Compact Front Venting Tumble Dryers - Creda Excell, Electra, Indesit IS31V or Hotpoint Aquarius

[richardc1983]

Hey everyone, hope you are all well!

As the above suggests looking for a compact tumble dryer that is front venting for my kitchen. Sick of washing taking days to dry and having it hanging all over the place. Its going to be put in one of the cupboards under the work top so only have to have the doors of the cupboard open when it is on. If anyone hears of anyone selling one whether its the old electra or one of the newer models let me know.

Anyone any experience with these dryers. They seem to all get good reviews. Do they have to be vented? Some reviews have said they dont which is good as I love the smell of fresh washing drying in a dryer.

Seen an old Electra on ebay... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ELECTRA-C...n_Washing_Machines_Dryers&hash=item3ccbd0d040

Creda Excell on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Creda-Exc...n_Washing_Machines_Dryers&hash=item337d047322

The Indesit one at Asda: http://direct.asda.com/Indesit-IS31V-3kg-Vented-Tumble-Dryer/001562573,default,pd.html

Thank you.[this post was last edited: 10/24/2012-21:51]

 

[dj-gabriele]

My guess is that they all came out of the same indesit factory as the company now owns all those brands and the design of compact dryers wasn't changed at all since the were introduced!
I'd pick up the cheaper of the bunch in this case! I believe it was the first link, it even has a dark fascia which I like!

 

[superelectronic]

Get one!

I'd have no qualms in recommending one of those compact dryers, having had a couple of them. They're quick, quiet and well suited for laundry for one or two people.

You don't absolutely need to vent them with the hose, but do open the window otherwise it gets a bit too humid. You may also find surfaces get covered in a fine layer of fluff if you don't use the hose directed outside.

The smaller drum does mean it's tricker to dry things without creasing, I'll admit, but limiting the load size and occasional shaking out of things like sheets during drying should reduce the problem.

I used to find it was possible to get a good result on an average load of cottons - t-shirts, underwear, socks etc - by getting the load mostly dry on full heat, then splitting it in half and finishing on the low heat setting.

Shirts and trousers are better done separately (though not necessarily one-by-one)...much as with any dryer really - less tangling of legs and sleeves. Of course, it all depends how much you don't mind ironing as to how careful you are.

One of the models I had lasted 9 years (4 years of this was as a full-time dryer for 2 girls in a flatshare) and my Mum's is still going after almost 14 years, mostly used to fluff and finish off.

 

[aquacycle]

Hi Richard,

My Nan had a front vented Creda Debonair from 1983 - 1999 when she died. It was then passed on to my great aunt and is still in use (see pic below of the same model). I believe the current Indesit/Hotpoint branded versions are built to the same spec. They're also still made in Britain at the old Hotpoint plant. They're pretty basic, but I've found with dryers that the more basic, the better.

They're great little dryers and don't take too long either, but be sure not to overload them to avoid excessing creasing, tangling and the risk of over heating. Having said that, my Aunty Eileen's will hold a double duvet set with ease and dry it in an hour.

Be sure to post some pics once you've got it and let us know how you get on.

Chris[this post was last edited: 10/25/2012-06:12]

 

[launderess]

Not Venting Tumble Dryers

Unless they are of the condenser type *all* tumble dryers should be vented to the outdoors. Those water in a bucket and other contraptions sold as work arounds are useless. In the end one ends up with a humid/damp area from the moisture being evaporated by the dryer, and lint dust covering and getting into everything. Given today's modern homes are filled with electronic/computer equipment with cooling fans that dust will get into them as well.

On this side of the pond there are dryer vent window plate kits sold to allow outdoor venting but otherwise keeping the window closed. This keeps the expelled lint/dust from being otherwise sucked back into the open window via natural draft. Failing that our method when living elsewhere was to push the hose so far out of a third floor kitchen window air currents carried the exhaust away. Thankfully the kitchen faced a courtyard thus either no one noticed or at least cared.

 

[chris74]

As written

The Indesit IS31V Compact Tumble Dryer vents directly out the front, making it easy to install in any room with adequate ventilation. The compact size, light weight, and simple operation of this machine will certainly appeal to flat dwellers everywhere.

 

[launderess]

Indesit IS31V Compact Tumble Dryer

That design (venting out front filter area) has been done before by other dryers past and present. Upshot then and now is still that the filter alone does not prevent fine lint/dust from being spewed about. If you are happy with that then by all means carry on.

A quick read of the owner's manual/guide mentions in several places that venting is best for optimal machine performance.

While one can understand the appeal of having a clothes dryer that does not require outside venting, there isn't a free lunch on that sort of thing. Either one goes with some sort of condensing system or deal with hot and damp lint laden air flowing from the dryer. Suppose it would be possible to reduce the amount of fine lint to nil, but that would require filters along the sort of HEPA types. The typical fine mesh screen just won't do.

Indesit - Affordable, Reliable Kitchen & Home Appliances | Indesit UK

Discover our wide range of energy efficient, innovative home and kitchen appliances online, which meet the everyday needs of your family and home.

www.indesit.co.uk

 

[aquacycle]

Launderess, I don't think Richard has mentioned anywhere that he doesn't intend to vent in while in use, just that it will be stored in a kitchen cupboard. One of the great things about these compact dryers is that they're so easy to move about. One can keep the dryer tucked away in a cupboard/corner and then move it nearer to a door or window to vent when in use.

My Nan used to do the very same thing with the Creda Debonair compact. Because she had a Hotpoint Twin Tub and no plumbing in her kitchen for an automatic washer and dryer, the dryer was usually kept in the pantry and simply wheeled over to the kitchen door when in use on wash day.

Also, you mentioned that this design has been used before. As stated previously, my Nan's Creda was purchased in the mid-1980's. This style has gone under various names since then - Creda, Hotpoint, Electra, Carlton, Indesit just to name a few. I know of many people who had these style of dryers over the nears and never complained of lint being spewed out.

 

[aquacycle]

Here's an oldie in Lincoln

Pardon our interruption...

 

[superelectronic]

"Spewed out" fluff might be an exaggeration; it's definitely the case, however - as with pretty much any dryer not vented outside - that you get more fluff in the room as a result of using it. When my sister had hers (previously mine) in a kitchen without using the vent hose, the worktops needed a good wipe down after 3-4 loads of drying. I even notice the difference when I use my condenser dryer without its condenser box - more fluff on surfaces! (The dryer seems to work better without its condenser to be honest, or at least it doesn't run so hot, which is a good thing on the whole).

 

[aegokocarat]

I have a Hotpoint V3DO1P dryer, its good, reverse tumble, takes about 70 mins on high heat, downside is that there are no wheels on it
on the whole its a nice dryer and would be perfect for your needs
Tom

 

[paulc]

I have owned a few compact dryers, Burco ( front vented ), Bendix ( rear vented ) and Hotpoint/Indesit front vented model. I have found if it is possible to use the vent hose do, it does make a difference to drying times as you are removing the humid air from the room. I would, however ,consider a full size vented dryer if space permits. I have mine in the bay window in the bedroom, once the curtains are shut I can't be seen, but if space is a problem then the dryers you have mentioned are great.

 

[richardc1983]

I am going to get it from Asda when it comes back in Stock! Lord knows when that will be. Need to sort soon!

I have air conditioning in my house so that keeps humidity low whilst maintaining heating so shouldnt be an issue venting into the kitchen which is quite large.

 

[hotpointfan]

Richard

These dryers are excellent pieces of kit - ideal for small spaces and great for small spaces - ie tabletops -. They are very speedy as well, espesicially for cotton sheets and towels. My uncles late 1980s Creda Debonair dryer like the one on reply 3, just a little newer, can dry three bathtowels straight out of a 1200rpm Indesit in less than 50 minutes.

My other uncle has a Hotpoint TS12P from around 1998 that he has had since new which briefly stayed with me whilst he moved house, and I was astonished how fast it dried bulky things as well, like double sheets - dried in less than an hour.

Plus there's British reliability on your side...

 

[supermaticjames]

Just my input about not venting a dryer...

In the 60s and 70s it was commonplace for dryers to vent into the kitchen and venting kits were only optional until Hotpoint bundled them with their first dryer. My Hoover Dryer De Luxe hasnt got a vent hose, it just has a nozzle screwed onto the back to aim the air up. There are no specifics here about venting dryers as there may be be in the US.

James.

 

[aquacycle]

it just has a nozzle screwed onto the back to aim the air u

actually, it should have had a vent that went on the end of the nozzle. 

 

[supermaticjames]

"actually, it should have had a vent that went on the en

Actually no, because it is square and I have yet to see a square vent hose. There is some text on the nozzle too stating that it "should not be removed unless you are installing a venting kit". I think you are getting confused with Hotpoint dryers.

James.

 

[miele4life]

This thread begs the question, When did the Creda made Hotpoint 9305/9306 models 1st introduced? It's a gap in my Hotpoint knowledge that I want 2 fill lol

 

[mikeklondon]

Compacts

I think the compacts work well as long as they have 2 way action