What type of tumble drier....?

[another20]

any recommendations? condenser or vented....

Vented if you can - less humidity inside and they are simpler so less to go wrong. You only have to clear the lint filters rather than empty the water out and clean the condenser.

We have just switched from vented to condenser (thanks to faulty indesit/hotpoint upgrade offer while waiting for repair )
So far i'm loving the new one. Used to put the hose out the window with the old one (rented house, no vent in the wall). The condenser is also doubling up as a heater for the kitchen /dining room
Not only is there no need to have a window open, but there's enough heat coming from the dryer that the room is toasty. Hoping that it will save a little bit off our heating bill in winter

Also discovered a trick recently....pop in a dry towel (tea towel ) with the wet stuff and it reduces the drying time.

No humidity probs so far.

Vented every time for me if it can be installed properly. I've heard good and bad about heat pump but never had one myself. I did have a hotpoint condenser about 10 years ago and it was garbage. I literally took a sledgehammer to it.

Condenser is easier unless you've got a hole in the wall or a back door near the hose. NOT Hotpoint, anything but Hotpoint they're shite and their customer service is non existent appalling.

We have a Bosch heat pump - connected in to the plumbing so it empties itself. We couldn't have put in a vent.

I have had a condenser in the past but emptying it annoyed me. I can get a hole cut for a vent.

What is a heat pump?

I didn't know the heat pump ones weren't vented and discharged via the plumbing. Could be an option when we need a new one as ours is in the cellar. The Bosch ones are pricey but A++ rated which is interesting.

Yes heat pump is the way to go. They're more expensive and always condensers. They so hugely more energy efficient than traditional dryers and so earn the price difference back pretty quickly.

Mine is a Beko, it's probably 2 by now and it's been fab so far. Mine isn't plumbed in but it can be, is also dead easy to do.

Heat pump driers are more expensive to buy but cheaper to run and take longer to dry the load.

My vote is for a gas tumble drier. I hope to buy one when I change my kitchen.

I would love a gas dryer but they were out of my price range. Better still than heat pump for sure.

heat pump is technology slightly like a fridge or an air conditioner, where one part gets hot and another part gets cold. They are cheaper to run but more expensive to buy. When I looked at them I calculated it would take more than 5 years for the energy savings to cover the increased price, but the prices may be coming down.

I suspect if/when they go wrong, repairs will be expensive.

If you have, or can make, a hole in the wall, vented driers are best value, and very simple so not much to go wrong. A builder or plumber uses a special big drill to make the neat round hole. They can be hired, but are rather heavy. If you hire one, you will probably enjoy it so much that you will make holes for all the extractor fans and cooker hoods you can think of.

Not all heat pumps discharge via the plumbing - some just have a condenser drawer which needs emptying. Ours can actually be both - there's a pipe at the back for the condensate which can either be connected so it goes in to the drawer, or connected to the plumbing. Plumber did it the wrong way the first time!

Lots of them don't allow for the drain connection though, so check that - you're looking for a self cleaning condenser (at least that's what Bosch call it)

They're not the fastest, ours takes about 2.5 hours to fully dry a load but that's for an 8kg load and it hasn't shrunk or destroyed any clothes so far.

We have just bought a beko heat pump. Plumbs in with washer. Its great.

Yy they dry at lower temperatures which is tonnes kinder to clothes.

Thanks all. We rarely use one - only in emergencies - so looks like the heat pump isnt worth it as will take tooooooo loooong. We do have an issue with condensation in out house - so I think vented is the way to go.

I have a MIEILE HEAT PUMP CONDENSER. It's shockingly bad. Brand new. Takes HOURS to dry anything. Hate hate hate it!!!! Yes, supposed to be good for environment but no good for my blood pressure 😀. Totally and utterly impractical for a family.

I have a large drum indesit condenser as I had no where for a vent hose to go. I love it and would recommend

Ah,see wheresmyphone mine takes less time than the washing machine so I'm never waiting for it to finish to put in another load! So the speed doesn't bother me at all

the fact that the full drum 40 on my washing machine takes 3 hours 20 minutes on the other hand is bonkers

I have a Miele that drains with the washing machine into the drainage system (does it have a heat pump?) and it has so many settings it can be as slow or as quick as you want for whatever you are drying! What it does do, brilliantly, is dry everything just as you want it: ready for ironing or cupboard dry. It is solid and quiet! I love it.

I have a condenser, I hate it. It takes ages to partially dry stuff and when it is meant to be dry it still feels damp. It also makes the fresh washing smell unfresh and old.

The water container is at the bottom so I have to get someone else to empty it otherwise I can't get up off the floor.

I didn't choose it, I wanted a vented one, but I also wanted one that wouldn't set the house on fire.

I only use it to soften the towels and dry stuff that I can't fit on the Lakeland heated airer when it is full. I have always had vented ones before and I wouldn't mind putting the pipe out of the window rather than use this bloody thing. It is a Candy which has good reviews but I think people have low expectations or are desperate to get a dryer.

When I replaced my last condenser dryer I looked around for advice and found a number of service engineers saying look at white knight appliances

I did and duly bought one, drys well, no condensation issues, can be plumbed in or use the collection tank which is at the top not bottom and dries an average load in 1-2 hours depending on fabric

I would definitely buy again