Boring, sorry, tumble dryer experts/users needed!

[WellFunnyYouShouldSayThat]

My 8yr old AEG condenser gave up the ghost last week, engineer came, said had a good run but needed a new one, he suggested mid-cheaper range as more reliable?

Spent a good while looking and researching and in the end got mind blown and ordered a new AEG - £560.

My old one was ok, clothes didn't always dry and was quite noisy but my first tumble so no comparison.

New one is exactly the same, clothes don't dry and there's a fault with it so JL are replacing, either with same one or whatever I choose.

I need: fairly quiet and cottons, synthetic and delicate mode and ant crease option. That's about it!

Do I go cheaper (found a Bosch one £200 less which gets good reviews). DH says pay more as you get more but I don't necessarily agree.

Don't want a heat pump or vented.

All advice welcome. Thanks

I reckon a Bosch should be fine. Unless there’s a specific function that you need then there’s no reason to spend more than 400 quid.

I have a Hoover infinity. Been had no problems at all with it. Had it for 8 years I think. its vented, but I'm sure they do a condenser one.

It has never left clothes wet or damp.

We had a condenser tumbler at our last house and it was shit and often didn't dry the clothes. I can't remember what brand it was.

Bosch washing machines are reliable and take a lot of wearing out ime. I expect their dryers are a similar standard.
We have a White Knight vented dryer, bog standard, our appliance engineers say they can’t be beaten for toughness and reliability, although ours only has a High and Low setting, don’t know if other models have the settings you want.

www.powerdirect.co.uk/index.php/white-knight-a96m7w-tumble-dryer-7kg-heat-pump-sensor-white.html?fee=9&fep=7754&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7aPyBRChARIsAJfWCgLtxhLq3Pp_4f1RQf25bA1L9_7EKowvEx28frQLYakeJXqu0m-zzVoaAnE_EALw_wcB

Oooh, a condenser version, now I’m tempted to replace our vented one!

Have had two condensers - both were useless; didn't dry and shrunk things.
Have just gone back to a vented cheap £200 job from AO and love it to bits. DH hasn't noticed (which he immediately used to with the last condenser due to the shrinkage) that things have been tumbled.

Found a hoover condenser with all the setting and good reviews £239

ao.com/product/dxc8tg-hoover-dynamic-next-condenser-tumble-dryer-white-49155-18.aspx

I suspect that it’s being condensing that means things aren’t totally dry. I’ve used a few over the years and vented seems to dry more. A sensor is a good idea. And White Knight (pp) have been well regarded for a long time

Thanks for replies - have nowhere to vent as in internal room, has to be heat pump or condenser.

the "not drying well" I suspect is a ploy by makers to get loweer energy use ratings.

Our gets set to "extra dry" for almost everything.

BTW AEG domestic appliances are now just a brand name owned by Electrolux. The German conglomerate engineering firm of that name collapsed years ago.

We have just brought a Candy one for £300 from AO. Very happy with it so far. Quieter than our old one and definitely gets the clothes dry. Our last one cost around £200 and lasted 8 years (not Candy) so I don't think it's true that you have to spend more to get better.
It also seems to have all the functions you want.

I've a large drummed, A+ rated White Knight that cost £109. It dries everything brilliantly, no nonsense, quiet and reliable - mine is 8 years old and used at least twice a day. No need to pay huge amounts IMO.

I agree with PigletJohn that factory settings are set a bit low for the purposes of getting an A rating. Our tumble dryer left stuff damp until I reset the standard settings up a couple of notches.

Thanks again for all the replies. PigletJohn (you should get a long-service award from Mumsnet): can you recommend it dissuade me from any brands or types?

I've just (within the last month) bought a Beko condenser. It's not fantastic, but does the job and is quieter and more energy efficient than the JL brand one it replaced. 9kg capacity, a light to see where the socks are (!) and varied programmes. About £350 delivered, via so.

Ooo - I didn't know about the reduced factory settings! Thanks MN - I won't feel too bad about turning it up a bit, now!

Sensor is a PITA because they switch off while the clothes are still wet and you have to keep going back to put it on again. The best I’ve had are non-sensor condensers with a timer and a choice of two heat settings in £250-300 range, which are what I’ve gone back to now. On the more modern machines the hotter setting often isn’t all that hot so I now use the hotter setting for everything except the most delicate items.

I've a Bosch, though mine's vented. I recommend the brand, it does the job well & hasn't needed any repairs so far. I think I've had it about five or six years.

We have a Beko and I can't fault it. It's heavily used (baby in cloth nappies) and everything comes out bone dry. For the price, it's outstanding. A few of the Beko tumble dryers are Which best buys too.

I'm a dedicated Bosch user for household appliances.

Also have some Siemens, which jointly owns the company making them, but although their models are tilted slightly upmarket, I haven't found them better. If anything, not quite as durable.

They also make Neff and numerous other brands

BSH Hausgerate

Siemens tumble dryer has an ‘outdoor’ dry which is amazing - otherwise I find they are never dry with Bosch and other sensor machines and they take ages to not dry them.

Right, I have narrowed it down to 2, both heat pumps:

BOSCH

AEG

The frustrating thing is the measurements, this will be housed under worktop and I've looked on several different locations and all give slightly different depth measurements?!

Anyway, can somebody chose for me???

If I were buying I would get the bosch

Don't know about heat-pump ones, but I was also v surprised at how deep my new machine is - I'm reconfiguring everything, so can make changes, but there is no room behind it for pipes to the washer. I can move things around, eventually, but at the moment, have had to stack them. Double check back boards / voids.

so would I

John Lewis is a good supplier and you should get a good guarantee

it scored 70% in Which tests. Better ones are quite a lot dearer.
they said

Pros

Energy efficient
Generally good drying
Leaves few creases
Easy to use
Good condensation unit

Cons

Slow programs
Some items dry less well than others