Tumble dryers - what would you do?

[OrangeLane]

I'm lucky enough to have what is essentially a large cupboard part-way up my stairs. I use it as a laundry room - the washing machine and tumbler are in there, and lots of shelves above (we have very high ceilings).

Because it's a tumbler with a hose out the window, the window (tall and thin affair) has to be wedged open to allow this. We're a family of 6, so there's a lot of laundry and the tumbler is on quite a lot.

This is all fine when it's not cold outside. But when it's the colder half of the year, this 'room' ends up freezing and damp. There's no heat source in the room. It's a very old house and external walls are 40cm-thick stone. So it's a heat sink house.

I'd like to fix this problem, but it feels like I have two main options - which would you do, and have I missed any options?

1. Find a way to get the hose outside another way. E.g. drill a hole through the 40cm-thick stone wall, or get a bit of glass cut out from the window, or replace the window with a one that has a small opening bit and big non-opening bit. Any of these feel pretty expensive.
2. When the tumbler comes to the end of its life (it's pretty old), replace with a condenser one. But I hear these aren't anywhere near as good as the traditional hose ones.

Any strong views?

Thanks!

I have a condenser tumble dryer and it is quite old. It has always worked fine. It is so easy. Every winter I wonder if it will last.

Having said that, I have just realised that I bought it before energy efficient ratings were so important.

Condensers work great.

Condenser dryers are fine. I used to have one in a large cupboard in the bathroom. I now have a heat pump condenser which is way more energy efficient than either a normal condenser or an externally vented one because it re uses the heat generated by the washing to dry it. The main downside with these is that they are very heavy compared to other dryers because of the heat pump. I have never had any issues with condenser dryers drying efficiently

We’ve only ever had condenser tumble dryers & they work great but be aware you won’t be able to buy one from January 2027 - only heat pump dryers will be allowed to be sold new.
so if you want one better get it quick!

Heat pumps are condensers though

Yes, but heat pump dryers are more energy efficient; traditional condenser dryers won’t meet the new energy efficiency requirements so won’t be able to be sold new.

But all condensers aren’t heat pumps.

We literally just got our new drier today as old one packed in last winter. Can't wait heats kitchen as well as does clothes lol

I have a condensed and it works perfectly. Just make sure you empty the collected water and de-lint the filter each use.

I know they are not as things stand, but a pp said that going forward, only heat pump dryers will be sold, not condensers. So in future all condensers will indeed be heat pumps if this is the case 😆

Well maybe I better order a new tumble dryer soon!

Heat pump ones are fab though! Much more efficient (A rated as oppose to C or D for condensers)and dry really well (at least mine does). I have always had condenser driers. As I say, the main downside is that they are heavy and initially more expensive. But way cheaper to run

@smilesy do you mind sharing what tumble dryer you have please? Such mixed messages on heat pump models so a recommendation much appreciated!

The only place for my tumble dryer is in my garage which isn’t warm in winter when I will need to use it. The garage is cold and heat pump tumble dryers don’t work well in cold temperatures.

I have a Bosch condenser , it’s about 5 now , used all year and is brilliant , dries things really quickly . It is much more efficient than my old vented dryer .

A traditional condenser is probably the best option for you in a cold, unheated space. I'd buy one - quickly - before you can only buy the heat pump kind!

It’s a Beko Eco Gentle. The model is DHR73431W. I think I’ve had it for about 5 years. It’s in the utility room now, but I did have to put it in the garage for a while and it worked fine even in cold weather 🤷‍♀️

1. @OrangeLane "When the tumbler comes to the end of its life (it's pretty old), replace with a condenser one. But I hear these aren't anywhere near as good as the traditional hose ones.

The outlet for moisture makes no difference to the dryer function. It either goes out via hose to outside, or it goes into a tank in the machine, which you empty periodically (or it can be plumbed in).

I've only ever had condensers. I used to have a Smeg heat pump one which I didn't know was a heat pump one, as I knew nothing about tumble dryers. Then I bought a cheap Beko because the Smeg wasn't very good. BTW, I only use the tumble dryer for a final dry after air drying, never stuff straight from the washing machine - just seems very wasteful when you can part dry for free.

I replace it with a condenser now. I would not wait for the other one to break down. Being warm would be more important.

There is absolutely no point hanging washing out where I live in the winter. It would come in as wet as it went out. We have very little wind on most days. I have only just started using the tumble dryer again because I can dry perfectly well outside in the summer.

Thank you. That is good to know. I have a Beco fridge freezer in the garage. This is a second one, to the one in the kitchen. I think Beco is the only make of fridge freezers that will work in a cold garage.

I wouldn’t put holes in your wall or window as from January (I think) they are stopping making or selling vented tumble driers!

my vented is old and clinging on for dear life and I’ve not heard great things about condensers or heatpump driers.

Well, this has been a proper school day, thanks all! 🙂

Very illuminating - I didn't know condenser ones were generally thought to be just as good. I didn't know heat pump ones even existed. And I didn't know traditional condensers were all becoming heat pump ones from January.

Appreciate people saying about getting a traditional condenser now, given it's a cold and unheated cupboard / room. This is a good point.

Off to do research. Thanks again!

Ok, I'm reading this article on Which, and this last line (my bolding, below) is blowing my mind. This is exactly what I need! I already have water in the room/cupboard for the washing machine, so being able to plumb a tumbler in too, and having no hose + no emptying water would make my life so much easier.

"The main difference between condensers and heat pumps is the method they use to dry your clothes. Condensers repeatedly heat up cold air, usually to a maximum of 70-75°C, whereas heat pumps reuse the warm air already inside the drum and don't tend to get any hotter than around 50°C.

Both models collect moisture from wet clothes into a water reservoir as standard (for the best performance, manufacturers tend to recommend emptying the water tank after every load). With heat pump dryers, you usually have the option to plumb it in and have water drain directly into a drainpipe"

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/the-tumble-dryer-ban-what-does-it-mean-for-you-alPRI3r8KXPx