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Housekeeping

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Tumble Dryer - Heat pump or condenser?

12 replies

user1497787065 · 19/12/2022 21:26

I need to replace my tumble dryer which is probably about 20 years old and is a vented Miele. Looking online I can see condenser or heat pump. Any recommendations or explanations appreciated. Do either of these require venting?


This thread is quite old now so some of the suggestions may be out of date, but if you’re looking for tumble dryers, we’ve recently updated our best tumble dryer page with lots of great options rated by Mumsnet users, plus info on whether a heat pump or condenser dryer is best for your home. We hope you find it useful. Flowers
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OP posts:
Stopclutchingpearls · 19/12/2022 23:21

I have a condenser one a candy one it’s actually very good. It condenses the air so you don’t need vent into a plastic thing under the machine that you lift out and drain . It turns itself off when it works out how dry your clothes are so you don’t need to guess the time very impressed plus it actually doesn’t cost that much to run really as quite efficient . It was very reasonable to buy under 200 brand new 8kg one

margotsdevil · 19/12/2022 23:25

We replaced our condenser with a heat pump earlier this year. It's more expensive up front to buy but notice that it's significantly cheaper to run per load. Not quick to dry stuff though, although we only really use for towels and bedding so that's not a major issue!

FirstFallopians · 19/12/2022 23:28

A heat pump recycles the same warm air so the machine is more efficient. It’s has a drawer which fills with water which you need to empty after every few washes just like a condenser.

We previously had an old condenser and the heat pump is much much more cost effective and quicker as well.

When our previous machine broke I was initially going to replace it with another cheapy condenser. The guy in Curry’s was great, he explained the difference in running costs and it made more sense to pay more initially for the machine and save on energy bills later.

Widgetwiggler · 19/12/2022 23:30

Condenser collects the water in a reservoir drawer that you need to empty after each load (no venting required).

Our Bosch heat pump dryer is also a condenser. It recycles the heat so it can run at a lower temperature and therefore uses a lot less energy (about the same as thinking one of those heated airer things). Initial outlay is more expensive but it was definitely worth it. The one down side is that because of the sensor, it usually stops a smidge too soon for my liking (I prefer things completely dry) bit I just whack it in for another cycle. Because if the sensor it does another ten minutes then stops and it's dried to perfection.

Onnabugeisha · 19/12/2022 23:32

Heat pump. The energy efficiency means it will pay for itself in two years tops.

BungleandGeorge · 19/12/2022 23:39

Heat pump take a lot longer to dry the clothes but cost less per cycle. Either is likely to be more efficient than your 20 year old machine.

gavisconismyfriend · 19/12/2022 23:41

Love my heat pump dryer! Was a bit concerned it would dry as well as others but it is great. Doesn’t require venting, easy to empty water drawer. Buy the best you can afford, I splurged on an AEG and don’t regret a penny

Patsyperuna · 04/12/2023 10:16

Wow I have an aeg lavertherm 885951s it NEVER dries even after 2:5 hrs and suggestions its fairly new not used much he

Patsyperuna · 04/12/2023 10:20

I have an aeg lavertherm 885951s dryer takes horurs for the cycle to finish and the clothes are never dry
lots of water comes out but still nowhere near dry

its 7 years old and only just started to use it properly. I only used it before to fluff up my towels

anyone offer any help/advice please

Patsyperuna · 04/12/2023 10:22

Help for drying in my aeg condeser heat pump dryer I cannot get the clothes to dry in spite of reading the manual front to back trying all variations on drying

Baftler · 04/12/2023 10:31

@Patsyperuna what spin does your washing machine do? My older one was a 1400 and my new (2 years old) one is 1600 and there is a massive difference in how wet the clothes felt when I take them out. That might be part of the issue for the drying, that the clothes are just too wet to start with. Try a second spin in the washing machine.

I have a condenser sensor dryer because I don't want to wait hours for the washing to dry.

Patsyperuna · 04/12/2023 10:37

1400 so will try second spin t u

but it is a pain just doesnt dry
yesterday i dried with the cycle then an hour after I tried again on full cycle but it wasnt dry enough had to hang overnight on clothes horse

so frustrating and annoying having paid more for the upto date dryer

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