tumble dryers

Tberry

Hi, I can't find a thread about tumble dryers in here, though I'm sure there is one. I'm strongly considering buying one, getting totally sick of musty towels and flannels, but would love to hear of your experience of using one. What is the most economical to run, which is best, vented or condenser, any recommendations for ones that wont cost the earth to buy, anything you can tell me that will help me make a decision. I am a household of one, so don't want anything that is geared for a big family, and finances are tight. thanks.

Valli

I've only ever had vented but it's one of those gadgets I massively appreciate. Last few weeks I have been working full time; so it has been a boon. The drying cycle is shorter than the washing cycle; it cuts down on ironing and It's somehting I wouldn't give up as I cannot abide having wet washing draped about the house. I line dry if I can; I TD if I can't.
As for towels - well line drying is fine; tumble drying means fluffy towels but towels dried in the house - yeuch

tony6403

I changed my vented for condensing.
In addition to the obvious no need for a hole in the wall or to stick the vent pipe through a window you get the benefit of the heat from the machine.
Mine is a Whirlpool and I am very pleased with it.
I have just checked Which Mag. and using performance together with an eye on price , this seems to be the best option

• Which? score: 64%
• Price: £250.00
• Launch date: May 2012
• Type: Condenser
• Find lowest price

Beko - DSC64S

ryder72

A condensing dryer is going to be more energy efficient than a vented one so the additional cost will pay for itself in time.

Miele make the best ones (with a price tag). Otherwise you wont go wrong with a Bosch/Siemens unit.

Jonesya

With the condensing types, some of the better ones now use a heat pump to significantly reduce their power consumption over the regular condensing ones, but they're more expensive up-front.

olias

I don't know who these people are who think they are expensive to run. I have never line dried in my life - tumble dry everything (vented), and have never had particularly high electricity bills. There are two of us, me and the wife, together with dogs and a horse), and so its usually going at least once a day. I have never spent more than £150 on one ( I just look at the reviews on tesco or argos websites or similar and buy the cheapest one with the best reviews), and they usually last at least 5 years.

Olias

ryder72

That vented dryers are more expensive to run compared to vented tumble dryers is a fact. Whether you or I think that it isnt expensive is completely irrelevant.

You may feel the bills are insignificant but that doesnt mean that someone out there wanting to buy a dryer should not have the best available information to hand before making a purchase.

You may be happy to spend £150 every 5 years. I spent £475 on a Miele machine once, 12 years ago and its never missed a beat. They are designed to last 20 years and I have little doubt that mine will. If it does, its cost me less that 4 cheap dryers over the course of its lifetime, and each time its run its saved be a bit of money over a vented version.

This information, the OP might find useful.

olias

Whoa, calm down fella! The OP stated he was tight for finances so I doubt he would have the cash to splash on a miele (which a quick google shows at currently £550-£800 ish). He also stated that he was after any information that would help him make a descision. The advice I gave fulfilled most of the criteria the OP asked about.

Olias

mrcow

ryder72 wrote: »

Otherwise you wont go wrong with a Bosch/Siemens unit.

Except you could.

My sister had two Bosch machines in a row. Both broke down and were unreliable.

ryder72

mrcow mate - cant use an exception to prove a rule. Its very unfortunate that your sister experienced 2 broken Bosch machines in a row. On the other hand I retail BSH (and other makes) of appliances in their hundreds and see that the level of problems are amongst the lowest on BSH products.

mrcow

ryder72 wrote: »

mrcow mate - cant use an exception to prove a rule. Its very unfortunate that your sister experienced 2 broken Bosch machines in a row. On the other hand I retail BSH (and other makes) of appliances in their hundreds and see that the level of problems are amongst the lowest on BSH products.

1. Please don't call me "mate". I wasn't aware that I was your mate?

2. She had two broken machines in a row. You said "you can't go wrong". Her experience is yes - you most certainly can.