Tumble driers - heat pump v condenser v heater

[Lard]

Hi All,
I'd like some opinions from anyone who has first-hand experience please.

I'm in the middle of converting our single skin garage into a utility room that will house the washing machine and tumble drier. Although it was single skin brickwork, I've insulated it internally with 19 layer multifoil and it's clad externally with red cedar.

My query is do I fit an 'old fashioned' heater tumble drier or a new heat pump version or, go middle ground, with a condenser model?

I understand that the newer versions need minimum temperatures in order to operate efficiently and so I will be ensuring some form of background heating is provided in the garage.

We also have a 4kw solar panel system (with no battery) and so I should factor this into my final decision.

I would like to go modern with a heat pump but I'm reading that even though they are energy efficient they take 2-3 times as long which means that any bearings etc get 2-3 times as much wear. I'm told that they also cannot be easily self-maintained and instead need an engineer to work on them.

I'm also reading that some who have fitted condenser models have found they do not last?

Anyone changed theirs or been in a similar position as me?

Thanks.

 

[Sideways]

We bought a Bosch series 6 pair of washer and heat pump dryer a few months ago.
It's indoors in a kitchen so the primary concern was something that wasn't bigger than the appliances being replaced, but we're v happy with them based on the first few months.
I'd experimented with drying clothes using a dehumidifier in an airing cupboard and this worked well, but the space was needed for something else so a heat pump drier was the way to go.
It's the way of the world - when you most need to use the tumble dryer in winter, you don't have solar power to burn in an old style machine.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

We've had a condenser Beko cheapie for 12 years or so with no issues.

 

[ThornOfCamorr]

we have a heat pump dryer from AEG. Due to the kids it’s in daily use now for 3 years. No issues so far. Drying time vary depending on the content (amount and moisture level) but is always below 2:30h.
AEG also offers spare parts.

 

[spanner48]

I need to use distilled water for my work from time to time. So I have a water distillation apparatus. Which the local council would like to licence, control and monitor. But they can't, because it is fiendishly disguised as a condensing tumble dryer . . . .

 

[HamsterJam]

We previously had conventional hot air dryers with a vent pipe hung out of the utility room window but since moving a couple of years ago have acquired a condenser dryer, discharging straight into a drain.
In the condenser , the warm moist air in the drum is circulated via an air-to-air heat exchanger where ambient air is used to cool it, allowing the water to condense out. The air is then reheated and discharged back into the drum.
This process needs to use a fairly high temperature in the drum and performs best with cooler ambient temperatures.
There is some efficiency over a regular hot air dryer as the air isn’t cooled all the way down to ambient and requires correspondingly less energy to reheat it. The main benefit, however is the convenience of not having a 4” vent pipe to deal with. In our experience, the condenser dryer takes quite a bit longer to dry clothes than the vented dryer, especially if the ambient temperature is high.
We have not owned a heat-pump dryer so have little experience of these but I gather they use lower drum temperatures as the heat exchanger is cooled below ambient by the heat pump. In addition, waste heat from the cooling process is recycled via a radiator to preheat the air returning to the drum. This obviously reduces energy consumption, but I have no idea how it impacts drying time.

 

[Chubber]

We are 3 weeks into using a Bosch heat pump dryer, can't evaluate energy consumption but using it mainly for drying off stuff that has spent some time outside in-between showers we haven't yet had it run for a full timed programme, and it can sense moisture level to cut out when as dry as selected.

Polycotton quilt covers do in quicksticks and don't need ironing. SWMBO is happy, and as they say 'happy wife, happy life'...

 

[Lard]

Thanks to everyone who replied.....any more? All info greatly recieved

 

[fezman]

We have a condenser in similar circumstance to you - single skin garage - no insulation in that part. It's been flawless. I replaced a simple heated one as that just smashed the humidity in there. Most of my wood is now stored 4ft above this new one and it is not affected at all.

 

[Jester129]

Had a condensing dryer with very light use. Stopped heating. Engineer came out, looked and said it was scrap!! All sealed up so nothing can be done to it. It was a Hotpoint if I remember correctly. Well miffed about that. Now have a Bosch A++ energy rating at a reasonable price from PC World.

 

[MikeJhn]

Its really a matter of convenience, the newer type heat pump dryer takes at least twice as long to dry to the standard of the condensing dryer, will go back to a condensing dryer when the heat pump one gives out, use the condensate in your steam iron to help eliminate scale.

 

[Stevekane]

Not suitable or possible for everyone I know but were retired and put the washing out on the line if its not raining,,if it looks like rain or is damp feeling we will still put it out,,it then comes in and goes onto the old fashioned clothes airer which hangs up in the vaulted roof of our rudimentary conservatory,,the next morning its all dry. We almost never use the tumble dryer and only do so for somthing my wife needs immediatly. If I were building a house I would want somewhere high enough to take an airer, no energy useage and totally reliable.
Steve

 

[MikeJhn]

The problem with air drying is the rough towels, from the tumble dryer they are soft and fluffy, sorry southern softy here.

 

[Amplidyne]

We've had a condenser Beko cheapie for 12 years or so with no issues.

Probably the same as ours, and ditto.

 

[Glitch]

Bought our son a new heat pump drier. Seems to work fine but as expected takes longer.

I'm happy with our condenser dryer which only gets used in winter and and rainy days.

For items that you can't tumble dry I'm also an advocate for using a dehumidifier.
I bought it to deal with condensation on single glazed windows which it is useless at.

It has a laundry setting which sets the target humidity at 35%. We just set it up in a spare bedroom with the door closed.
Impressed at the speed and efficiency at drying.

 

[rs6mra]

see what you think about this video

 

[Terry - Somerset]

We have a condenser dryer which seems to work fine - in particular it avoids the need for a vent or plumbing - simply empty the water tank every few uses.

An observation - most appliances if they run for the first year will continue to run for several years. Ultimate failure can be difficult to anticipate - motor, bearings, digital controller etc etc.

A £300 appliance that fails after (say) 5-10 years has cost £30-60 a year. It is hardly worth repairing other than on a DIY basis where a new bearing, belt etc may only cost a couple of ££.

£300 is an annoying bill when it happens - but with a £30-60 pa mindset it is hardly an issue.

Currys web site - tumble dryers from £200 - £2500. Top end may be worth it for high usage (eg: guest house). For the rest of us £3-400 should get a decent machine. Like woodworking machines, many come out of the same factory with just superficial branding differences!!

 

[fleyh]

see what you think about this video

Was going to suggest the same video. Very informative.
Can't imagine anyone who wants to use their appliance for many years going with the heat-pump dryer.

 

[SimonB]

13 yr old Bosch condenser, 3-4 loads a week on average. Had to take the side panel off a couple of times to clear fluff from the water level sensor, but other than that been happy with it. Filter the condensate and use it in the steam iron, like others. Vented not an option so when it fails I'd likely replace with another condenser.

 

[pe2dave]

This might help you decide?