Hoover H-Dry 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N

Introduction

A budget tumble dryer, the Hoover H-Dry 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N still manages to pack in smart app control, sensor-drying, a heat pump and a 9kg drum.

It’s slightly fiddly to use at times, and there are cheaper tumble dryers to run, but if you want the basics, this is a well-priced option.

Design and features

• Smart app control
• Clever water tank
• Lots of dry cycles to choose from

Don’t get confused and opt for the condenser version of the Hoover H-Dry 350, which is much cheaper than the H-Dry 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N I have on review. This model has a heat pump, so is more energy efficient and cheaper to run, as you can see in our more detailed look at heat pump vs condenser tumble dryers.

Given that the version I have on review can be bought for a shade over £400, it’s excellent value and will pay back the difference in cost compared to the cheaper condenser model.

The Hoover H-Dry 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N is a little more basic than some models and feels a bit cheap in some regards. For example, the mode selector dial is finished in chrome-effect plastic, and there’s a plastic grill at the front for the fan, rather than the plain façade that most tumble dryers have.

There is a large drum, with a 9kg wet capacity, and I found it easy to load up my test wet washing.

As this is Hoover, there’s no water tank where the detergent drawer normally goes on a washing machine. Instead, water is collected in a tank mounted on the door.

I quite like this design. It makes it easy to see when the tank is full, and the chunky handle makes the tank easy to pick up. Thanks to the design, it’s also easier to fully empty; with a traditional water tank, there’s usually a tiny bit of water left behind.

A lint filter in the door lifts up for easy cleaning, and should be cleaned out at the end of each cycle.

There’s also a secondary sponge filter at the bottom, which is a bit stiff to remove, but should be cleaned under running water when the filter cleaning light blinks.

The front panel offers a good range of drying cycles, which can be selected using the control dial. Turning the dial turns the machine on, but it also means that the Hoover H-Dry 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N can’t turn off fully at the end of a cycle. Instead, it shows STBy (standby) on the screen.

Cottons Eco is the first cycle you come to, and this is locked to Hanging Dry. Think of it as a quick set-and-forget cycle to reduce running costs.

The other main cycles, such as Whites (for regular cottons and towels), Synthetics, Shirts, and so on, do have selectable drying options, including iron, hanging, cupboard, and extra dry.

It’s good to see Wool and Delicates cycles, and there’s also an Anti-Odour cycle that uses cool air to freshen laundry without having to wash it. This isn’t quite as in-depth a cycle as a tumble dryer that has a steam option, such as the Beko B5T49231IW.

The XXL Load is useful if you’ve got big items, such as curtains or tablecloths. Here, special drum movements are used to make sure that bigger items dry properly.

The Hoover H-Dry 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N  is compatible with the hON app, which is home to all of Hoover, Haier and Candy products, so you could mix and match, say buying a Haier HW110-BD14397U1 washing machine.

Remote control is available provided it’s enabled via the control panel each time the machine is turned on (a safety feature that’s the same on all washing machines and tumble dryers). Alternatively, you can just use the app to select the wash cycle you want, and hit play on the machine when ready.

The app allows you to monitor drying progress and receive a notification when the machine has completed its cycle, which is handy.

I also like that there are full details for each cycle. For example, the Shirts cycle is limited to 2.5kg of clothes, but there’s no way of telling this from the front of the machine, and finding and reading the manual is often too much of a hassle.

There are also additional cycles designed for specific items, such as Backbacks, Bathrobes, Cuddly Toys and Technical Fabrics. It’s nice to have the extra options, which tend to only be needed a couple of times per year.

The app is also useful if you have a time-of-use tariff for your electricity. Programme in when your electricity is at its cheapest, and the app can automatically schedule drying to take place then, saving money.

 Performance

• Good drying performance
• Not the cheapest tumble dryer to run

I tested a few different loads out to see how well the Hoover H-Dry 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N could cope with various clothes. I started with the Cottons Eco cycle. My clothes came out with 96.31% of the water removed, at a cost of 27p for the cycle (assuming 24.5p per kWh).

That’s considerably cheaper than using a condenser tumble dryer, or a washer dryer, such as the Indesit BDE 107436 WV UK, but a little more expensive than much of the competition. The Beko B5T49231IW used 23p on a similar cycle, with 99.59% of the water removed.

I did find a sock made its way onto the top of the water tank, so didn’t dry; but, this only happened the once.

With the Cupboard dry option, the Hoover H-Dry 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N ended up removing 98.41% of water at a cycle cost of 29p. That’s cheaper than the same cycle on the Beko tumble dryer, although it’s interesting to note that Beko’s hanging dry cycle removed more water at a cheaper cost.

Look at the best in the business, such as the Haier HD90-A3Q397U1, and you can get even cheaper running costs. I found that the Haier tumble dryer cost just 26p for its hanging dry cycle (101.67% of water removed, with some fabric loss), and just 20p on its hanging dry cycle to remove 99.17% of moisture.

It is important to factor in the cost of the tumble dryer. By far, the Hoover H-Dry 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N is the cheapest heat pump tumble dryer that I’ve reviewed. Its low purchase cost does make it attractive to those who use a tumble dryer less frequently; dry more often, and I’d be tempted to spend a bit more on a device with cheaper running costs.

I also tested the Anti-Odour cycle, which cost just 1p to run. My zip-up fleece came out with the mustiness removed, so it’s a useful cycle for clothes that have been on a shelf for a while. For softening fabrics and deeper odour removal, a steam refresh cycle, available on both the Haier HD90-A3Q397U1 and Beko B5T49231IW tumble dryers, is better.

Should you buy it?