Decent integrated dryer (not vented)?

[Tree224]

Clearly I should have looked into this a while ago but there we are!

Looking to get a tumble dryer but limited to integrated (not freestanding) and no access to external wall so has to be a heat pump or condenser. I have looked through various reviews/websites and the few that do fit these requirements seem to have pretty bad reviews!

Perhaps I am just asking for the impossible but I'd love to know if anyone does have an integrated dryer (not vented) that they would recommend and does a good job?!

Thank you very much in advance!!

Washer dryer is a hood back up as can be both.

It’s a huge problem! Just looked at Which Best buys for you. The only non vented integrated dryer in the list is the Hoover H7A1TCE 80. It’s a heat pump model and they rate it 66%. It’s around £460. So many freestanding models are better!

Can you not alter the kick board and take the cabinet door off?

I wouldn’t recommend any of them and neither does Which.

if you just want a dryer, Bosch come out well.

Siemens are part of the same group for appliances, and usually aimed a bit upmarket, but IME not quite as reliable. My guess is that because the models are sold in smaller numbers (and are more complicated) problems do not occur so frequently so take longer to be recognised and designed out.

Heat pump are less reliable and more expensive than ordinary condensors, and slower in use, but use less electricity.

I just looked at Which best buys, but don't see an integrated condensor, they are all free standing.

I thought there was one in the magazine recently.

If you google "tumble dryer secret flap" you will find something interesting.

Integrated tumble dryers mostly have smaller drums, they are a lot more limited than freestanding. Is there a way you could have a f/s?

We vented our integrated tumble dryer across the kitchen ceiling and out to the external wall. It’s a CDA.

How much is it worth to you to have an integrated rather than a free-standing?

no, I take that back now, sorry.

I thought I would be able to find a Which Best Buy Integrated, and compare it to the cost of a Which Best Buy freestanding, to see if you thought the convenience was worth the extra cost.

But there are no Best Buy integrated.

Hardly any Integrated on test at all.

I see our CDA one is now discontinued..

The only one is the one I posted from Hoover. The vast majority are free standing. That’s why it’s worth doing a minor alteration to the furniture to accommodate a free standing one.

We have an integrated condenser in our holiday home and it’s rubbish to the extent that it’s going to be taken out next time we go there! We also have an AEG heat pump condenser which is brilliant but it is freestanding. I would get a base cupboard on the end of a run taken out so you have room for one. Also connect the drainage out through the wall or into under sink drainage and you never have a drawer of water to empty.

Why must you have integrated op? Often a small change can accommodate free standing.

Slight hijack. Would anyone with access to Which be kind enough to let me know a few of the best buys for a freestanding one, not vented. Either one with a heat pump or condenser. I'm thinking I might take the plunge and buy one this year. Sick of damp clothes hanging around already.

The only ones on the market are a Hoover model and a Candy one. They appear to be pretty much the same machine rebadged. There is no choice at all so the decision is easy.

I have a Samsung heat pump. Not integrated. Very happy with it although cost of the machine was high, can see the difference in the electric bill.

Siemens or Bosch feature highly up the best buy tables at under £1000. Assuming you are not going for a Miele. Siemens actually have a Best Buy integrated! I missed that earlier. 82% so close to the best Miele rated at 85% which are top of the pile. There is also a highly rated Miele integrated which is a lot cheaper than the best Bosch integrated.

I've just had a new kitchen. Ordered the candy intregrated heat pump dryer. It was nearly £500. Cancelled it and turned into a regular cupboard after reading all the reviews. Rarely read a good one. 8hours+ drying time and still condensation on the units inside.
I have just bought another vented and put it outside instead. I couldn't have a a humid kitchen 8 hours a day. 😖

Huge apologies!!! Did I just post dishwashers! I need my first cup of coffee! Ignore me.

@starlingsintheslipstream

Slight hijack. Would anyone with access to Which be kind enough to let me know a few of the best buys for a freestanding one, not vented. Either one with a heat pump or condenser. I'm thinking I might take the plunge and buy one this year. Sick of damp clothes hanging around already.

The highest scoring best buy is

Siemens IQ-700 WT4HY791GB | Heat pump £850

There are a bunch of them with similar scores

Of which the lowest price is
AEG T7DBG840N | Heat pump £549

And, almost as good but lower price,
Beko DPH8744W | Heat pump £479

I am a Bosch enthusiast so would probably get
Bosch WTW87560GB White | Heat pump £665 even though the ones above look better value.

Heat pumps tend to be rather slow so
John Lewis JLTDC08 | Condenser £499
Is almost as good.

As I have solar panels the lower electricity usage of heat pumps is less important to me. And because I like simplicity (less to go wrong) bought a vented. Opinions will differ.

Thanks so much @PigletJohn . Really helpful!

We had a great Siemens one when we did our kitchen over 20 years ago. When it needed replacing around 5 years ago there was literally nothing available other than vented. I coaxed the old machine along and got to the point of deciding to get a shallow freestanding model (Beko) which could stand behind the cupboard facade, with a carpenter making some adjustments to make the door work. When I rang the shop to order it, the Hoover model had just been announced so at great expense I pre-ordered one.

It worked well for just over a year then stopped drying. The engineer came out and pronounced it unfixable. I was absolutely outraged! I went to Hoover directly and to cut a long story short I paid a token amount to get it replaced (in another mood I would have pursued it under consumer regs but they offered me a massive discount).

Upshot is that the second one is great, so much so that I think the first one was faulty from the off with the benefit of hindsight. I've had it almost exactly a year and I'm going to pay to extend the warranty now, which I wouldn't normally do.

In an ideal world I would have a utility room and never need another integrated appliance because they really are an expensive pain!

The integrated Candy and Hoover dryers are indeed the same machine rebranded. I've owned both! The biggest piece of junk you can buy! I had a string of problems with them from electricity tripping to not drying to turning itself off to making a constant beep, I can go on. Originally I bought the Candy and they replaced it with the hoover after the fifth engineer visit. Then the Hover started going wrong...
I definitely wanted am integrated one but ended up removing the appliance door and buying a freestanding as there was no other option!

For some reason I have only just seen all these replies - thank you so much, everyone!

Integrated is because it will be a stacked washer and dryer as part of a flush run of cupboards (they don't come deep enough to accommodate freestanding) - cupboards could potentially all be pushed forward to remain flush and we could try and change the dimensions of the dryer/washer cupboard. To be honest, now I've written this I can see that probably isn't that much of a big deal...especially when considering you have confirmed my view that decent integrated dryers don't exist!

Thank you again for your replies!

A freestanding dryer will just stick out a bit. But if the cupboards are shallow, so will the washing machine.

Mine are stacked in a purpose built unit. No doors - they are both freestanding models. The wm is on the floor and the dryer above. The dryer dispenses water into the draining system for the wm. So it’s easy - no water drawer to pull out. Decent machines Can then be bought - you don’t have to compromise on quality.