Should I buy a condensing tumble dryer?

want2bmortgage3

I am trying to reduce condensation in my flat as its previously had damp problems and mould growing in corners (due to condensation).

So far I have fitted a decent fan in the bathroom to replace the cheapo one this has definitely improved the bathroom when having a hot shower/bath

I have also had old heat recovery ventilators removed and the holes filled in, these were supposedly a solution to the problem by the previous owner, but did not seem to work very well!

I considered venting the hob extractor fan outside but decided against it as it means drilling a big hole out the front above a window, where there are tiles on the outside, then running a duct along the top of the wall in the kitchen. So when cooking I aim to shut the door and open the window slightly.

The last thing I can think of is drying clothes. I do have a small garden but access is along an alleyway around the back of the flat, plus there isnt a lot of sunlight here, and if left there I reckon clothes would get nicked. Also at this time of year i doubt the clothes would dry! So currently drying clothes takes time and means the heating has to come on. Plus all the water vapour is released inside the flat and potentially ending up on cold walls.

So , my question do you think a condensing dryer is a good purchase? I have no space in the kitchen due to washing machine and dishwasher, but I do have a cupboard it could sit in. There is no way of venting in here so it would have to be condensing. If i did get one would you pay a little extra for sensor drying? This seems to be a sensible idea as you dont have to keep checking the clothes and also dont leave the appliance on for too long.

I look forward to replies

fluffymuffy

I've got one - it's my third in ten years. The advantages are that you don't need to vent it and so you can put it anywhere, and also you're not throwing away the heat it generates as it stays in the house (or flat).

Disadvantages are that it takes longer to dry the clothes - I've found, though this may not be universal, and therefore costs more to run than a vented drier. Also, if you need to use it on a hot but wet summer day then you're adding more heat to your house.

If you do get one check how the water collecting tank is emptied before you buy. The one we have at the moment is simple but we did look at one in a shop where you had to take a panel off the bottom and then disattach a thingy(!/*%) before unclipping the tank and sliding it (&£?!!) - which considering you're supposed to empty it every cycle meant it was a very poor design.

Your best bet is to dry things on radiators and use a dehumidifier.

richardw

Some do not condense all the water but throw some out into the room as warm damp air, so you need a well ventilated room.

want2bmortgage3

thanks for the tip fluffy! i still worry though that drying on a clothes horse will create a lot more condensation than the water collecting in a tub.. i cant believe that very much damp air would escape.. compared with water evaporating off of air dried clothes.

andrew-b

The money saving way might be vented drier with vent pipe out of window - which is what i always used to do. Doesn't need to be in the kitchen...mine used to always be in the bedroom (i covered it over when not in use to hide it a bit!).
Vented driers are cheaper to buy, cheaper to run (?), less to go wrong.
Fluffy...3 in 10 years ...doesn't sound that great to me! Our one (Creda) was originally my grandparents one - not sure how old it is but its greater than 10 - not a single problem with it. My sister has exactly the same model and again no probs.

Andy

daveyjp

Get one - best gadget in our house. Ours is an auto sensing Bosch (had it over 4 years and no probs) and takes about 45 minutes for a full washer load to be 'cupboard dry'. A single cycle fills half the water container - about 3 pints of water. All this would be in your flat if you dried clothes in there.

The residual heat is great for warming the kitchen too!

want2bmortgage3

there would be no way of venting it if i put it as planned in the cupboard, although bedroom could be an option. davey- thats what i thought if it fills up 3 pints of water then that would just escape into the flat if i was drying on a radiator... and probably end up condensing on a cold wall..