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Housekeeping

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Condenser tumble dryer

32 replies

ineedaholidayandwine · 25/11/2021 16:24

Can anyone recommend one?
My normal tumble dryer lives in the garage (too hard to fit the vent through the house walls or the utility room windows) but it's now died.
A condenser dryer would be easier.


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OP posts:
jesusmaryjosephandtheweedonkey · 25/11/2021 16:25

We have a hot point one. Had it for 5 years.
Use it all the time and never had a problem with it.
Ours lives in the cupboard under the stairs

Mrsjayy · 25/11/2021 16:27

I have a Sharp condenser dryer it's brilliant my last condenser was a Candy I only had it 3 years when it broke.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 25/11/2021 16:27

We have an AEG, can't remember which model.but it was about £500 three years ago. It's OK but not as good as our last one which was a Bosch. The main issue is with the sensor thinking the item is dry when it's still damp. It tends to happen with larger loads especially bedding.

Mrsjayy · 25/11/2021 16:28

The sharp condenser bit is on the front panel so it's easy to pull out and empty.

nannybeach · 25/11/2021 16:28

Got my DD a Hotpoint because it's on an internal wall,she loves it

ineedaholidayandwine · 25/11/2021 18:06

If any of you do have model numbers i'd be grateful so i can go start researching.
Just my bloody luck it breaks now when i need to wash the bedding Angry

OP posts:
FlowerArranger · 25/11/2021 18:09

Why not read the reviews at John Lewis - you'll get a much larger data base.

Bunce1 · 25/11/2021 18:20

Bosch all the way! I’ll try and dig out the number…..

It’s a series 5. Starts with a WT then a load of numbers.

kalidasa · 25/11/2021 18:27

We recently replaced our Bosch washer, dryer and dishwasher which we'd bought with the house. Turns out they were all made in the 90s!! That is pretty good going so we stuck with Bosch for the replacements.

Batshittery · 25/11/2021 18:33

I have a Beko one as they specify that they can be used in a cold garage. I don't think any others do.
I have had it over 4 years and I have been very pleased with it. It was a reasonable price too.

Ifailed · 25/11/2021 18:36

I've got a Miele Classic TDA140C, it's discontinued but you can still buy them, never had a problem with it.

Dollywilde · 25/11/2021 18:41

We got a Beko DTLCE70051W for £220 from AO a few months ago and I love it!! Admittedly it was replacing a washer/dryer so it was always going to be a million miles better but everything gets so dry and soft in it, the drum is huge and it works perfectly in our shed. Reviews said it was a good option on a budget and I’m inclined to agree.

altforvarmt · 25/11/2021 18:44

I have a Zanussi heat pump condenser dryer (this one, though it's no longer available - www.johnlewis.com/zanussi-zdh8903w-heat-pump-condenser-tumble-dryer-8kg-load-a-energy-rating-white/p4173222#product).

It's very reliable and quiet, but as it's very energy-efficient, it's not quick (but suits me just fine). I had another Zanussi dryer before that which lasted about 15 years.

ineedaholidayandwine · 25/11/2021 19:07

Thank you everyone you've given me a lot to go on.
I'm guessing being in the cold garage could be what's killed the current dryer Sad shame it was the only place it could go.
On the plus side a condenser model can go in the house so no more going out in the cold and rain

OP posts:
Dougieowner · 25/11/2021 19:15

Had a Hotpoint condenser drier for over 15-years and it was brilliant (pre- recall model). Bought a new one (Hotpoint again) last year but don't expect it to be a trouble-free as the last one.
The biggest problem seems to be the pump which gets the water up into the removable tank, friends say that this gives up the ghost after a few years. Our old one didn't have this problem as the tank was at the bottom and gravity did the job without the need for a (potentially) troublesome pump.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/11/2021 03:21

@Dougieowner we've had 3 condenser dryers over the years and all of them have had the tank at the top. None of them have had the pump fail. So hopefully it's a rare occurrence.

ShakespearesSisters · 26/11/2021 04:25

My 10 year old beko condenser recently passed away. I'm now a new owner of a Grundig heat pumo express dry that I got in currys (£649 - but was 10% off that when I bought a couple of weeks ago)
I was dubious about heat pumps as it said longer drying times. My old one took about 1hr 40 to do a load (6kg) and it said a full load for this 8kg one was 3hrs on cottons. So far though I think its quicker than my old condenser. It doesn't blow out any hot air as recycle the heat so the utility isn't ending up like a sauna.
I spent time comparing the annual kw/hr usage figures. This one says 177kw/hr. The condenser ones were 550-650. The energy savings on it worked out about £70 a year on those figures so was more expensive outlay but should have covered its excess purchase costs within a few years on the savings.
I like the sensor on it. The program im using the most is "mixed" which states 2hrs (it counts down on an lcd) but seems to take about 1hr 20 (the lcd changes at something to skip the time). It does seem to know how wet stuff is.
Also as it dries at a lower temp its less likely to shrink stuff. I've started experimenting with some of my daughters things that wouldn't have been tumbled previously (if it shrunk it would go to younger daughter quicker Grin) and coming out well.

ineedaholidayandwine · 26/11/2021 09:30

@ShakespearesSisters how does the heat pump work? does it draw air from the room or does it need pipes sending outside?

OP posts:
IsThisNameTaken · 26/11/2021 09:37

Mines an AEG - T61275AC. 6 years old and still happy with it. Had to replace the door handle mechanism earlier this year but nothing else has gone wrong (fingers crossed, touch wood etc!)

ShakespearesSisters · 26/11/2021 09:42

@ineedaholidayandwine it works exactly the same as a condenser but instead of loads of hot air made and passed through and out of vents the hot air that is made is sent back into the machine. Even better for inside as less moisture produced. It has a drawer that collects water just like a condenser but the water is only ever tepid, with my old condenser it was really hot.
It has got a pipe I could connect to the drain like the washing machine to save emptying the drawer but emptying it isn't a big hassle.
There is a vent at the bottom but dry, room temp air comes out rather than hot "steam room" quality air that condensates on the windows and walls. I have a humidistat extractor in the room where the tumbler is which goes off when humidity exceeds 60%. It would be on all the time with the old drier and for a few hours after. The new one doesn't set it off at all.
I'm loving it.

ineedaholidayandwine · 26/11/2021 09:45

@ShakespearesSisters Thank you that's really helpful. I didn't know about heat pump dryers and it would be in my utility room so less hot air being pumped out would be great, could do without worrying about condensation Grin

OP posts:
OhWifey · 26/11/2021 09:47

My 6 year old Hotpoint has also just gone kaput. I've always struggled with it though. Done loads of research and gone for a very similar BEKO to @Dollywilde. I just need it to do what it says on the tin and the reviews are brilliant. Only £210 at Curry's

madisonbridges · 26/11/2021 09:49

@Dollywilde

We got a Beko DTLCE70051W for £220 from AO a few months ago and I love it!! Admittedly it was replacing a washer/dryer so it was always going to be a million miles better but everything gets so dry and soft in it, the drum is huge and it works perfectly in our shed. Reviews said it was a good option on a budget and I’m inclined to agree.
I can second this. We have the same but 8kg instead 7kg. And it lives in an outside laundry room. Whatever you decide on, make sure the condenser is at the top of the machine so you can empty it easily. It's a pain when it's at the bottom and you're scrabbling around on your hands and knees.
Topseyt · 26/11/2021 09:56

I've had a Bosch condenser dryer for 12 years now with no trouble.

trulyconfuseddotcom · 26/11/2021 09:59

We've got a Beko in our garage, been great so far, had it 2 years.

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