Advice on Tumble Dryers

Benson

Sorry if this isn't the correct forum (if there is a better one please feel free to move)

I inherited an old tumble dryer when we moved into our new house (id never had one before so didn't know what a saviour they are with 3 young children - id previously had a washer/dryer which left everything more creased than when it went in)

It has now died so i need a new one but its all very confusing to me

It seems there are 2 basic types:
Condenser
Vented

I don't currently have the pipework for a vented dryer so condenser is the best option but if vented are much better results wise then i can arrange to have the work done.

Is there any preference as to which works better?

Also looking on the different sites theres a few names I don't recognise:
Beko?
White Knight?
And then the Hotpoint/Indesit which im sure ive read on here somewhere to steer clear?

other than that it jumps up in price to candy, Zanussi, and then Bosch/Miele and Neff are v expensive

Are there any functions that are vital with dryers? The last one i think was a spin dryer so only 1 function so im a bit lost in all the jargon

Any help appreciated

aliasojo

Benson wrote: »

Are there any functions that are vital with dryers? The last one i think was a spin dryer so only 1 function so im a bit lost in all the jargon

Any help appreciated

I would not be without a dryer these days. They are a godsend for a busy family.

I've been researching for weeks and have just bought a new one and have come to the conclusion it's a lucky dip!

I had a top of the range vented Siemens previously. It's sensor drying ability was awful, it often stopped before the clothes were dry, even on the dryest setting. It had no reverse tumble function so everything ended up in a tight knot in the drum. Considering Siemens are one of the most widely touted 'quality' makes, I was disappointed with it tbh.

I bought an LG 9kg condenser model this time. It dries well and the clothes don't end up knotted BUT it is noisy and has an annoying bit that vibrates on it no matter how level it is. Good big drum though.

Important to me:

reverse drum action
big drum
Minimum 'B' rating (for energy efficiency/electric running costs)

WestonDave

You'll probably get more opinions than there are posters on this site!

Some people hate condensors and claim they are more expensive to run - however modern ones are much closer to vented ones in terms of energy usage, which is really the only difference. We've had a Bosch condensor one for getting on 7 years with no problems - it runs on a sensor basis so shuts off when the washing is dry. Emptying the water container is no more hassle than cleaning the fluff filter.

Clearly the condensor uses some additional energy to cool the steam back into water - however my view is that you need to take a broader view especially in these times of high energy prices. Its no good saving a few pence on using less energy in a vented dryer, if all that heat is heading straight out of the wall, whereas a condensor tends to keep the heat in the house so offsets other heating bills. If you want to be really flash you can now get condesing dryers that use the heat from the house into the dryer via a heat pump which obviously uses less energy.

You do seem to get what you pay for - White Knight is very cheap and shows it - Beko do get some good reviews but I've always been wary of their low prices suggesting poor quality.

pigpen

condenser ones are the crappest of the crap! They take 3 times as long to dry half as much and even the new ones use 3 times the electricity of a vented one.. mainly because they dry then condense they use energy for both and dont do both at the same time.. I have had several different ones and my energy monitor says get rid! they are kind of like running a dryer and a fridge alternately.. very inefficient

Vented ones dry.. quickly and therefore far cheaper to run..

White knight/Beko/hotpoint.. avoid like you life depends on it.. they are absolute rubbish.

I have had years of TD usage and have found Hoover to be the best in terms of taking a lot of use, quick drying and fairly efficient to run... heats my kitchen wonderfully too I have had my current 1 vented dryer (which eplaced 2 condensors!!! they are so crap and take so long to dry everything!) for about 3 years I think now and it has been fixed once.. the element blew..

Bufger

If you have the space for it next to an outside wall then its worth having the work done (quick hole in the wall and vent installed) as you can then always buy vented - they are cheaper to run as they take half the time and half the effort.

Condensing units have to have the water tray emptied after each cycle. You can get some that have the extra pipework to drain out to a mains drainage site so if you have it next to the washing machine you can drain to the same place. Condensing dryers are also more expensive to purchase (roughly £40 less for a similar vented model) - you can use this saving to offset the cost of having a vent put in the wall.

I had to go with a condensing dryer as the space for my dryer was in the kitchen island nowhere near a wall. I actually love the unit i bought, its done a great job so far (1 year on) and has to get through tons of baby clothes!

delain

I've got a condenser dryer and I do find that it takes longer to dry things than my vented one did... But I never had anywhere for it to vent because the space for it is on the internal wall so it used to make puddles on the floor because I had to have the hose poking out into the room :rotfl:

kingfisherblue

I've got a condenser dryer and I love it. If it broke tonight, I'd be out buying a new one tomorrow. I couldn't afford much when I bought this one about four years ago, so I got an Indesit. I've had no problems at all, even though it is one of the cheapest models. Emptying the water isn't a problem - it only takes a few seconds.

I use my dryer a lot, as one of my children is disabled and is doubly incontinent and also vomits frequently. I can't hang wet washing around the house, as it affects his breathing. So apart from when I can hang things outside, I use my dryer.

4nnabella

kingfisherblue wrote: »

I've got a condenser dryer and I love it. If it broke tonight, I'd be out buying a new one tomorrow. I couldn't afford much when I bought this one about four years ago, so I got an Indesit. I've had no problems at all, even though it is one of the cheapest models. Emptying the water isn't a problem - it only takes a few seconds.

I use my dryer a lot, as one of my children is disabled and is doubly incontinent and also vomits frequently. I can't hang wet washing around the house, as it affects his breathing. So apart from when I can hang things outside, I use my dryer.

I could have written this post myself... We've got an Indesit condensor dryer and it's fine. I don't use it much at this time of year, unless it's raining, as I prefer to dry stuff outside when I can but use it loads during the wetter colder months. I have mine plumbed into the washing machine drain, so no emptying water out, but if I did then it's just a drawer that pulls out of the front, like the drawer on a washing machine but longer, so it's easy peasy.

I got mine 18 months ago and have had no problems with it whatsoever, and it dries clothes really quick.

aliasojo

Ironically Indesit are on the Which 'don't buy' list.....which brings me back to my earlier lucky dip comment.

Lotus-eater

So what tumble drier have you got now then, if you don't have a vent in the wall?

FWIW We've had a White Knight vented for quite a few years and it's not gone wrong once. It doesn't get used a massive amount though.
Personally I spent alot on my washer as it's alot more important to me. We can live without the drier, not the washer.

FatVonD

I've always had vented tumble driers but opted for a condenser this time as I wanted the lovely smell to be inside my house rather than in the garden. Big mistake! Now I just have condensation inside the house.

I have the Hotpoint one and it's rubbish, it even says in the instructions that fabric should contain a certain amount of moisture, presumably to excuse the fact the clothes come out damp.