Tumble dryers: condensing vs heat pump

[Medicimama]

Help! Need to buy my third tumble dryer in 13 years. I want one that actually dries clothes rather than leaving them slightly damp despite endless cycles.

First was Miele heat pump top of range one which stopped working properly after about two years. We kept it for an additional five also yes because I couldn’t justify throwing it out as it was so expensive - in contrast to our Millie washing machine which is still going.

Our second was as a Zanussi which has just given up. It was much cheaper so I don’t really have too many complaints.

The problem I have is that we can’t have a vented one because the dryer has to go into a utility area next to an internal wall.

While heat pump ones are said to be cheaper to run, is there a trade-off with efficacy? I found our Miele heat pump one to be rubbish.

Should I therefore go for a condensing one. My budget is up to £600.

I have a 25 year old Miele condensing one currently doing its thing nicely

I think we got unlucky @laughingnow . Does yours vent to the outside world? I remember having good driers in an earlier life when I lived in detached houses (grew up abroad) and I never remember issues with clothes not drying. The perils of living in a London terrace!

No, it’s a condenser and is under the stairs in a London terrace. Warming up the hall too!

We just ditched our Miele heat pump as it was rubbish. Washing machine still going strong. Now have a Bosch condenser. So much better than the rubbish heat pump.

Maybe this one? https://www.johnlewis.com/bosch-series-6-wgg254z1gb-freestanding-washing-machine-10kg-load-1400rpm-spin-white/p113822670?s_ppc=2dx_mixed_technology_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20158965253&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1xgesnrAwC0N7Rx2D549jMpA&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoZDJBhC0ARIsAERP-F9lJkMxXuCpYwxyRoboiVa7f8Yc34V1CVimxe4m2T0RYyyPUIZFfVsaAqxOEALw_wcB

By contrast, I have a Miele heat pump drier that works beautifully. I love it! Sorry, my comment is probably no use to you OP...

I’m not going to make this easy op- Miele condenser that I HATE!! My biggest regret in life is that we can’t have a vented machine. Great on some clothes, others as you say left damp and need a second cycle

We had a second hand Beko from a family member - lasted another 18mths - got a new one - had a parts issue after 18mths thought we’d have to get rid

managed to fix ourselves for £15 (thank god for Google and espares)

when we thought we had to replace we did consider going back to condenser because of this video - I’d google your machine /symptoms it may be an easy fix but if you need to replace there’s lots to consider (including some heat pumps are now fairly cheap)

I bought this one because couldnt have vented. Reasonably cheap but good reviews. Free fitting and removal of packing and old machine. So far so good. Clothes are dry, its pretty quiet.

Comfee‘ Freestanding Washing Machine,7KG Load,Heat Wash 90℃,Ultra Slim 400mm,Quick Wash,15 Washing Programs with 1200RPM,White-CFE10EW70/W : Amazon.co.uk: Large Appliances https://share.google/Ie9Su6mGXSerp3AmY

This is exactly what I was looking at! We have simolar thought patterns when it comes to our spin cycles clearly!

It’s been ace for last month or so. I wash a lot of stuff so it is VERY well used and so quick compared to rubbish heat pump. All comes out bone dry and smelling lovely.

Ah sorry @Fasterthan40 I think you’ve linked to the washing machine. I was looking at a Bosch tumble dryer on there.

www.johnlewis.com/bosch-wqg24502gb-self-cleaning-heat-pump-tumble-dryer-9kg-load-white/p113915946?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&s_share=jlappios_bmV0LndoYXRzYXBwLldoYXRzQXBwLlNoYXJlRXh0ZW5zaW9u

Yikes it does say condenser though… I need 9kg plus I think.

I watched a very good YouTube video about the pros and cons of both types by a guy who repairs appliances. He said that heat pumps are a nightmare as they are incredibly difficult to repair plus the parts are very expensive. It took him 3 times as long to get the machine apart to get to the heat pump and then discovered they are built in such a way as they can't easily be removed to be replaced. He said that they are so eco that they aren't very practical in normal family life! His advice if you can't have a vented (being phased out but very simple so much more robust) then you should go for condensing. That's what I'll do when my 26 year old vented dryer eventually gives up the ghost.

Bosch heat pump - rakes about 90 minutes fir a full load (9kg), costs around £0.50 and hasn’t shrunk anything in the 9 years u’ve had it. Love it

Don’t buy a Bosch self cleaning one- worst purchase ever, everything stayed damp and because it had soggy fluff in it all the time rather than nice dry fluff if started to stink within a year and clothes came out mouldy smelling. Lasted less than 2 years before I replaced it with a normal one.

Oh yes I did sorry. I meant the tumble drier. I bought the Bosch Serie 6 condenser drier. I wanted to buy from AO but they were out of stock so had to go with JL. It is great and easier to defluff than the Miele heat pump

Can I check again @Fasterthan40 if your series 6 Bosch one is the same one I linked to from John Lewis as it’s a heat pump one!

@tealsea you warn against the self cleaning one… Was it the series 6 one?

Has anyone had experience of the Samsung tumble dryers?

I have a Bosch heat pump which seems to be very economical to run and doesn't take forever. A mixed fabric load to get what they describe as "cupboard dry" is 1hr 21 mins. Obviously, towels and cotton bedsheets will take longer.

Mine is definitely a series 6 condenser. I think that Bosch might be switching to heat pump as, as I said, A0 ran out and said they wouldn’t get them back in stock. It’s model no. is WPG23108GB if that helps.

I think it’s the more expensive ones that are self cleaning. Maybe Serie 8 IIRC

Smiths appear to stock it still https://www.smithstv.co.uk/bosch-wpg23108gb-white-1000006267.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21341306332&gbraid=0AAAAADQ8M1WXBN2bdHTuyXsc7zlbKfLXT&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxJXJBhD_ARIsAH_JGjjkOajM4jW5TShGORNoKAD08mdEWxnuZzIQx9TZNT_CvVNG26SUKvQaAsRtEALw_wcB

I currently have a Bosch serie 4 condenser tumble dryer. It's fine. I've only had it just over a year, but I had a Bosch Classix Condenser for about 15 years before that.

I get on well with Bosch appliances at the moment. I've never tried heat pump ones but the reviews I hear about them aren't generally encouraging.