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Condenser tumble dryer problems - please help

12 replies

Rolf · 20/12/2010 18:03

I have a Bosch condenser tumble dryer which generally works fine. It has a water container and when the container is full, the dryer stops and a "container" light comes on, so I know I need to empty the container.

Recently the "container" light has lit up and the drying cycle has stopped. (which means the water container needs emptying) when the container is already empty. So I guess something is wrong with the system that detects when the container is full. But how do I fix it? I don't want to spend Christmas draping soggy laundry over radiators. I've booked a call-out but we're out of warranty so it's going to be £££.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
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louandcupoftea · 20/12/2010 18:22

if it is the same as mine, the fluff can build up between the removable door piece and the open part at the bottom of the door. You may be able to stick a stick in and remove a build up of fluff that is trapped and makes the machine not work. Hope you sort it.

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onessa · 20/12/2010 19:26

Hi I have a BOSCH condenser drier. Had similar problems. Try these---remove fluff filter and hoover it and hoover the space it had come out of. Do you have a double fluff filter? We had a single one and BOSCH sent us one of the double ones which is better for filtering dog hairs etc.Then make sure the water holder bit is thoroughly clean. Ours was a bit 'slimy'.Then, inside the drier are 2 humidity sensors. Make sure these are clean and dry.
The problem wth ours was hair/fluff going under the fluff filter which the man found out when he arrived to fix it! The other bits were what we were told to check on the phone before the chap arrived.
Good luck--its awful without a tumble drier especially at this time of year.

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Rolf · 20/12/2010 19:38

Thanks guys Smile.
Onessa our water container is a bit slimy, too. How did you manage to get it clean? It's quite fiddly isn't it?

OP posts:
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onessa · 20/12/2010 19:55

Washed it in the sink with hot water and washing up liquid and bottle brush & pan scourer then dried it with kitchen roll. Hope it works!

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onessa · 02/01/2011 19:50

is it working now???

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tazzy123 · 18/01/2011 15:29

I have a hoover condenser, it works ok but for the passt couple of days there has been an awful smell coming from it, its almost a mechanical smell, I really dont have the money to call anyone out to fix it, has anyone experienced this before??

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lasatalayas · 17/12/2015 15:48

Hint - the actual filter that needs cleaning is 6inches inside the machine after opening the bottom cover.

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Ima56 · 14/04/2016 15:56

I have Hoover condenser dryer plug nearly went on fire

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Richard1506 · 22/07/2017 13:13

I have a 15 year old Bosch Maxx condenser tumble drier. It works very well apart from the smell. I always clean the door filter, and empty the condensate after every load. I have cleaned the condenser body by opening the access panel at the bottom of the drier, unlatching it and removing it very carefully. I then wash it and rinse all the fluff out of it. (This will stop the drier thinking it has finished when being turned on.) I noticed that ther was fluff on the back chamber behind the condenser body, and I have managed to clean a lot of it off with finger nails and vacuum cleaner, but not all. Is
this fluff the cause of the smell, and how can I clean it off, please?

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pheon · 21/01/2018 15:04

On Condenser Dryers there is another sludge trap to clean which is not described in machine instructions. It is quite hard to find.

Remove the air cooler botom left of machine. Clean that compartment, especially at the every back, of fluff.

Then on floor of compartment at rear notice two plastic clips, pull right hand one towards you and insert a thin screwdriver in place to hold it unclipped on right. Then unclip left and remove flap. Below is sludge trap, remove sludge in the trap (nasty job) by hand and clean out fully by hand. On left is a sensor . splash remaining water around with fingers to clean off sensor, if neaded add a glass of clean water . Once all sludge has been cleaned out replace clip in flap, insert air cooler and you are good to go.

The sensor on left causes the problem, it misreads when this hidden sludge trap needs cleaning.

In my view it is a designed in fault, not mentioned in the Bosch instructions so as to cause needless but no doubt profitable service calls.

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lindaewing · 20/10/2018 18:43

I have Bosch condenser dryer, I have emptied the top water container on the left, cleaned all the filers, including the second one at that sits underneath the large one under a little flap, quite difficult to get to but still water keeps leaking out from the back the same side as the condenser, it is quite a lot of water too. The top water container doesn't seem to be filling up hardly at all, it seems as if this is where the water is coming from, can anyone help me solve the problem. Thank you Linda

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hp2 · 27/12/2020 14:19

@pheon

On Condenser Dryers there is another sludge trap to clean which is not described in machine instructions. It is quite hard to find.

Remove the air cooler botom left of machine. Clean that compartment, especially at the every back, of fluff.

Then on floor of compartment at rear notice two plastic clips, pull right hand one towards you and insert a thin screwdriver in place to hold it unclipped on right. Then unclip left and remove flap. Below is sludge trap, remove sludge in the trap (nasty job) by hand and clean out fully by hand. On left is a sensor . splash remaining water around with fingers to clean off sensor, if neaded add a glass of clean water . Once all sludge has been cleaned out replace clip in flap, insert air cooler and you are good to go.

The sensor on left causes the problem, it misreads when this hidden sludge trap needs cleaning.

In my view it is a designed in fault, not mentioned in the Bosch instructions so as to cause needless but no doubt profitable service calls.

I know this is a zombie thread but all pheon you utter genius. My tumble dryer been playing up for months saying water chamber full when it’s not. Just followed your instructions and the amount of warm jelly like sludge I have removed was amazing and gross. Now working normally. After having to isolate for Christmas as my husband has Covid this is the best thing that has happened this week. Merry Christmas
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