Can I have recommendations for a tumble dryer?

[m0therofdragons]

I have 3 dc and really need a tumble dryer. I even gave space in my utility under the counter for one and my friends are all stunned that as I family of 5 I manage without.

I have looked but end up confused and unable to pick one so buy nothing.

I don't want a meile (unless it'll fold and put it away too I'm not spending above £600). There are Blomberg or Beko at £300 ish mark or Siemens/Samsung/Bosch at £500-600. Is the £600 really that much better than the £300 one? All review well. I want dry bed sheets and towels. Any ideas would be gratefully received

I plumped for a John Lewis own brand around the £550 mark, after deciding that, for the reviews, I couldn't justify Miele, either. It's rebadged aeg but comes with a longer warranty. I've had mine over 3 years, now.

Mine is Beko, about £350 and it's brilliant.

2 things to think about that are not to do with brand.

My washer and dryer sit next to each other. I didn't think about it before I bought them but I have been lucky and they open the best possible way. The 2 doors open away from each other meaning that I can move things from the washer to the dryer without any doors getting in the way. So point 1 would be to work out which is the best way for the door to open and pick one that works for that.

The other point is something I didn't even know existed. I have got a condensing one with a heat pump. It takes a little longer but the warm damp air goes through a kind of filter that reuses the heat after the water has been condensed out. This works really well. The room does not get overheated, all the heat is retained which also really keeps the running costs down.

I have a Candy condensed dryer, £275 three year's ago, it does the job, wouldn't pay more than £300 for one.

Mine is a BOSCH condensing dryer (so collects its own water) brilliant piece of kit. 7 years and going strong still. I would say it's worth the money.

@Pashazade which level Bosch do you have? Obviously it's an older model now but they vary from basic, medium and heigh end price.

Also, what the he'll does the £1900 Meile do that's worth that price?

@m0therofdragons this is the one we have
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/boschavantixxx8kgfreestandinggcondensertumbleedryerwte84306gb/version.aspp
As far as I can see this would be the current alternative,
https://ao.com/product/wtn83200gb-bosch-serie-4-condenser-tumble-dryer-white-48530-18.aspx?WT.zz_PT=MDA&WT.zAT=Tumble+Dryers+Condenser&WT.zzAT=&WT.zBR=Bosch&WT.zzFT=Free+Standing&WT.zPC=WTN83200GBBWH&WT.srch=1&WT.srch=1&WT.zMT=Affiliate&WT.zzMT=genieshopping&WT.zRTM=PHG&WT.zzRTM=PHG&WT.zCN=1101l4683&WT.zzAG=PPC&WT.z_KW=genieshopping

I have same one as pashazada
Would highly recommend.ive had mine 7years and it's on last legs but it has worked bloody hard in my house
I will get same again when it finally goes!

I have a cheap indiset think it was £120. Works great

I LOVE my Beko DRVS73. I bought it a month ago after it's predecessor a Beko DRVS62 started to make a rumbling noise. That one was well over 10 years old, was used every single day for our large family and although it probably just needed new bearings, I replaced it with an identical model but with a slightly bigger drum and gave my old one to my mum who's having it repaired.
The best part is that it only cost £170. It's quiet, quick, has loads of different heat settings and can be put on a timer to come on in either 3, 6 or 9 hours. It also has a sensor so it doesn't carry on drying dry clothes and an anti crease function that gives everything a wee tumble every few minutes to stop your clothes creasing.

I've got a Samsung with the heat pump thingy which is supposed to be more energy efficient. I haven't noticed any increase in energy bills and it's been well used over the last 5 years. Cost around £500 and it's well worth it especially if it lasts a few more years.

If such a thing still exists, when every appliance seems to sprout more and more bells and whistles, I'd get the simplest (as long as reviews are good) - just the minimum different levels of heat and a timer. I've had mine (just 2 heat settings) for many years and it's always been fine.

For the life of me I can't understand why anyone needs umpteen drying programmes.

I’ve got a cheap indesit condenser dryer. 8kg. Has 2 options, high heat and low heat. I absolutely love it. Had it for 3 years, use it at least once a day (except in summer where I line dry). Just need to empty the fluff filter and water tank every time and shower down the main filter every couple of months. Would recommend.

If you have a suitable supply nearby, have you considered a gas dryer? Ours is a White Knight, very economical and about ten years old now.

I've never heard of a gas dryer? To be honest I really just want to plug it in and go. How does a gas dryer work?

I have a vent space but they all seem bad for energy efficiency.

Had a meile and it went two days after warranty was up. The manufacturers were you know what's to deal with and had to pay €150 to get it fixed. Sorry, know that's not helpful but is just cos apparently meile are meant to be best in the world and even the sales guy said they're awful to deal with

@exiledmanc I opened the thread to suggest a gas dryer and was exited to see you have one. I am hoping to get one when I update my kitchen.
I know it has to be fitted by a gas engineer but please can I ask, does it need to be serviced like a gas boiler? This might prevent me getting one as it would cost too much.

To the OP sorry for the slight hijack of your thread, but I would also recommend looking at gas. If no servicing needed then much cheaper to run than electric.

We have the dryer checked over by a local engineer when he does the boiler, I'm not sure that he charges any extra.
He has expressed surprise that they are not more popular, and told me that the gas burner is really small ("not much bigger than a pilot light"). Most of the energy used is spent turning the drum, apparently.
It connects to the gas pipe with a bayonet type fitting. Although we have never had to disconnect it, it doesn't look difficult.

I've got a newish Bosch heat pump and I wouldn't buy it again as it doesn't do a reverse action do bedding gets tangle up into a ball that's wet in the middle and dry on the outside. I find it doesn't dry things bone dry despite reading the manual and asking google.

We also went for the John Lewis brand. There is an outlet in Swindon and ours has a scratch on the side (that you can't see because you can only see the front of any tumble dryer when it's in place) so it was discounted. We had to have a condenser dryer because we have no where to vent it. Vented dryers are cheaper to buy but more expensive to run.

Marking!!

I have a Bosch Classixx 7 ... no idea if they still make it but it's a condenser, very easy to clean and empty and has been going 5 years now. Didn't notice any real difference to the electricity bill when we got it. Bought in John Lewis as they price match elsewhere but offer the best warranty.