Blomberg Dryer Smell

[avatar]

We've been using a Blomberg heat pump condensing dryer (WM98400SX) for about two years, and the drum and condenser area have recently started to smell musty and gross. I've cleaned the lint trap, washed the cartridge holding the secondary filter (as well as the whole area), changed the secondary filter, and vacuumed the fins. If I leave everything open to dry, the smell dissipates, but it's back when I use the dryer.

Given the warm temps and lingering moisture, it seems like a perfect environment for mold, but I don't see an easy way to get in and clean things better. Does anyone have experience or recommendations?

Thanks.

 

[rolls_rapide]

That model number appears to be a washing machine.

 

[logixx]

It's one of these:

Compact Laundry

Compact laundry units from Blomberg save on space and energy while delivering powerful and efficient cleaning. Washers and dryers capable of stacking and have large capacity. Easily installed.

www.blombergappliances.com

 

[combo52]

Smelly Heat Pump Dryer

Condensing dryers are more sealed and can develop and hold odors, it is not a bad idea to leave the door open and even remove the condenser when the the dryer is not going to be used for a few days.

 

Another possibility is you may not be doing a good job washing the clothing that is being put in the dryer, if the clothing is going into the dryer full of bacteria the dryer will also have odors.

 

Try taking a few clean damp towels, socks and underwear and put them in sealed plastic bags and put in a dark closet. Check the items in a few days to a week later and see if they are starting to develop a sour smell, if so you need to  wash your clothing more thoroughly which generally involves hotter water, more and better detergent and regular use of LCB for towels, sheets, underwear and socks.

 

As a repair tech we see some really gross dryers that are actually dirty and stinky, you can also tell by the lint in the lint filter if the clothing is being washed properly.

 

John L.

 

[henene4]

Yeah, heat pump dryers run relativley cool. That can cause musty smells on improperly washed and dried laundry.

 

[brisnat81]

Do you use fabric softener?

Last year I got a second hand Miele washer and regular condenser dryer. The previous owners were heavy fabric softener user, plus I assume a lover of cool washes. The washer was full of rainbow colored mold. The condenser in the dryer was covered in a black slime and the sump for the condensate was also black and slimey. I had to pull the dryer apart to get rid of the slime.

Even now, nearly 12 months on I’ll still get a whiff of her fabric softener when I take a load out.

I compare that to my 13yo condenser dryer that has rarely ever seen clothes with fabric softener and it’s airways other than being a bit linty in places has no mold and no slime.

If you’re using a lot of fabric softener, I’d cut back and also raise the temp of your washes to remove any residual.

I don’t have any before pics of the dryer, but this is indicative of what the washer was like

 

[ozzie908]

Heat pump dryer

Having had a heat pump dryer for the last 4-5 years used all year round and 6-8 cycles a week I have yet to find any black mould or any lingering odour I do regularly vacuum the entire fluff areas at least those I can get at and I seem to gather white fluff or pale grey in the corners and cranny's I do tend to leave it open when not in use as its in the downstairs shower room and out the way. I have no solution to the odour yours is producing but would suggest you try airing it out and removing the filters so you can dry the condenser or as much as you can reach.
Good luck and let us know what you find
Austin

 

[rolls_rapide]

The heatpump machine might need the manufacturer's technicians to professionally attend to it.

Perhaps the condenser fins need flushed out, in the same way that car air-conditioning condensers can develop mouldy smells if detritus (vegetation, insects, road dust, exhaust soot, etc) builds up?

In the case of the dryer, it might be a mixture of excessive fabric conditioner, rubbish detergents, quick washes and cold water. Also, if any garments had a previous encounter with mould and mildew, the fungi could transfer and make a nice nest in the machine (think of what happens to a refrigerator if you empty it, switch it off and store it with the door closed... moulds can and do make a B-line for it).

 

[launderess]

Putting anything damp, moist or whatever into a sealed plastic bag, then into a closed confined space is going to promote growth of mold.

Just because laundry is "clean" does not mean it is sterile, nor are hands that touch it or inside of bag. As such the textiles are bound to be contaminated by various bacteria, molds and so forth; whatever is living in the home and has alighted onto the wash after it was completed.

Have said this before; as part of microbiology class was sent out to swab and culture various objects. Trust me, if you could *see* what was growing on supposedly clean things, you'd never feel safe in your own skin again. *LOL*

 

[launderess]

Think other poster is onto something. Since these heat pump dryers have more in common with air conditioners than normal vented dryers, yours could be suffering from what often happens to the former. A build up of stagnant moisture or water somewhere that is allowing growth of mold/fungi.

We have our AC cleaned each year before it is laid up for winter. That has made a world of difference, no more "mold" smell when the thing comes on which happened often with previous unit.

I'd reach out to Blomberg to see if there is a way a customer can do some sort of deep "cleaning" or whatever to get at source of odor.

In meanwhile suggestions about leaving door open might be way to go. Mold need warmth and damp to grow. We know what happens to washing machines that are left shut up with moisture inside.

 

[rolls_rapide]

The most likely culprit in my opinion, would be the condenser unit which would be a fixed item i.e. non-removable.

I used to get a similar mouldy/musty smell coming from the car's air-conditioning unit when not used for umpteen months - Scottish hot weather is few and far between!

I managed to reduce this odour quite substantially, by washing the pleated glass-fibre cartridge cabin air filter in a solution of soap powder and hot water, repeating and rinsing, then left to dry for a day or two.

The car then had a refreshing fragrance of soap powder! The filter caught most of the dust, pollen, leaves and beasties, but I imagine that the condenser fins were susceptible to mould, as there was apparently, a condensate drain tube somewhere under the unit.

 

[ozzie908]

@ RollsRapide

Your spot on about condensate tubes under the car engine I have witnessed our car "weeing" when the engine has been turned off. I am going to try your method of improving the air intake filter I will try and locate ours and give it a wash not so much for smell as I tend to use aircon all year round but to remove the dreaded pollen thats in it as we have discovered its not easy to see where you are going while your eyes are streaming from pollen !!

 

[launderess]

I have witnessed our car "weeing"

Happens all the time here in NYC. More so now as humid and hot summer weather arrives.

The other large worry is rats getting under the bonnet by crawling up from below. But we're not on that right now.

 

[logixx]

Condenser dryers are always wet inside as water and lint collects in the sump - much like in a washer or dishwasher. I have yet to open any condenser dryer and not find more or less water in there.

Bosch/Siemens added cleaning/soaking cycles to their newer HP dryers and sell a cleaning fluid to be used during the Machine Care cycle. There's even a manual on pressure washing an AEG dryer online to get the gunk out.

 

[rolls_rapide]

"pressure washing..."

That crossed my mind, but I thought it might be frowned upon by manufacturers, and the machine might become electrically unsafe, etc.

For every technological advancement, there always seems to be some kind of disadvantage.

 

[logixx]

Here are the pics

https://forum.teamhack.de/filebase/download/50/

 

[rolls_rapide]

@ozzie908

Much depends on what type of cabin pollen filter you have. If it is a decent quality filter, it might indeed be washable with care.

On the other hand it could be a glorified paper-type material. In this case, it might make more sense just to buy a new one.

 

[rolls_rapide]

@logixx

Thanks.

As a matter of interest, do you know which heatpump dryer brand is the most reliable? Or are they all pretty much, 'much of a muchness'?

 

[launderess]

May still have it bookmarked.

But came upon a blog from a person in Germany who showed how he "deep cleaned" his Lavatherm condenser dryer. This was several years ago just after getting ours and was doing research.

For anyone who has owned an AEG OKO-Lavatherm dryer it should come as no surprise the interior can become quite full of lint. There is only the one filter screen (in door) which tends not to be most effective. Miele and others have two screens (one in door, and another below opening where air goes down from drum to condenser area.