The search for a Tumble Drier Begins

goodwithsaving

Sorry to hijack but are heat pump ones worth the extra cost? I'm happy to pay more for one that's cheaper to run, but only if any good.

Callie22

JohnB47 wrote: »

Thanks everyone.

Good to know that the tanks on condensers can be up off the ground. I must remember to check that on models I look at.

Another question - reverse action. Is it really necessary? I've read that things, like sheets, can get tangled into a ball if a machine doesn't have reverse action. I've looked at a few condensers now and none of them have this.

Thanks again. Lots of good advice here.

The tank on ours is where the detergent drawer is on a washing machine. It's a long drawer (almost the full length of the machine) that you pull out and empty. It's the condenser filter that's low on the ground, it's roughly where the 'drain' is on a washing machine. This is in addition to the usual fluff-filter that you get in driers. I believe that whatever model you get the condenser filter will need cleaning regularly, so it's worth looking into how 'fiddly' this is before you buy a drier. If you don't like a bit of a faff every few weeks, then you won't like a condenser drier.

Ours has reverse action but I can't say that I've noticed any particular benefits of that. The only problem we have is when pillowcases get tangled up in the duvet cover, they clump up and come out damp even though the sensor has decided that the load is dry. However, I'd imagine that's an issue with any drier, condenser or not.

JohnB47

Thanks for those.


I'm sure I looked at a few Bosch condenser types on the John Lewis site and they all said 'No' to reverse action. Maybe they got that wrong. Best to check the manufacturer site I think.


Also, it seems that there are three things to regularly think about on a condenser, condenser filter, fluff filter and emptying the tank. That's more than I knew a few days ago. Presumably the other types only need the fluff filter cleaned regularly?


I'm curious about the condenser filter - surely this is just water circulating round - why does it need filtered/cleaned?


goodwithsaving - welcome. You can ask questions that I don't think of! As for cost, I read a website article that claimed it would take you 11 years to recover the extra cost of a heat pump one, compared to a venting one. But who knows, maybe that was a while ago and heat pump ones aren't that much more expensive than venting ones now. Depends on the makes of course. And a heat pump type is more complicated and hence has more bits to go wrong.


Thanks again all.

daveyjp

The condenser catches small pieces of lint from clothes which aren't caught by the fluff filter.

It looks like a car radiator and condenses the steam into water which is then collected. A few times a year it needs removing and rinsing in water to remove the lint.

DigForVictory

There's no denying heat pump driers have more to go wrong, are expensive & so on, but since we do a *lot* of laundry, it's working out OK for the five of us.
As for sheets clumping, they can, but don't always - which is why son with laundry chore *may* have to inspect every half hour...

owen_money

teddysmum wrote: »

When we needed a new tumble dryer (the ancient Creda one inherited from my parents, having died), my husband consulted some of his customers and was told that Zanussi have the smallest number of returns as faulty on purchase and the fewest developing faults, so that's what we bought and have had it for several years (well over 5).


It is a condensing model , as it needs to be in the garage and it works very well.

The tumble dryer or parents?

missprice

We bought a condenser one for various reasons to do with age of house, condensation would be a problem and where it's sited would mean a hole in the outside wall to driveway and lots of small creatures due to living next to woods.

Cant fault it, it dries quickly, well a whole 8kg washer load in 2 hours. Give or take if it was only towels then it would need a bit longer.
It kicks out a huge amount of heat so helps with heating bill.
It has reverse tumble.
Fluff filter is doddle to clean out
The condensate is plumbed in same place as washing machine so no emptying it for me.
The filter down low is a bit trickier and i wish my machine was raised up slightly but still we manage as its not often needs doing .
It's a beko
Hth

JohnB47

Thanks everyone.

Just to confirm, is my earlier comment correct:

Also, it seems that there are three things to regularly think about on a condenser. Clean the condenser filter, clean the fluff filter and empty the tank. Presumably the other types only need the fluff filter cleaned regularly?

I plan to go down to the library tomorrow and look up some Which reviews.

EssexExile

JohnB47 wrote: »

Also, it seems that there are three things to regularly think about on a condenser. Clean the condenser filter, clean the fluff filter and empty the tank. Presumably the other types only need the fluff filter cleaned regularly?

That's it. You don't have to clean the condenser very often.

missile

JohnB47 wrote: »

Thanks Ebe, that's what I thought. Cheers.

glasgowdan - Yes, I thought condensers would be less efficient but maybe not? At least the heat is kept indoors.

As for emptying them - are there better/worse ways of doing this - i.e are the tanks always placed lower down, meaning bending over, or are some at the top or further up? I think I read about that somewhere.

Bending down has become a real pain recently for both of us - literally I mean. Anything that would reduce the effort of emptying a container so often would be helpful.

We raised our washing machine and tumble dryer by installing them into oven housing type units. Makes it far easier to load and unload.
The tank on my dryer is at the top easy to access when it needs emptying i.e. after every other use.