How do I play the Domestic & General game?

Sterlingtimes

Next Monday, Domestic & General will again send out a Beko technician to repair my dreadful heat pump tumble dryer.

The dryer, a heavily used one, heats and rotates, but on the "cotton plus plus" setting, it takes 7 hours or more to dry.

The technician, judging on past experience, will almost certainly have been taught a script to tell me incorrectly that I have not maintained and cleaned the machine correctly. He will most likely do nothing to address the issue.

How do I handle this situation? Any tips?

Do I wait a week after his departure and make another booking, then repeat the process?

Unless this is a defective sensor, I wonder whether there is a significant build-up of fluff in the non-serviceable inner components of the machine.

debitcardmayhem

I watched this a while ago 

https://www.how-to-repair.com/beko-condenser-tumble-dryer-ultimate-maintenance-guide-empty-water-tank-light-staying-on-or-leak/

squirrelpie

Sterlingtimes said:

How do I handle this situation? Any tips?

Ask him (in advance?) specifically for a written copy of whatever the correct maintenance and cleaning prodedure is that you're supposed to follow. If you are following it, say so. If you're not but you disagree with the regime, say so and put your reasons in writing. See what happens. If you're not and don't disagree, give up!

QrizB

Sterlingtimes said:

The dryer, a heavily used one, heats and rotates, but on the "cotton plus plus" setting, it takes 7 hours or more to dry.

I know heat pump dryers tend to be slower than vented ones, but that's crazy.

Scot_39

I know it sounds bad - but just had a quick look at one on line - a largish 12kG model admittedly.

https://www.beko.co.uk/appliances/laundry/tumble-dryers/product/12kg-tumble-dryer-steamcure-bm3t31233-white

But its cotton cycle - 299 mins = 5 hours.

The 8kG next to it on their site - was a more respectable 197 mins - 3hr 17.

I guess say an eco or a night - if anything like other washer / dryers - might be even longer.

What exactly is cotton plus plus maybe add over and above standard cotton cycle times above that might examplain hours of extra drying ??

Have you tried other programs ?

musey

at that rate of drying it'd probably be as quick to dry on a rack with a dehumidifier nearby 

Scot_39

Having seen clothes destroyed by wrong settings in hotel laundry service tumble dryers - never use them myself.

But in winter - the amount of water left in heavy cottons - sheets / towels / jeans - even after a long spin - is frightening.

Once my windows / doors stay more closed than open - on a cottons laundry day - I run a dehumidier for 2 hrs (its timer) on off peak the night and next night after - can get 1/2 pint to 1 pint out - and before that was soaking inside of main door and windows - visibly - and no doubt other surfaces too (and the windows are double glazed).

Its only a smallish refrigerant one - iirc cost about £160 - and uses about 1kWh electric over 4 hours.

Other days a  quick 10-15 min airing keeps the air fresh.

Sterlingtimes

debitcardmayhem said:

I watched this a while ago 

https://www.how-to-repair.com/beko-condenser-tumble-dryer-ultimate-maintenance-guide-empty-water-tank-light-staying-on-or-leak/

Thank you. My observation is that in our prior condenser dryers, the finned condenser unit could be removed and taken outside, where it could be hosed under pressure. The consumer cannot remove the finned component in the heat pump dryer. I have tried various methods, including brushing, rinsing the surface, and vacuum cleaning.

Sterlingtimes

squirrelpie said:

Sterlingtimes said:

How do I handle this situation? Any tips?

Ask him (in advance?) specifically for a written copy of whatever the correct maintenance and cleaning prodedure is that you're supposed to follow. If you are following it, say so. If you're not but you disagree with the regime, say so and put your reasons in writing. See what happens. If you're not and don't disagree, give up!

That is a good approach. Thank you. I will go down that line.

Sterlingtimes

QrizB said:

Sterlingtimes said:

The dryer, a heavily used one, heats and rotates, but on the "cotton plus plus" setting, it takes 7 hours or more to dry.

I know heat pump dryers tend to be slower than vented ones, but that's crazy.

A technician recommended Cotton Plus Plus during the last repair visit. As the still young machine ages, the drying cycle becomes longer and longer.

Sterlingtimes

Scot_39 said:

What exactly is cotton plus plus maybe add over and above standard cotton cycle times above that might examplain hours of extra drying ??

Have you tried other programs ?

Thank you. This is a 9kG machine. The longest specified drying cycle should be 3 hours and 39 minutes. We have tried many different programmes. 7 hours to dry is double the specification.