Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Tumble dryer in unheated garage

34 replies

FinallyHere · 08/12/2021 14:49

Anyone have a tumble drying running in an unheated garage?

Does it need a vent? Would I get away with a condenser which could freeze.

I started to Google but have had so many contradictory stories.

MN please help

OP posts:
JaneJeffer · 08/12/2021 15:02

Ours is in the garage but it's vented.

SingingSands · 08/12/2021 15:05

Mine is in the un heated garage, it is vented.

Megmargs · 08/12/2021 15:08

Condenser, never considered it freezing. Have had it for 5 years and it still works so I guess it’s fine! If you’re worried just empty the water tank after every cycle, it’ll probably be fine.

HeddaGarbled · 08/12/2021 15:09

With condenser dryers, you empty the water tank after each use, so freezing shouldn’t be a problem.

WisestIsShe · 08/12/2021 15:09

We also have a condenser in the garage. Never thought about freezing. We are in the Midlands though, not the Highlands Grin

han01uk · 08/12/2021 15:09

We have a condenser tumble drier in an unheated garage... worked fine for the last 10 years! 😁

Barwell76 · 08/12/2021 15:10

We had one in an unheated garage for a few years, it was fine. It was vented.

Ozanj · 08/12/2021 15:10

I have always had a condenser dryer in the garage. It has never frozen. External venting is more of a problem because of rats.

Original poster
FinallyHere · 08/12/2021 15:41

Goodness, thank you very much, these replies are exactly what I wanted to hear. I didn't know about 'emptying the water tank'. Hurrah. We are in the SE, so freeze only rarely but it does happen.

Suddenly, I feel a bit more Christmassy.

Any recommendations for brands of condenser tumble dryers? Would love to have fluffy towels again for Christmas.

OP posts:
Original poster
FinallyHere · 08/12/2021 16:11

I picked Beko for the freezer in the garage because keeping it in the garage doesnt invalidate the guarantee. The guarantee ran out yesterday, no issues found

They suggest min 5dC for condenser tumble dryers, I guess this means they may not be prepared to install it. If they unwrap and put it in place, I'm sure I can plug it in.

Snd connect the drain hose so no water ever stored in the machine.

This looks very promising. Thanks all

OP posts:
shakingmytambourineatyou · 08/12/2021 16:18

We've had a vented tumble dryer in the garage for years with no issues

MotherOfCrocodiles · 08/12/2021 16:28

I have a heat pump drier in the garage - have had it about 19 years.

I don't run it in freezing weather and there is a protocol for getting out all the water (run it empty for a few min) if it is going to be early cold

We have a Bosch, it's good

RampantIvy · 08/12/2021 16:31

@HeddaGarbled

With condenser dryers, you empty the water tank after each use, so freezing shouldn’t be a problem.
This ^^
521Jeanie · 08/12/2021 16:32

Live in London have an unheated conservatory (which is probably less well insulated than a garage).... it never drops below 4 degrees in there.

RobinPenguins · 08/12/2021 16:32

Have had a condenser dryer in the unheated garage with holes in the door for 8 years and it’s always been fine. We’re usually pretty prompt about emptying the water, but even if not it’s never frozen or come remotely close to it.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 08/12/2021 16:33

Purrs was on the garage. It caught fire, and the petrol in the car tanks exploded. Entire house was a write off. We didn’t know it was even happening until flames poured through the garage door. The room l was sitting in when it happened was destroyed. And the fire men arrived 6 minutes after our neighbour had seen the flames. Before we saw them.

Please don’t put your tumble dryer in the garage.

museumum · 08/12/2021 16:34

We’re in Scotland and have condenser dryer in our garage and our boiler. It never freezes inside there even when we’ll below 0 outside.

RavingAnnie · 08/12/2021 16:37

I have had a condenser dryer in an unheated garage for a few years now and it's been fine. I was nervous about it when I bought it as you are told not to but it's been no problem at all.

My garage is integral to my house though so it does get v cold in there but I expect not quite as cold as a "free standing" unheated garage.

RavingAnnie · 08/12/2021 16:38

And water has never frozen or been near to freezing.

blackteaplease · 08/12/2021 16:45

Rats?

Original poster
FinallyHere · 08/12/2021 17:47

Delivery and installation arranged for Friday.

Being in the garage invalidates the warranty but otherwise ok.

OP posts:
lanbro · 08/12/2021 17:52

Never occurred to me it could freeze but so far so good! I also keep drinks in the garage, never had anything frozen yet but chills things wonderfully!

mugoftea456 · 08/12/2021 18:57

I've had both in a garage. Both fine.

Well the condenser is shit, but I think condensers are generally shit. It's never frozen it's just a wanky tumble dryer. Can you tell I have major regret switching to a horrible fucking condenser.

Anyway, I digress, either will be fine in a garage.

SnugKnights · 10/12/2021 17:02

Mine is a condenser in the garage as well and is a bit shit, especially in Winter. I often have a fan heater pointing at it though when it’s on and I always set it on the warmest setting which is still nowhere near even a medium setting on an old fashioned dryer.

ineedaholidayandwine · 10/12/2021 17:04

I had a vented one in my garage, put the pipe out of the window, but it's recently died, i think due to the cold.
Look for models that say they can be used in an outbuilding. I believe some of the beko models are suitable