If you have bought a condenser dryer in the last year would you recommend it or not?

[Shopaholic100]

Following on from my earlier post about my washing machine which takes hours to wash and great advice I received, I thought I would ask all the wonderful mumsneters for their recommendations for a good condenser dryer.

If you have bought a condenser dryer in the last year would you recommend it or not? Could you share the make and model number please. Ideally I’m looking for one which has a 8/9kg capacity and doesn’t take too long and most importantly actually dries all the clothes properly. I’ve just bought a Bosch series 4, but it doesn’t dry the clothes, just leaves them damp. Such a shame as my previous Bosch condenser dryer lasted over 15 years and was still working when we sold it.😬. I could put all my clothes in and it stopped automatically when they were all dry.

Is there any particular features I should be looking for?

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[ThunderSkies]

Not in the last year, but I bought a Miele 5 years ago (the best I could afford, which was mid to lower end of their range) and don’t regret it for a second - it’s still going strong. Had Bosch before, which never worked properly and I spent more with rebuying new ones when the old broke than I did with the one good purchase.

[Foxyloxy1plus1]

I have a Beko which has a heat pump that recycles the heat, so is cheap to run. It has cupboard dry, iron dry settings and it does dry things, but takes a while.. I use it mainly for towels and sheets.

[Enko]

Siemens WT4HY791GB Heat Pump Tumble Dryer, 9kg Load, A++

And yes very happy with it. It tells you whats "wrong" (so like clean filter empty water) can be hooked up to drain if that's what you want (we didn't) isn't noisy. Much prefer it to our last one. We have had it since January and we are a family of 6 so it gets used.

[WithIcePlease]

I have a Miele condenser. It was my first tumble dryer after years of washerdryers. It's now 13 years old. I thought it was the bee's knees....
I used a vented tumble dryer at the weekend and it knocked spots off the Miele. 20 years old hoover. I was stunned at how fast it dried a set of king size bedclothes.
I will stick to a condenser though as I'm not making any unnecessary holes on my external walls

[YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake]

I have a hot point heat pump dryer, cheap to run and doesn't shrink clothes but takes forever to dry a load

[YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake]

Just remembered before this one we had a Samsung one with a sensor to tell you the clothes were dry. The clothes were never dry

[PixelatedLunchbox]

I have a condenser Bosch heat pump one. I like it. The timer always gives a scary amount of time for the cycle at the beginning, but it's always less than half that time in reality, as it adjusts automatically. Huge drum, pleased with it. Nothing comes out wrinkled like with my previous dryer. I joined Which.co.uk to get the full run down on which condenser^^ dryers were best, and splurged in this one. German quality, don't regret it.

[ritzbiscuits]

Please don't buy a Beko one. It's been nothing but trouble. Repaired twice under warranty already, and if it goes again we're getting rid. It's very temperamental, some settings work/others don't. Then the next week, the 'broken' setting is back to working and it's another one.

It's an absolute heap of junk and wished we'd never got it. Our Bosch washing machine has been very reliable so would consider one of those. A holiday home we regularly go to in The Lakes has a John Lewis branded one and that's excellent too.

[Shopaholic100]

@Enko

Siemens WT4HY791GB Heat Pump Tumble Dryer, 9kg Load, A++

And yes very happy with it. It tells you whats "wrong" (so like clean filter empty water) can be hooked up to drain if that's what you want (we didn't) isn't noisy. Much prefer it to our last one. We have had it since January and we are a family of 6 so it gets used.

Could you tell me roughly how long it takes to dry a mixed load?

[Shopaholic100]

How does the heat pump one differ to a condenser dryer?

[Foxyloxy1plus1]

Cupboard dry towels take about three hours in mine, but like washing machines, I think the longer times are par for the course. They’re focusing on energy efficiency and economy.

[LeaveMyDamnJam]

I have a Siemens one too. Not sure if it is the same as @Enko ‘s model. It is very good.

The load times depend on the settings chose and volume of load.

[Blogdog]

I have a Siemens IQ300 dryer since 2012. It’s on pretty much every day and I have never had any issues with it. It takes around 40 minutes to dry a load (depending on what’s in it). I liked it so much that when my washing machine broke I bought a Siemens to replace it.

[Enko]

Have just put a load in washing machine so will update later on how much that will be. It can be from 1.5 hours to 4 (for a load of towels) i find the timer estimate fairly accurate out by a few mins at times but nothing much

[DilysPrice]

Siemens IQ300.
As per your previous thread I did have to adjust the settings to beef it up a bit, but now I’ve done that it works a treat. I’ve had it a couple of years and it’s really user-friendly.

Do look in the manual of your Bosch under Trouble Shooting for “clothes still damp at end of cycle” and see if there’s instructions on how to tweak the sensors - it’s possible that you don’t need a new one at all.
Also no modern tumble dryer performs well with mixed loads. They all work much better if you dry the synthetics and the cottons separately.

[PickAChew]

I've got the John Lewis condenser dryer. Replaced a knackered John Lewis heat pump dryer and dries much more quickly, is far quieter and much gentler on clothes. www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-jltdc08-condenser-tumble-dryer-8kg-load-b-energy-rating-white/p4809580

[PickAChew]

Heat pump dryers are supposedly more efficient because they recycle the hot hair. The downside is that, unlike a condenser dryer, you can't remove the condenser to clean it, so they become increasingly clogged and inefficient if you use them a lot, as the filters only filter so much.

[MabelChiltern1]

Have Miele’s cheapest condenser... was pricey. It dries thoroughly and I like emptying the water tank... always amazed how much water comes out. I’m wondering if I could water the plants with it or would residual detergent kill them?
Came with a fragrance pod which is badly designed and £10 each!!! Smelt nice but will not buy another!
Blows out warm air from the bottom of the machine... very toasty on the toes. Quite noisy.

[LadyWithTheNeonSparklers]

@Foxyloxy1plus1

I have a Beko which has a heat pump that recycles the heat, so is cheap to run. It has cupboard dry, iron dry settings and it does dry things, but takes a while.. I use it mainly for towels and sheets.

I have this and have given up using it for clothes - do clothes with a Dri Buddi Folding Drying Rack.

The Beko drier has lasted a while but it's on it's last legs and doesn't really dry even on dry settings they are slightly damp still and takes forever.

We're wondering about maybe heated towel rail instead as it's mainly towels and sheets we use drier for and then we could reclaim the under stair space for storage. We're still researching our options so haven't decided yet.

[PrayingandHoping]

Heat pump AEG (couldn't get Bosch at moment. Out of stock everywhere. There are supple issues I was informed)

Dries a full load in less than 1.5 hours

Heat pumps are more energy efficient

[saussaggessandmasshh]

I have a Becko one and it works fine never had any problems in about 3 years.

[RealityExistsInTheHumanMind]

I have a heat pump one and I love it but it is slow. Although it takes longer it is cheaper to run as the heat is recycled. I use it to 'cupboard dry' - it's weird the clothes feel as if they are damp when they come out but they are not - they are perfectly dry, but the air is damp in the dryer - which helps them not be crumpled.
My sister has an ordinary condenser dryer and it makes the utility room very hot but not damp.
Vented dryers are the quickest to dry but you have to vent outside as the air they put out is very damp.

So, heat recovery, great and very cheap to run with the downside, which doesn't matter to me is they take longer. Will dry a small load pretty quickly if something is needed quickly. Also most expensive to buy.

[Enko]

Load added to drier with 2 wet towels it says 2hours 45 mins until dry.

[Zippetydoodahzippetyay]

We bought a Haier condenser dryer 2 years ago and it is brilliant. The old dryer used to make the laundry so steamy but with this one there's just a bit of extra warmth. And the excess water that it collects just gets tipped on the roses.

[Blogdog]

I’m wondering if I could water the plants with it or would residual detergent kill them?

I watered my plants outside with the dryer water during the last drought/hosepipe ban after hearing someone recommend it on the radio - it worked really well.