condenser tumble dryers better than vented dryers HELP??

[billiejo]

hiya, just as the wet/cold weather has set in, my bloody dryer's just died it's an expense i could definitely do without so i need to make the right decision. does anyone have specific preferences of one over the other. the condenser dryer apparently has a water reservoir you have to empty, does anyone know if this is a real hinderence?? also how often, roughly, do you need to empty it?
thanks in advance for any help. xx

i have a condenser dryer as it is in the garage so couldn't have a vented one
seems to work just fine - i empty the reservior every time i use it and it isn't a PITA at all

I haven't got a dryer at all - but would think the condenser means you use less energy and it recoups some of the waste heat from the exhaust gases.

BUT - which says this :

Tumble dryers, especially condenser dryers, take more looking after than just about any other appliance in the kitchen.
Heat exchanger
Heat exchanger

The heat exchanger requires regular washing to keep it free of fluff

Heat exchangers change steam escaping from your washing back into water, but tend to get clogged with fluff that is mixed up in the steam.

You need to clean the heat exchanger on condenser models at least four or five times a year and this is usually a pain to do.
Water reservoir

If you buy a condenser model, you'll need to empty the water reservoir just about every time you use the tumble dryer.

It's easier if it's housed in a drawer at the top of the machine, rather than down near the floor.

And it helps if the water outlet slides open and closed rather than needing to be screwed or pressed shut.
Lint filters
Door mounted lint filter

Don't let fluff build up in your dryer's lint filter

These trap the fluff whipped up in the dryer. To keep the dryer running at peak efficiency, you need to clean the filter every time you use the dryer.

We prefer filters that are easy to just lift from their mounting on the back of the door. Some other dryers make you rummage around inside the door opening to retrieve the filter.

And some filters are double sided, with hinges in the middle and tricky catches, which makes them twice as hard to clean.

here - dated 2004 so maybe out of date a bit now.

our condenser dryer needs to be emptied every 4 loads or so.

condensers are more expensive than normal ones though, and I'm not sure there is that much of an efficiency saving (I don't recall ours having especially good efficiency ratings anyway, but we needed a condenser as we live in a rented house).

do you have a second hand appliances shop near you?

our condenser dryer (Hoover) seems more hard work than our previous vented one - water thing to empty and condenser needs defluffing every so often (you pour water through it) - not too much more worjk really...ours also leaks water from time to time...

I have an indesit condenser drier, I chose mine as I have nowhere for a vent, and I wanted a drier that I could put a large load in.
When I load it I empty the water draw (5seconds) and empty the fluff tray (5 seconds). I think if nergy consumption is a consideration then decide which type of drier you want, then look at their energy ratings on each model as they vary so much.

Mine packed up last winter and tbh I just ent to currys and got one on credit (at £3 a month). I hate using credit but couldn't have managed without a drier, our house is too cold to dry clothes in!

thanks, so much, for all your help. i'll definitely try the second hand option too......getting way too close to christmas for this sudden expense!

the water isnt hard to empty, just do it each time you take stuff out/put stuff in which ever youe prefer.

i have defluffed my thing about twice by pouring water through it in a year, its working fine

and yeah clean the lint out of the catchy thing but you do that on vented ones too!

i love the fact you can use the water from the condensor on plants etc. also i didnt have anywhere to put the vented so condensor it had to be!

hi kaysamuels, when you say a large load, what kg are you talking?. thanks.x

this is mine

it has 7kg load - got mindees quilt and cover in it yesterday for his mum, it fits our doble summer tog duvet, and I often put all my huge bath towels in it all at once. It is not all singing all dancing but it does the job. Think it was about 200.

Like sleepless the bit at the bottom of mine has been rinsed out twice in a year, I just stand it in the sink and run water through it.

This article should help you

www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=186