A vented dryer is one where the water in the clothes goes out as water vapour through a hose - either through a window or through a vent in the wall.
Condensors cool the water vapour back into water & store it in a tank, which you have to empty from time to time. You also need to clean the heat exchanger so it doesn't get clogged up with fluff. They are more expensive to buy than vented ones and cost more to run, but you don't have to have a window open, or have a vent made in your wall (of course, if you've already got a vented dryer, you may have the ventalready
A sensor tumble dryer (which can be either vented or condensor)automatically detects how wet your load is and stops when it's dry.
You need to wipe the dryer's drum every few months with white vinegar or stainless steel cleaner, or the sensors won't work effectively.
Top 4 vented dryers
Bosch WTB76556 Logixx 10 New Dimension
This vented model dries quickly and evenly and can take more clothes than any other machine we tested (10kg).
It?s a bit of a monster all round, being deeper, wider and taller than all of the other machines on test making it more at home in utility room than in a kitchen. It?s a sensor dryer that takes 148 minutes to dry a full cotton load. It?s C-rated for energy and uses 5.81 kWH of electricity to dry a full load, about average for this kind of machine.
There are automatic drying programs for cottons, easy care items and mixed loads as well as timed programs for woollens and sportswear, as well as a short program. It comes with a basket for drying clothes that aren?t suitable for tumbling dry such as shoes and hand washable woollens. The basket fits inside the drum, it doesn?t rotate but the heat inside the drum dries the clothes.
There?s a digital display on the angled control panel and along with the indicator lights, this shows the status of the load and when the filter needs changing. There are also indicators for low heat, reduced ironing and for starting and pausing programs.
The Bosch comes with a large door which makes loading and unloading very easy, even if you?re drying larger items. The control panel is angled upwards making it easy to use.
Pros: Very quick and even drying, easy to use
Cons: Size, cost, creasing
Miele T8422C Honeycomb care
Super speedy drying, quiet operation and good energy efficiency, coupled with Miele's above average brand reliability make this a worthy Best Buy vented tumble dryer.
It's a sensor dryer with a maximum capacity of 6 kg, and it takes 89 minutes to dry a full load of cottons. The drying sensor chooses the drying time for you effectively.
The programs include ones for woollens/hand care items, smoothing, shirts and denim, as well as the more usual cottons, synthetics, and iron dry. It is also has additional special care programs for silks and outerwear which is suitable for drying in the tumble dryer.
Convenience features include a delayed start of up to 24 hours, 60 minute anti-crease after drying, 5-120 minute cold airing program, a light indicates that the lint filter needs attention and an optional end of program buzzer. There's also a remaining program time display. The lint filters are particularly easy to clean.
This is a good tumble dryer for people in a wheelchair or with dexterity problems, but not so good for people with visual impairments, because some buttons are too small, lamps are not bright enough and the markings aren't next to all the relevant buttons which don't protrude much.
Pros: Swift drying, very quiet, very even, lots of special care programs, child lock
Cons: Bad for creases, difficult for people with visual problems
AEG-Electrolux T36840 Lavatherm
The AEG-Electrolux T36840 vented tumble dryer is another great machine from this consistently high-performing brand, which dries quickly and is easy to use.
It takes 119 minutes to dry a full 7kg load of cottons (17 minutes per kilogram) and was speedy in all our tests. The automatic sensor calculates the drying time for you, and worked well for most programs, but fractionally under-dried synthetic fabrics.
Although it's an entry-level model from premium brand AEG-Electrolux, it still has a wide range of programs, including a quick program, airing, one for jeans and a low-capacity easy-iron program for items such as jackets and blouses that are difficult to iron if they get creased.
If you prefer to choose your own program time, you can select the 30, 60 or 90-minute options.
This model has the honour of joining a select group of dryers that have achieved a five-star rating for convenience. It comes with a great instruction booklet, clear program selection options and a display that indicates the current phase of the drying cycle.
The machine has AEG's familiar large door for easy loading and unloading and the lint filter is a doddle to remove, clean and replace. You can delay drying by three, six or nine hours and choose to have an end-of-program buzzer.
Like most vented dryers, its energy consumption levels are better than average.
The door is reversible.
Pros: Super-speedy drying for some programs, very easy to use
Cons: Dries less evenly than most models
Bosch WTV74103 Classixx
The Bosch WTV74103 is a more sophisticated dryer than previous examples from its Classixx range, but keeps up the same tradition of good all-round performance.
It takes 120 minutes to dry a full 7kg load of cotton clothes - a little more than 17 minutes per kilogram - and is also quick to dry other types of fabric and load sizes.
This vented tumble drier uses a humidity sensor to automatically choose the drying time for you, whereas previous Classixx models left you to choose your own program time. This sensor worked well, choosing the correct times in our tests.
Your program choices are simply set out, with four levels of dryness for different types of cottons and three for synthetics, plus a warm 40-minute timed program and a cool 20-minute 'freshen up' option.
The machine is simple to use; status display lights tell you what stage your drying has reached and indicate if the lint filter needs cleaning. It's an entry-level machine and doesn't have a 'remaining program time' display or option to delay the start of your program.
It is easy to fill and empty, and the lint filter is easy to access, remove, replace and clean.
Like most vented driers the amount of energy it uses for drying is on the better side of average.
Pros: Dries quickly, dries evenly
Cons: Limited timed drying options, door can't be reversed