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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Heat pump tumble dryer

105 replies

HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou · 30/12/2024 20:34

About a year ago my old vented dryer broke and I bought a heat pump dry, sold on the energy efficiency. We are a busy household of 5 teens and 2 adults plus pets.
We have an 8kg candy model.

I can't tell you how bloody long it takes to dry the clothes.

Half a load rakes about 2.5-3 hours. A full load takes 5 hours to be properly dry.

Does anyone else have this issue? I know they are meant to be slower than vented and condenser dryers, but it's driving me mad. I can't get through the laundry quickly enough and it's constantly piling up.

Are there any hints people have?
Are condensers better? We have remodeled the kitchen and now couldn't have a vented one, but I need to do something...

OP posts:
Bluemat · 30/12/2024 20:37

HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou · 30/12/2024 20:34

About a year ago my old vented dryer broke and I bought a heat pump dry, sold on the energy efficiency. We are a busy household of 5 teens and 2 adults plus pets.
We have an 8kg candy model.

I can't tell you how bloody long it takes to dry the clothes.

Half a load rakes about 2.5-3 hours. A full load takes 5 hours to be properly dry.

Does anyone else have this issue? I know they are meant to be slower than vented and condenser dryers, but it's driving me mad. I can't get through the laundry quickly enough and it's constantly piling up.

Are there any hints people have?
Are condensers better? We have remodeled the kitchen and now couldn't have a vented one, but I need to do something...

I have probably the same model as you. It does take a long time to dry clothes. I'm not impressed at all with it to be honest. Can't wait for better weather to come so I can line dry then just finish off in the dryer.

Bluemat · 30/12/2024 20:38

Also I double spin my washing and that does help slightly with the speed of getting it dry.

Original poster
HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou · 30/12/2024 20:45

I'm at the point where I wondering if I should cut my losses and buy a better one. Also looking at heated airers.

OP posts:
ObieJoyful · 30/12/2024 20:46

HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou · 30/12/2024 20:34

About a year ago my old vented dryer broke and I bought a heat pump dry, sold on the energy efficiency. We are a busy household of 5 teens and 2 adults plus pets.
We have an 8kg candy model.

I can't tell you how bloody long it takes to dry the clothes.

Half a load rakes about 2.5-3 hours. A full load takes 5 hours to be properly dry.

Does anyone else have this issue? I know they are meant to be slower than vented and condenser dryers, but it's driving me mad. I can't get through the laundry quickly enough and it's constantly piling up.

Are there any hints people have?
Are condensers better? We have remodeled the kitchen and now couldn't have a vented one, but I need to do something...

We’ve just got one. I hate it!

Original poster
HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou · 30/12/2024 20:47

ObieJoyful · 30/12/2024 20:46

We’ve just got one. I hate it!

Show quote history

Is it the candy one? I'm wondering if there are better models out there...

OP posts:
Bluemat · 30/12/2024 20:48

I had a Hoover heat pump before this one and that was worse. It only lasted a few months before it completely broke down.

ObieJoyful · 30/12/2024 20:55

HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou · 30/12/2024 20:47

Is it the candy one? I'm wondering if there are better models out there...

Show quote history

It’s a Bosch. It takes ages to dry things, and it creases them terribly.

ObieJoyful · 30/12/2024 20:58

Although, OP , I don’t think it takes as long as yours.

Another76543 · 30/12/2024 21:00

I replaced an old Miele condenser (around 20 years old) with a new Miele heat pump this year (they only do heat pump now). I was nervous that I’d hate it as I’d read they do tend to take longer. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised and to be honest haven’t noticed it takes any longer than the old one. If anything, it’s probably slightly quicker.

To be honest, I’m not sure how long it takes as I haven’t had any issues with getting through washing and drying. I think a big load of towels says it will take around 3 hours but I’m fairly sure it’s normally ready and properly dry in a bit less than that.

A couple of thoughts though. Heat pumps don’t like being operated in cold areas (garages/conservatories etc). Is your washing machine spinning things enough so they’re not sopping when you put them in the dryer?

Miele are very expensive though (although not if it lasts over 20 years like the old one!)

Dearg · 30/12/2024 21:10

I had a Siemens one . Two Labradors. Self cleaning condenser.

Except it cannot self clean if clogged by dog hair , which I had no clue about when I bought it. . It got slower and slower, and I complained, at which point the sales person said it was the dog hair.

Swopped it for a regular condenser that I can clean myself. Which is so much better. Have no clue about relative cost of running them, but the thing was never off.

Original poster
HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou · 30/12/2024 21:14

ObieJoyful · 30/12/2024 20:58

Although, OP , I don’t think it takes as long as yours.

Argh that's one of the models that's supposed to be better. I think I'm going to have to get a heated airer too.

OP posts:
Original poster
HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou · 30/12/2024 21:15

Another76543 · 30/12/2024 21:00

I replaced an old Miele condenser (around 20 years old) with a new Miele heat pump this year (they only do heat pump now). I was nervous that I’d hate it as I’d read they do tend to take longer. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised and to be honest haven’t noticed it takes any longer than the old one. If anything, it’s probably slightly quicker.

To be honest, I’m not sure how long it takes as I haven’t had any issues with getting through washing and drying. I think a big load of towels says it will take around 3 hours but I’m fairly sure it’s normally ready and properly dry in a bit less than that.

A couple of thoughts though. Heat pumps don’t like being operated in cold areas (garages/conservatories etc). Is your washing machine spinning things enough so they’re not sopping when you put them in the dryer?

Miele are very expensive though (although not if it lasts over 20 years like the old one!)

I'll have a look at Miele. We use it so much that it would be worth the cost if it does work well.

OP posts:
Original poster
HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou · 30/12/2024 21:16

I'm already double spinning the washing on the fastest spin too..

OP posts:
MabelMora · 30/12/2024 21:16

Heated airers cannot compare to a tumble dryer. This is probably a daft question but are you making sure the water collection thing is empty each time you start it?

SwayingInTime · 30/12/2024 21:17

Ours takes about 3 hours but it's our first tumble dryer so can't compare it. I genuinely haven't noticed an increase in the bills so it has lived up to its efficiency claims. I love it! It's a hotpoint 9kg.

Original poster
HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou · 30/12/2024 21:18

MabelMora · 30/12/2024 21:16

Heated airers cannot compare to a tumble dryer. This is probably a daft question but are you making sure the water collection thing is empty each time you start it?

Yes, also checking the filter is clear etc.

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 30/12/2024 21:19

I've just got an AEG one to replace an old John Lewis (so, AEG/Electrolux) heat pump. This new one is so much faster than my JL one. The tech just seems to have improved in the 7 or 8 years between them.

LizzieSiddal · 30/12/2024 21:19

I have a Bosch, it was bloody expensive, about £800, but I love it. It takes 2-3 hours to dry something like towels but less for thinner stuff. It’s much cheaper to run than my
old one.

BobnLen · 30/12/2024 21:21

As PP says they don't operate well in colder areas, I won't have one because of that, as the position of the tumble dryer in our house is in a small unheated room which we don't really use much so we don't need to heat it unless it gets really cold then I just use a small portable radiator to take the edge off.

Bluemat · 30/12/2024 21:21

The noise of it also drives me nuts.

TwinklyStarlight · 30/12/2024 21:21

We have a Beko, we're very happy with it.

Drying a load with it is cheaper than running a heated airer overnight, and more reliably gets everything dry.

MissAtomicBomb1 · 30/12/2024 21:22

We've got the Candy one - I hate it!!
It was one of the cheaper heat pump ones but wishing we'd spent a bit more and got one that's quicker.
The plastic part that collects the water also fell out and the bit where it clips in to the door snapped off. It really is rubbish Angry

CatchHimDerry · 30/12/2024 21:22

I have a Sharp one. Never had a non heat-pump one to compare, but happy with ours! 90 mins - 2 hours or so depending on the load I would guess.

Had it about 3.5 years

Wish I could say the same for the matching washing machine, which conked out at about 2.5 years old and had to be replaced

Soontobe60 · 30/12/2024 21:22

Have you changed your laundry routine? DH does all our washing on his day off, between 2-4 loads, and gets everything dried too. Our old drier is on its way out and we’re looking at a heat pump one, but know we’ll need to change the laundry routine to doing it throughout the week and drying at night to account for the longer drying time.