Tumble dryer heater packed up - repair or renew?

Bogof_Babe

I have a Zanussi condenser dryer, about five years old, and the heater has stopped heating. The drum still goes round but nothing gets dry as the temperature is too low. I've tried it on both high and low settings, and de-fluffed the condenser element, but no good.

Just wondering if this is the sort of thing that could be fixed comparatively cheaply (obviously we would call in a Zanussi specialist), or would we be wasting the call-out charge as we'd probably be told it wasn't economic to repair, and would end up getting a new one anyway.

Any advice welcome.

neil9313

Whats the model number? How old is it?

totalsolutions

Five years old, now Neil.

Could be the heater matrix/element or just a corroded connector. Might be the thermal cutout that has tripped, reset or replace. Heater would be the most costly part and then the time to fit. No one handy to look at it for you?

Bogof_Babe

TCE 7124 W is the model no.

No we don't know anyone capable of repairing it. My OH just suggested I see if I can order a replacement part online, but without knowing which part is faulty it's a bit of a longshot, and anyway he doesn't feel confident enough to tinker about with it himself.

Edit: Assuming we could get a replacement heater, roughly how much would one cost?

Bogof_Babe

Off to bed now, been travelling all day and can't keep my eyes open. Will be back to see if any further advice tomorrow. Thanks for replies so far.

OddjobKIA

we are ordering a new heater element for our whiteknight tumble dryer form ebuyer...cost £10.99

totalsolutions

Tried this?? Quote from the service manual
"Emptying the water reservoir
Water extracted from the laundry condenses inside
the machine and is collected in a reservoir.
The reservoir must be emptied after each drying
cycle to ensure efficient operation when the machine
is next used.
If this is not done a safety device trips: pilot light
on the control panel comes on and the
programme stops, leaving the laundry damp. The
buzzer will sound for 1 minute.
The reservoir can be emptied even in the middle of a
programme."

Manuals here http://dl.owneriq.net/2/2773916d-927e-42ec-a2ad-3767ca22fc97.pdf
or here http://www.serviceforce.co.uk/pdfs/U23246.pdf

Service & Spare Parts
In the event of your appliance requiring service, or if
you wish to purchase spare parts, please contact your
local Service Force Centre by telephoning:
0870 5 929929
Your telephone call will be automatically routed to
the Service Force Centre covering your post code
area.
For the address of your local Service Force Centre
and further information about Service Force, please
visit the website at https://www.serviceforce.co.uk.
For Customer Service in Ireland please contact us at
the address below:
Zanussi Electrolux
Electrolux Group (Irl) Ltd
Long Mile Road
Dublin 12
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 4090751
Email: service.eid@electrolux.ie

Bogof_Babe

Thanks total for all your advice. We always empty the water reservoir after each use, and as the machine was still rotating, but just with cold air not warm I don't think it's that.

Anyway.... not very MSE but we went out this morning and have ordered a new one . I can't be doing with unreliable household items, and even though summer is coming there are still wet days and I have nowhere to dry bedding indoors.

We've gone for a Bosch on the grounds of their reputation - hope we've made the right choice.

macman

For an item costing £200-£400 to replace, I would have thought it's worth spending maybe £25 on a call out to get the repair costed up. It can only be the heater element or the connector etc.
Most of the heater elements seem to be priced at no more than £35, some half that.
My local white goods repairer charges £25 for assessment and then £25 for the repair. So with parts, a job like this might cost no more than about £80. No need to call an official Zanussi agent.
I have a Bosch tumble drier which had pump failure after 8 years. With a replacement pump (about £90 with labour) it's still going strong 3 years later.
Certainly worthwhile repairing a good model, obviously not worth it on a cheaper model though.