have made selected fridges with fingerprint resistant real stainless steel, keeping your fridge looking picture perfect at all times.
Flexspace for flexible storage
With moveable door bins and the flexibility to slide back or flip up some of the fridge shelving makes you are able to adjust your fridge storage to suit each grocery shop.

Quick chill function
After the car road home from the grocery shop or you have guests arriving unexpectedly you can use the Quick Chill function to cool things down quickly. For 20 minutes the fridge will bring its temperature down to cool down its contents, once the 20 minutes have lapsed the timer alarm will notify you.
Know your temperature
With temperature sensors and internal temperature display you are able to see clearly what temperature your fridge and freezer are with a touch of a button.
Easy electronic controls
With internal electronic controls you can easily adjust the temperature on your fridge or freezer to match your needs and use functions such as Quick chill with timer or quick freeze function effortlessly.
You won't leave the door open
With a door sensor and door alarm you are notified when you leave your fridge door open, helping you to have your fridge work at its best.
Frost free
With a built-in frost free system, gone are the days of needing to schedule in the freezer defrost.

2. Space

When it comes to choosing which dryer is best for your home, the space and layout of your laundry is a big consideration. Vented dryers tend to be smaller than their condenser counterparts, with the average dimensions of our vented range coming in at 795(h) x 600 (w) x 560 (d) and an average condenser model measuring 850 (h) x 600 (w) x 650 (d). Having a convenient and efficient structure to the way your space is utilised can make a big difference - for example, heat pump dryers cannot be wall-mounted, so you may like to consider a stacking kit or even a washer/dryer combo for smaller spaces. Be sure to leave adequate room behind the dryer for vents/hose hookups if necessary, as well as at least a few centimetres either side of the dryer for air circulation.

3. Size

Your household’s size and laundry requirements will dictate the size of the perfect Westinghouse dryer. With capacity ranging from 4.5kg all the way up to 8kg, there is something to suit every home. We’ve created a table below to help you decide what’s right for you.

Household size	Dryer capacity (kg)
1-2 people	4.5kg
2-3 people	5.5kg
3-4 people	6.5kg
4-5 people +	8kg

4. Energy Efficiency

Australia’s Energy Star-Rating scheme allows consumers to compare their products with similar models to understand how much energy they consume. The more stars, the more energy efficient a product is. While vented dryers are typically the least energy-efficient dryer model, our EasyCare heat pump dryer boasts a 7 star energy rating, making it one of the most competitive models on the market in terms of how efficiently it runs.

All Westinghouse dryers include a range of features allowing you to control the amount of energy consumed in a cycle, including eco settings, dryness variability and adjustable times for different drying needs. In addition, there are several ways in which you can improve the energy efficiency of your dryer, such as remembering to empty the lint filter after every use, and ensuring the water extraction container is emptied before use.

5. Speed

There are a number of variables which will determine the speed at which your load is ready. For starters, the size of your load compared with the capacity of your dryer will impact drying times, as will the nature of your laundry. Thicker, denser fabrics such as denim and heavy towels require more time than lighter, more delicate items.

Larger drums also move hot air around in a more efficient way, and this decreases drying time. Tip: if you have some items you need dried in a hurry, try reducing the amount of clothing in that load to ensure the most efficient outcome.

6. Dryer Programs

Understanding the different dryer programs and how they apply to your needs will greatly increase the efficiency of your machine. For example, if ironing isn’t your thing, the anti-crease program will leave clothes wrinkle-free and ready to wear. If energy efficiency is important to you, choosing the eco-dry setting will help you reduce on costs, or utilising the delayed start function to make the most of off-peak power prices. The delicates setting on your dryer is perfect for garments that need gentler handling, and can be utilised to prolong the life of your clothes.

Delicates

For those extra special items that normally require a little extra care, the delicate cycle on our dryers is perfect to refresh your garments without causing any harm.

Eco Cotton

For maximum energy efficiency, select the Eco Cotton cycle and set the dryness level to 'cotton cupboard'. This will not only save you energy but also dry your cottons effectively.

7. Care Considerations

There are a few things to remember in looking after your Westinghouse dryer that will ensure it functions at its very best for years to come.

Cleaning the lint trap

As well as removing lint buildup from the lint tray after every use, it’s a good idea to properly clean the filter every few months. For a tutorial on how to properly clean it, this video is useful.

Emptying and cleaning water extraction container

Condenser and heat pump dryers extract the moisture from hot air and deposit it into a container that fits into the body of the dryer. When this becomes too full, the dryer will no longer function as it should, which means you must empty it after each use. In order to prevent pooling water, ensure it is fully empty every time, by making sure all water has drained out of it.

Cleaning the heat exchanger

Every ten dryer loads, it’s important to give the heat exchanger and filter system of your heat pump dryer a good clean, as the residue from clothing, lint and fabric softener can clog it up, reducing air-flow and drying efficiency. This can be done by removing all the filters, including the lint trap, and using the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to extract all the dust and clothing residue. You can then go back over it with a damp microfibre cloth.

8. FAQs

Are heat pump dryers a type of condenser dryer?

A heat pump dryer is essentially a kind of condenser dryer, with one major difference. A condenser dryer removes moisture from clothing and deposits the water into a container or drainage tube, using the remaining warm air to blow back into the laundry, repeating the cycle.

A heat pump dryer uses different technology to remove the water from your laundry, then re-heats and recycles the dry air.

How often should I clean my lint filter?

You should clean the lint filter after every load. This is important on two levels - firstly, it’s a fire hazard to leave lint in the filter. Secondly, a clogged-up lint filter reduces air-flow and efficiency, reducing the quality and speed of your dying cycle.

What clothes should not go in the dryer?

While it stands to reason that you should avoid putting anything in the dryer with a care tag that warns against tumble drying, there are certain additional items that should stay out of your machine. Running shoes, anything with a rubber backing (certain types of undergarments and shapewear, or active-wear, for example), pantyhose, bras or garments with embellishments. Always be sure to check the care labels on your clothing and if in doubt, check the manufacturer’s website.

Do I need to vent my dryer?

If you have a vented dryer, yes. The risks of not venting a dryer outside (this can be safely done with an opening laundry window) is expelling moist air into your home which can cause condensation and, over time, mould. There is also an increased fire risk due to lint being trapped in the external vents of the machine.

Which dryers are gentler on my clothes?

While heat pump dryers take longer to dry your clothes, they actually use lower temperatures and speeds than a traditional vented dryer, thus are less hard-wearing on your clothes. Over time, this can increase the life of your garments.

Find Out More