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Original poster

Need a new dryer - heat pump or concenser

38 replies

MumNeedsTea · 21/10/2020 12:55

Hi all,

I desperately need a new tumble dryer - current one was bought for £100, is more than 10 years old and on its last legs!

DH is keen on getting a Bosch heat pump which around £750 Shock
I definitely don't want a vented one - so we have the option of either a heat pump or a condenser dryer. I only use the dryer in Autumn/Winter, so about 6 months of the year. Rest of the time I dry clothes outside. Even in the current season, I only use the dryer for things that don't fit on the clothes horse. So I really don't think we can justify £750 on a dryer!

Is Beko a good enough brand? Also, the dryer will be in the utility room, which is not heated and generally the coldest room in the house - will that make a difference?

TIA :)

This thread is quite old now so some of the suggestions may be out of date, but if you’re looking for tumble dryers, we’ve recently updated our best tumble dryer page with lots of great options rated by Mumsnet users, plus info on whether a heat pump or condenser dryer is best for your home. We hope you find it useful.
MNHQ Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
MumNeedsTea · 21/10/2020 12:59

The title should say 'condenser' and not 'concenser'!!

OP posts:
IAintentDead · 21/10/2020 13:09

I have a Beko heat pump and I love it.
My sister has a condenser but says she will get a heat pump one next time she needs one.

Heat pump is much cheaper to run - as the heat is recycled so much less energy used.
Heat pump is slower - because the air is recycling it takes longer - I set mine to cupboard dry and I felt that things were damp when they came out but they are not - but the circulating air is - so mostly crease free - even if not taken out as soon as finished (The dryer turns them every few minutes for at least an hour after finishing too so less chance of creasing.
Condenser puts a lot of heat into the room - my sister's utility goes up to about 28 degrees. The Heat Pump puts very little heat into the room.

Personally I love my Beko heat pump and would get a heat pump again (hope I don't need to though as it is just under 2 years old)

Both ideally need plumbing in. Mine isn't and the water does need emptying after every use - would be harder without a nearby sink.

Original poster
MumNeedsTea · 21/10/2020 13:21

@IAintentDead Thanks for the detailed review :) do you mind telling me which model you have from Beko?

OP posts:
HotPatootiebootie · 21/10/2020 13:25

I have two large capacity tumble dryers asi have a 13 kg washing machine. E we use the dryer every day and split one load of washing between two dryers. Both are condensers. One is a heat pump, one is not. I absolutely HATE the heat pump dryer. They are next to each other in my spare room and even with the heat from the heated dryer, the heat pump still takes 4 hours to dry a load. I loathe it. It has totally fucked up my washing routine as I go up to fold the washing and the heat pump is still trundling along with wet washing. So I have to wait, wet washing still in the machine. Wet clothes still in one dryer. I can't say enough how much I wish I'd never bought it.

Get a standard heated condenser. I can do 2-3 loads in mine in the time it takes the stuff heat pump to do one load. And it's not over loaded either!

IAintentDead · 21/10/2020 13:40

Mine was this one tumble dryer but it is discontinued - there are very similar looking ones one the Beko site. (Mine is 22 months old and I use it approx 2 or 3 times a week)

Original poster
MumNeedsTea · 21/10/2020 13:41

@HotPatootiebootie Thanks!! Does the condenser dryer give out heat? With my current vented dryer, the tiny utility room always fogs up, which I hate. I really don't want my new dryer doing the same.

OP posts:
YorkshireParentalPerson · 21/10/2020 13:43

I have just bought a condenser one again, I like the idea of a heat pump, but I just don't want to be waiting all day for something to dry , so have gone with a standard condenser again.

HotPatootiebootie · 21/10/2020 13:44

The condenser does give out heat but not humidity as it collects the water. My windows have never steamed up. If your utility is cold then a heat pump will take ages to dry. It extracts the heat in the ambient temperature, kind of like the opposite of a fridge. It can't make its own heat. So it's just spinning wet clothes at a few degrees warmer than the surrounding air.

IAintentDead · 21/10/2020 13:48

Mine is in an unheated room, it takes about a couple of hours in winter if it has close to the full 8kg. Much quicker if there is plenty of tumble room. The length of time doesn't worry me as I rarely do more than one load in a day.

Original poster
MumNeedsTea · 21/10/2020 14:13

Mine would be in a pretty cold room as the utility room is part of a side extension with a door leading to the garden. I really like the idea of a heat pump as it's meant to be good for the environment, but not sure how much impact it would have if it's running for hours and I'm only using the dryer for small loads during the colder wetter months Confused

OP posts:
Foxyloxy1plus1 · 21/10/2020 15:17

Mines a Beko heat pump too. Yes, it takes longer, but it just needs a bit of planning.

showmethegin · 21/10/2020 15:32

We have a Beko heat pump dryer! It's absolutely bloody brilliant! As someone mentioned, it does take longer to dry as it dries on a cooler temperature but that means you can chuck stuff in that I wouldn't in a normal dryer. (Haven't plucked up the courage to chuck knitted jumpers in yet though).

I never feel guilty for using it as it's so energy efficient. I'm on top of the laundry for the first time in my adult life Grin

Oldraver · 21/10/2020 15:36

They are not seperate things. Heat pump is an extra on a condensor dryer

Ours you can use the standard tank of water which you empty like any other condensor or you can plumb the water outlet in like a washing machine. Though the outlet is very small

KittyMcKitty · 21/10/2020 15:40

We had a condenser one but I’ve recently replaced with a Samsung heat pump - much quieter and doesn’t Chuck out heat but takes longer to dry things.

Lat321 · 21/10/2020 17:03

Don't mean to hijack thread but doe those who have beko or Samsung heat pump dryer, any chance you can share model Number? I am also looking for a dryer and choice is mind boggling..

FixTheBone · 21/10/2020 17:10

I just noted the comment about the room fogging up, that definitely shouldn't be happening with a vented dryer - have you checked the dryer and vent for blockages? You can normally look straight through the vent outisde and straight back into the dryer (shine a light down the slot where the filter goes).

I use our vented almost continuously - 7 kids, 3-4 loads of washing per day, they're cheap to buy, and importantly for us very, very quick. We considered a gas dryer which apparently are very efficient to run, and, are very quick.

I worry that if you have condensation and fogging now, it'll be even worse with a condenser - I can normally tell immediately by the humidity if someone has a condensor running.

KittyMcKitty · 21/10/2020 17:12

It’s one of these - not sure which - sorry (doesn’t say anywhere obvious on machine).

Need a new dryer - heat pump or concenser
FraughtwithGin · 21/10/2020 17:17

I have a Miele condenser (including a heat pump). It dries beautifully (it is about 9 years old now), does not heat up the room it is in too much and certainly doesn't cause condensation.
I have no idea about running costs as I have had a dryer for the past 25+ years and never noticed any spikes in electricity bills. I imagine the modern machines are pretty energy-efficient.

Svelteinmydreams · 21/10/2020 17:18

@MumNeedsTea I have a heat pump and like pp, I detest it. ( it’s a Siemens)
In my case, I have found out, way too late, that they don’t like hair. I have 2 dogs. And had long hair myself. The condenser gets clogged and becomes less efficient and then takes even longer.
There’s no way to clean it as there was in my old condensing machine.
So, if you have animals who shed on your clothing, or several longer haired household members, or just like fluffy clothes, I cannot recommend it.

Original poster
MumNeedsTea · 21/10/2020 17:34

Thanks all for your replies!!

For those in love with their Beko heat pumps (there's a quite a few of you!!), can you please let me know which model? Thanks!

OP posts:
Lat321 · 21/10/2020 17:47

@KittyMcKitty

It’s one of these - not sure which - sorry (doesn’t say anywhere obvious on machine).
Thank you. Do you find any problem with not drying sufficient (especially bed linen? Thanks.
KittyMcKitty · 21/10/2020 18:00

@Lat321 I’ve not had it long and only really just started using it as dry outside when I can. At first I thought it was a bit rubbish with super king duvet cover, sheet & 4 pillow cases but I now shake duvet well to untangle before putting in and dry on cotton (as opposed to mixed) and it’s much better. Possibly not as good as our old Zanussi condenser drier but more energy efficient. (I think I may also get in better with it if I read the manual),

TLDR it’s growing on me and I do like tge fact that it’s v quiet and also the water reservoir is at the top so v easy to empty.

showmethegin · 21/10/2020 18:01

Believe what a PP said about their Siemens one but we've had no issues with the beko one, I've got long hair and a very fluffy cat. On ours the fluff filter is in the bottom of the door so a piece of piss to empty.

Snooper22 · 21/10/2020 18:07

Just bought the Beko heat pump from AO, to replace an old Beko condenser. To be fair I'm really impressed, its quieter and I dont think it takes that much longer as its an 8kg opposed to my 6kg one. It doesn't heat the room either which is good as mines in the kitchen.
Pleased with it and hopefully cheaper bills too.