Condensing/heat pump tumble dryers

bjorn_toby_wilde

How well do heat pump dryers work in terms of removing moisture from the discharged air?

Just to give you the background, my parents have an ageing Hotpoint Condensing dryer which is (thankfully) about to give up the ghost.  It’s never been any good since the day they had it and they’ve had an ongoing problem with condensation and mould in the kitchen.  If you walk in from outside when it’s running it feels like the steam room at the gym.

I’m obviously keen that this doesn’t happen with the next one they buy. They’re looking at a Bosch heat pump dryer and I just wondered what other people’s experiences were.

Thanks in advance.

daveyjp

As its aging it is far more likely the rubber door seals are failing with continual heat and moisture.  Once the door seal goes steam will escape.  You may also find if you took the machine lid off the inside has lots of lint affecting air flow.

We have a modern Bosch condenser and no issues with steam escaping, but I know it is likely to become an issue in future years as it has happened to other dryers we have had, but both lasted at least ten years.

As for heat pump ours lasted 4 years so it was an expensive mistake to buy one, never again.

bjorn_toby_wilde

Interesting. In this case it’s always been bad, from day one, and I do remember reading a Which report that not all condenser dryers were actually very good at condensing!  As it’s making loud noises and about to expire I’m not inclined to investigate, but that’s a very good point about the seals.

carly

That's weird.  There shouldn't really be any damp air escaping into the room. I have a 24 year old Philips condenser dryer and it warms the room beautifully but never a hint of damp.  I dread it  breaking down as the newer ones tend to attract a lot of negative remarks. 

NeilRed

Bought a Bosch Heat Pump drier last week to replace a 12 year old condenser drier which snapped the belts.  The new one does take a LOT longer which I was expecting; however the laundry was still damp after a 3 hour cycle (top setting cupboard dry plus 3+) plus 30 mins timed plus another 30 mins timed.  Similar laundry in the old one was bone dry in < an hour.   Bosch Customer service line today actually recommended 'finishing it off' afterwards.  When asked to expand on this - "put it on the radiator".  Basically this dryer is not fit for purpose.  The engineer is coming to check it out on Friday; if there's 'nothing wrong' with it then it's going back.  I'm less than impressed with heat pump driers.    

Cardew

NeilRed said:

Bought a Bosch Heat Pump drier last week to replace a 12 year old condenser drier which snapped the belts.  The new one does take a LOT longer which I was expecting; however the laundry was still damp after a 3 hour cycle (top setting cupboard dry plus 3+) plus 30 mins timed plus another 30 mins timed.  Similar laundry in the old one was bone dry in < an hour.   Bosch Customer service line today actually recommended 'finishing it off' afterwards.  When asked to expand on this - "put it on the radiator".  Basically this dryer is not fit for purpose.  The engineer is coming to check it out on Friday; if there's 'nothing wrong' with it then it's going back.  I'm less than impressed with heat pump driers.    

Which have just tested and ranked 114 Heat pump, condenser and vented tumble dryers. Heat pump dryers took the top 54 places.

There are several Bosch Heat pump dryers but the top rated model(in 12th place) was particularly good on speed and efficiency:
' Heat pump dryers are often slower than conventional dryers because they use lower temperatures to save energy, but this Bosch takes just 21 minutes to dry each kilo of laundry in the drum, so it’s quicker than most.'