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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Life span of a tumble dryer.

43 replies

AnnB30 · 29/01/2021 10:30

What’s the average for a heavily used dryer? Generally daily use!

I ask because ours is on the way out I think (condenser type).

It’s about 6 years old and used most days.

Dp is p**sed he thinks it hasn’t lasted long enough

But 6 years of daily use is good surely?

We’ve had no problems with it until now.

OP posts:
Changi · 29/01/2021 10:35

Our last one packed up about two days after the warranty ran out.

LadyPoison · 29/01/2021 10:35

Mine used to be heavily used but now the children have left home and my MIL has died it is back to normal.

It's probably 20 years old

Original poster
AnnB30 · 29/01/2021 10:36

@Changi

Our last one packed up about two days after the warranty ran out.
Typical!!
OP posts:
sluj · 29/01/2021 10:37

Mine last for years and years but I literally choose no frills . Just a timer and high/low functions.

Original poster
AnnB30 · 29/01/2021 10:37

@LadyPoison

Mine used to be heavily used but now the children have left home and my MIL has died it is back to normal.

It's probably 20 years old

Very good going. Is it a condenser or vented. Only ask as I hear vented are more reliable! Only had condenser!
OP posts:
buzzandwoodyallday · 29/01/2021 10:39

Had mine for 7 years now, with heavy daily use for the last 2 years since having my dc. Have had it repaired using my domestic and general insurance once though, and had some work done to it as part of a recall due to fire safety a few years ago. It costs me about £7 a month for insurance, so I've spent as much as a new one would cost, but haven't noticed spending it, if you see what I mean. I hope it doesn't need replacing anytime soon.

hedgehoglurker · 29/01/2021 10:41

I guess it depends on how expensive it was. I think 6 years of heavy use is reasonable. (You do regularly clean out the condenser unit as well as the filter?)

DinnaeFashSassenach · 29/01/2021 10:42

The life expectation is about 6 years, more with maintenance and repairs. But with the quality of white goods these days, one day over the warranty is more like it. Such as my Hoover Next Dynamic washer. A single day over warranty and it's buttons stopped working. Now we have to pull it out and perform washer surgery every few months. We don't know what the issue is but after she gets some attention she stops being stroppy and works again. And yes. It's a she. That blasted thing is alive. Bloody Skynet, human hating washer.....

SusannaSpider · 29/01/2021 10:44

Previous Bosch was a 15yrs old condenser sensor dryer, it was brilliant and faultless till the removal men damaged it. Replacement is a Beko, it's crap but is about 8yrs old.
We briefly had a Hoover which was soo flimsy and had problems from Day 1, the retailer took it back after 6wks.

Griselda1 · 29/01/2021 10:45

I'd recommend the heat pump tumble driers, much gentler on the clothes and that crazy level of heat you get in the other ones just doesn't happen.

DinnaeFashSassenach · 29/01/2021 10:46

@buzzandwoodyallday

Had mine for 7 years now, with heavy daily use for the last 2 years since having my dc. Have had it repaired using my domestic and general insurance once though, and had some work done to it as part of a recall due to fire safety a few years ago. It costs me about £7 a month for insurance, so I've spent as much as a new one would cost, but haven't noticed spending it, if you see what I mean. I hope it doesn't need replacing anytime soon.
You should hope it does. D&G will buy you a new one if it dies and they can't sort it. 🤞Grin
PickAChew · 29/01/2021 10:47

I've never had one last 6 years, though mine do 2 or 3 loads a day. I stretched my last one, a heat pump dryer, to 3.5 years though it got to the point where it was so clogged up it was ruining clothes by taking so long. Gone back to a straightforward condenser dryer with a washable heat exchanger.

Original poster
AnnB30 · 29/01/2021 10:55

@Griselda1

I'd recommend the heat pump tumble driers, much gentler on the clothes and that crazy level of heat you get in the other ones just doesn't happen.
I’m actually just reading up on them!
OP posts:
Original poster
AnnB30 · 29/01/2021 10:56

It’s a Beko I currently have

OP posts:
Original poster
AnnB30 · 29/01/2021 10:57

@PickAChew

I've never had one last 6 years, though mine do 2 or 3 loads a day. I stretched my last one, a heat pump dryer, to 3.5 years though it got to the point where it was so clogged up it was ruining clothes by taking so long. Gone back to a straightforward condenser dryer with a washable heat exchanger.
Interesting as I’ve been looking at heat pump dryers. Maybe I’ll avoid!
OP posts:
LadyPoison · 29/01/2021 11:03

@AnnB30 Yes it is vented. A very basic model that does high/low and a turn dial timer. I only ever use it on high

Fairyliz · 29/01/2021 11:03

My first tumble dryer was a very basic model, warm/hot functions and a timer. I can remember it being very cheap as we didn’t have much money at the time. It lasted 25 years!
It finally broke two years ago and I replaced it with an all singing all dancing model that was very expensive. It’s crap! Seems far too hot on all programs and tangles clothes.
Things aren’t well made any more it’s built in obsolescence, so manufacturers can sell more goods.

thetaleunfolds · 29/01/2021 11:05

My last one lasted about 3 or 4 years. It wasn't very expensive so I decided to just replace it rather than pay for it to be repaired but I think maybe 5ish years would be my expectation unless it was really high end

SusannaSpider · 29/01/2021 11:12

Things aren’t well made any more it’s built in obsolescence, so manufacturers can sell more goods.

My washer and dishwasher went caput recently, I really, really would rather have repaired them. Both were old, but the dishwasher was solid stainless steel and both were expensive models. The washer was going to be £570 to repair, the dishwasher was £300+ and possibly more. I ended up replacing both. I'm thrilled with the new dishwasher but disappointed with the washer. Wish I'd had the old one repaired, but the costs of repairing are ridiculous, it would be so much better for the environment if repairing was more cost effective.

JesusAteMyHamster · 29/01/2021 11:13

Our condenser is 12 years old. It's a zanussi.

Just a basic one, no bells and whistles. We were told years ago by am appliance repair fixy guy to never go for anything that lights up like a Christmas tree and has a million functions because it's often the circuit board that goes.

Pyewhacket · 29/01/2021 11:33

Had a couple of basic models but they didn't last, one even caught fire , so we bought a Siemens jobbie. 12 years old, used every day and never had a problem.

barnanabas · 29/01/2021 11:47

We work our appliances hard. Six years for a tumble drier is at the good end of what I'd expect - just replaced mine after five. We've got a heat pump this time, but too early to tell if that's a good choice or not. The research I did suggested it would be cost-effective for us at least.

EatingAllTheCookies · 29/01/2021 11:54

I go through a washing machine max every 3 yrs I use it it a lot! 6 loads a day.
Tumble is about 5 yrs old. Used maybe 2 times a day. In winter. Never as soon as weather warm.

Anycrispsleft · 29/01/2021 11:55

I have a 13 year old AEG that I use average about 1.5-2 times a day. Had to have the electronics fixed about 8 years ago, gone like a train ever since!