Bosch compact laundry impressions

[dsimonl]

We purchased a Bosch 800 set a few months ago and finally got them installed. So far very impressed.

Washer: 'Normal Cotton' cycle with extra rinse and 'Speed Perfect' selected runs 56 minutes. Laundry is clean and perfectly rinsed dosing 1.5 tbsp Persil 2+1. Water level is impressive and generous - right up to (and into ) the window. The washer is extremely quiet and vibration-free with 1400rpm spin speed. I was initially concerned it would be too small, but the capacity is huge considering the compact size.

Dryer: Stacked on washer. Note - my experience will vary due to the fact it is installed in a cool basement. The vent-free condenser works brilliantly. At the onset, the display shows time remaining: 2:08. It counts down quickly and finishes in about 45 minutes depending on load size. The laundry is warm and dry using the default dryness setting (+0). The sides of the dryer get hot when running, but no humidity is expelled into the room. I have not noticed any considerable warming of the area. I'm really pleased with the results. One sheet did ball in a tight wad.

Overall it was a risk (was considering a SQ set), but am thrilled with the set so far.

 

[passatdoc]

I have a relative with a second hand Miele washer with bearings going out. I wonder if a Bosch 800 might be an affordable replacement. On US models, is it cold water line fill, or does it use both hot and cold water lines? 220V or 110V (the relative has a 220V connection because of the existing Miele.

 

[dsimonl]

A few minor details I omitted:

Washer is made in Germany, dryer in Poland.
Bosch seems to have borrowed some design ideas from Miele in that the wash drum is similarly dimpled
Washer plugs into dryer. Dryer uses a standard 4-prong 220 outlet
Stacking kit has a handy slide-out shelf for laundry folding or laundry basket.
Included hoses contain a leak-sensor

 

[dsimonl]

Cold and Hot water connections. It does have an internal heater which will heat up to 160degF if selected.

Washer has a 220V Nema 6-15P cord which plugs directly into a Bosch dryer, or 6-15R recepticle.

Although not Miele priced, it is not cheap. I got it nicely discounted special-ordering through a big-box store by stacking coupons.

 

[wft2800]

Most of the European firms have been trying to copy the Miele honeycomb drum without infringing the patents for the last decade or so. BSH have their teardrop drum, AEG/Zanussi/Electrolux do their own version of the same thing... condenser dryers are pretty much the norm here, nobody wants to have a draughty vent if they can avoid it.

 

[washerman250]

Compact ?

We over here consider these as quite large washing machines

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations and thanks for the report

With so much of the US needing air conditioning so many months of the year, a condensing dryer, using an air-cooled heat exchanger is not as much of a bargain for many of us.

 

I'm glad to hear the washer has a heater. I think the lower wash water temperatures, because of the smaller volume of hot water used by the machines losing so much heat to the relatively cold steel drums and tubs  are part of the reason that front loaders received downgrades for poorer washing performance than  top loaders when tested, not that their were not other factors. When the well-rated Bendix Duomatic came out, it had a heater for the wash water and the other two best washing combos were the KM and WP, both of which had powerful heaters to make certain that the wash water temperature selections were achieved and maintained.

 

[launderess]

It has been between 83F and 94F for the past several days

With humidity in the 70% to above range; in other words a typical hot and damp NYC summer. There is *NO* way my AEG Lavamat condenser dryer would operate properly under such conditions. That is unless one turns on the AC and cranks the thing down low enough. That is not going to happen.

Cannot see already using one high electric use appliance (the AC) in aid of another (the condenser dryer).

If this weather pattern does not change by weekend washing will be done at home, then taken round to laundromat. Would rather pay a dollar or two for their dryers than heat then vent AC cooled air via the Whirlpool vented dryer.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Laundress, I agree. that is why I use the outside gas dryers in the air conditioning season. I don't even want to use a gas dryer in the basement and pump 150 cu. ft. of air conditioned air  per minute out of the house.

 

[wft2800]

New York summers are no more humid than in England, and our condenser dryers cope perfectly well. Besides, with a few million dryers venting to atmosphere, isn't that going to add appreciably to overall humidity?

 

[rolls_rapide]

"our condenser dryers cope perfectly well..."

No, they don't.

Launderess and I had a conversation about this recently, in another thread. And I'm sure one of the Australian members commented about this years ago. And my sister mentioned about the lack of condensed water in her condenser dryer.

Standard condenser dryers require a decent temperature differential for the water to condense in the condenser. If that can't be achieved, the hot steamy air gets blown back over the clothes. And the room gets hotter.

Days which are still, warm, and humid are the worst for the condenser. The best days are cold, dry winter days, blowing a breeze. The condenser works very efficiently in the latter case.

 

[brisnat81]

Hey Rolls,

I'm that Aussie. I find the Miele condensors work ok up to about 30C/85F. When you get above that temperature the humdity starts to play a bigger factor.

We had one rainy summer with consistent 35C/95F days with humidity in the 70-80% range. Our Dryer is located in the Garage which is well ventilated but unconditioned.

The dryer got to the point where you start a load and it would default to the usual 2 hours. Usually where it would drop to 90 Minutes as it sensed the moisture it would actually jump up to 3.5 hours.

3 hours in on those cycles it would still be showing 90 minutes to go and when you cracked the door you'd find a steaming hot load of wet clothes that you needed tongs to remove because it was so hot.

Now if I need to wash and machine dry a load in a hot humid summer, I'll hang it on the clothesline in the garage during the day and put it through the condenser dryer at night when the temp has dropped back below 30C/85F

I'd love a heat pump dryer because these conditions should be perfect for those, but Its hard to justify with two Miele condenser's already.

England might have the humidity, but my understanding is that the UK is hard pressed to have many summer days in the mid 30's. Here thats the goto temp from Mid December until late February.

 

[launderess]

"New York summers are no more humid than in England, and our condenser dryers cope perfectly well. "

No, am sorry but that is simply not true nor correct.

Have been to London and all over England for that matter, and no; your weather does not remotely touch NYC's for humidity, especially during summer months.

"London, England has a marine west coast climate (Cfb) whereas New York has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). "

http://www.london.climatemps.com/vs/new-york.php

Just look at differences between the two for today's weather:

http://www.nytimes.com/weather

See also: https://www.quora.com/Why-is-New-York-warmer-than-London

If you study a map or globe you'll clearly see NYC is much further south than London, Rome or even Paris for that matter. We also sit right on the Atlantic Ocean which brings all sorts of joys such as hurricanes and high humidity blown up from the south/tropics.

 

[dsimonl]

I would not have purchased the Bosch condensor dryer if conditions were not adequate for it. Lots of prior research showed they work best in a cool, dry environment. Our basement stays 58-60 deg F all year round. The last load of laundry dried in just over 30 minutes. Clothes were hot and perfect. I'm very pleased with the performance, but realize it is not ideal for many locals/installations.

 

[ozzie908]

Do you have Heat pump dryers?

I have to say that no matter what the air temp or humidity level is the heat pump dryer does not add heat nor moisture to its surroundings as they run on a completely closed system they also don't like being too cold and have had to put notices to say do not install in outside sheds or garages as the cold climate will make it harder to produce heat, on a plus note they do not rely on the air around them to condense the water so maybe they could be of benefit to people with high levels of humidity ??

I have a rebadged AEG dryer its an absolute marvel it even un balls bedding on the selected cycle it reverses more often for longer no complaints so far

Austin

 

[launderess]

Again, it isn't the temps in NYC during summer, but damp

Temps the past few days were rather reasonable for summer; 80's during day and 70's to even upper 60's at night. However the dew point (humidity) levels are another matter Day after day of moistness (dew points at or above 70%).

Even when cool just running fans does not help much as they do nothing for the dampness. Try not to put on the AC when outdoor temps are below 75 or so to save the condenser, but judging by the constant whirl (and dripping) heard outdoors, few of one's neighbors have any such qualms.

 

[iej]

I've never been a fan of those air-to-air air condensers,where they're actually dumping heat into a house.

Here in Ireland we've usually got fairly mildly cool weather but there are days where you might want to run the dryer but it could be mild and humid.

Those machines tend to make your laundry room / utility room or whatever you have it absolutely sweltering warm. It's even worse if you've a passive house with a lot of heat retention.

The only type of condenser I'll use is a heat pump.

I have a Miele T1 and it's great. No real output of heat at all and the dryinbntimes are very reasonable. It's also definitely cooler and gentler on the clothes

Posted on mobile - weird typos may.apply[this post was last edited: 7/17/2017-08:11]