Condenser Tumble dryer

daveyjp

Hannah2 wrote: »

Sorry, I have to disagree with this, I have a Bosch condensor dryer with sensor and it drives me mad as what it calls cupboard dry and what I call cupboard dry are at opposite ends of the scale! With my old Candy machine it was on a time scale and I could set it for another 20 minutes (for example) if I wanted a particular load a bit dryer. With this thing it is all on the sensor so it knows best and even if I want to put it back on, it shuts itself off because it has decided they are dry enough.

Also, it is an 8Kg load but if you dont put a full load in the sensor doesnt seem to function fully and it always stops before they are dry - doesnt matter if they can go in the airing cupboard but sometimes you want them dry.

Drives me potty!!!!!

We also have a Bosch condensor, a full load takes about 45 minutes.

If cupboard dry isn't dry enough use "very dry" instead. Ours also has a 40 minute fixed time/refresh cycle.

airmark

Bumping this thread as I'm looking for a condenser tumble dryer at the moment and would appreciate some input.
I am interested in
a) quality, durability, reliability (not needing service every so often) and
b) low total cost over a useful life of say 10 years, i.e. purchase price, spare parts if any, and electricity for 250 loads per year (so say 2500 loads), at a cost of 10p per KWh.

I found this model here that gets excellent reviews:
http://www.appliancesonline.co.uk/product/DCU6130W-Beko-Condenser-Tumble-Dryer-White-25193.aspx
Including the Ocado voucher, the purchase cost is only £140. Running cost (under assumptions above) appears to be £840 for the decade (assuming it lasts that long), so £960 total.

Another candidate on the high end is this:
http://www.appliancesonline.co.uk/product/WTW86561GB-Bosch-EcoLogixx-Condenser-Tumble-Dryer-White-24925.aspx?cmredirectionvalue=Bosch%20WTW86561GB
Purchase cost £725 (but possible could shop around for I guess maybe £100 less?) and total running cost £420, so £1165.

Any thoughts or perhaps suggestions for other models?

evoke

I have a Hotpoint TCM580 Aquarius condenser dryer and have never had a single issue with it in 2 years. It takes an 8KG load but I would recommend only putting in a half load if you want your clothes dried quickly.

The huge water collection bottle takes ages to full up before it needs to be emptied although I empty it after every load.

An average load takes around 90 minutes to dry. There's very little maintenance that you need to do - just clean the fluff filter and empty the water bottle. There is an additional filter that needs to be inspected and cleaned if it's clogged up at the bottom of the machine but i've only checked that a couple of times in two years and it has never needed cleaning.

One of the benefits i've found of my condenser drier is that it expels warm air so contributes to the warming up of my house during the cooler months when the drier is being used.

I, too, had reservations about getting a condenser drier but i'm very happy that I did. Zero issues in two years and very convenient as no holes need to be drilled in my outside walls for a vent.

Myser

You can also use the water from the condenser dryer in steam irons!

airmark

In the end I went for the Beko one (for £199). Seems good so far. Quite fast and efficient.