Condenser dryers

[kirk280980]

You could vent an electric dryer straight into the room (in fact this seems to be the norm in many Australian homes), but obviously it would then be desirable to ventilate the room itself by leaving a door or window open unless you want condensation running down the walls. The benefit of a condenser dryer is that, while it does give off some heat, it isn't exhausting moisture into the room.

Jon, a friend of mine has a Hotpoint condenser too, and that does indeed throw out plenty of heat. He mainly uses it during the winter in poor weather, preferring to line dry instead in the summer, and I can't say I blame him!

Regarding the degree of drying, I mostly stick to the Cupboard Dry setting which leaves things ready to wear or store away. The higher settings will leave clothes dessicated if you so choose, although I find this causes some fabrics to shrink.

 

[gadgetgary]

though line drying has a nice scent, the benefits of a drye

I have tried that 'trick' and have achieved fabulous results.....Soft and fluffy and FRESH....

Those towels flapping in the breeze......brings back fond memories......

 

[lavamat_jon]

Venting dryers straight into rooms

Our Bosch dryer in the utility room at the moment vents straight into the room because a certain mischevious creature bearing the name Taz thought it would be fun to play with the vent hose when the dryer wasn't installed when the builders were here, & also the tube that attaches to the end of the vent hose and goes into the dryer has to be ordered as a rather expensive Bosch spare part. However I've found that if you don't close the back door when the dryer is on, we get a nice in-home sauna!!!

Kirk - have found that too with drying levels on the dryers. Unfortunately the mentality of people in this family is let's bung it on extra dry, put it on high heat as that's quicker and hope for the best - much like the lets bung it on 40*C cottons and hope for the best malarky, one of the main reasons why only mum and I are licensed to use laundry appliances in this house .

Jon

 

[panthera]

Condenser vs Exhaust

The use of a heat exchanger in modern condensers eliminates the problem of moisture venting into the room - it is a "closed-cycle".
The difference between ambient room temperature - about 75° or so and the 175° or hotter inside of the dryer is more than enough to produce condensation. The air coming out of the drum is, after all, saturated. It wants to dump some of that moisture and any "cool" surface will do.
No one who has ever used a traditional, vented US dryer would ever want to use anything else. When you can't vent, then the condensers are the only alternative. They don't need 240V lines because the amount of moisture they can condense at any given time is so limited that the heat of a 2.4 Kw element like mine has is perfectly adequate.
Loud, slow and energy consuming they are and remain.
Of course, when you consider the absurdly low spin speeds most American washers have, then you understand why the US dryers work so well - they have to.
My AEG is the "modern" Electrolux variation, it is true - quieter and better built than my old AEG. I don't even want to talk about the Whirpool stuff anymore. Whoever thinks it is great stuff, go for it. What do the consumer guides know, after all? They are probably all owned by all the other manufacturers who just gang up on poor Whirlpool.
This is not a European problem, this is the result of US consumers accepting the last piece of s*** from the manufacturers. Our grandparents would never have tolerated the junk being dumped on the US market today. Buy American, sure - but why should folks who buy American be punished for it with the stuff on offer in the States? They work hard for their money, it is a real pity...

 

[gadgetgary]

A little whimsy

Flapping in the breeze........

 

[foraloysius]

Keven,

There is indeed a huge difference between the Frigidaire Filtrators, that had an open condensing system, and the modern European condenser dryers. Here's a drawing of an older Asko dryer that shows that there are two separate airstreams.

 

[toggleswitch]

I'd like to learn the difference.

Louis,

I think I missed something. Would you please explain further or direct me to the panel number in the above post/thread.

TYVM

Thank you very much.

 

[foraloysius]

BTW, I have a Miele condenser dryer and I am very happy with it. Yes it's noisy, but that is because it needs a lot of room air (blue in the drawing) to condense the airstream inside the dryer (red in the drawing). The Miele is very well sealed, I never have a problem with moisture. Ofcourse I am lucky to also have an AEG vented dryer so on warmer days I can use that one. But I use the condenser dryer far more than the vented one. I have the impression that the Miele is also much more forgiving for not cleaning the condensor. Although I use it a lot I don't have to clean the condensor very often. I hadn't done it in months and had a look at it because of this thread. There was some dust, but cleaning was not really necessary.

Louis

 

[foraloysius]

Steve,

I think the Frigidaire Filtrator uses an open system that takes in air. The air is heated, then goes through the drum and after that goes through the condensor where the bigger part of the moisture is condensed. Then the air leaves the dryer and is blown back into the room. So there is only one airstream.

Does anyone have a drawing of the Filtrator system?

Louis

 

[toggleswitch]

TAP TAP TAP....

I'm patiently waiting.....LOL

 

[panthera]

Why thank you, Louis-

that is a great drawing. I like the whole idea - it is such a pity that it costs so much energy.
The condensed water I "zurückgewinne" I use for ironing (after it goes through a coffee filter) and for house plants.
If I end up doing several loads in one go, there is usually enough to satisfy my LG for a the wash cycle...use it then for woolens. No softer, cleaner water possible than de-ionized.
Sorry, Steve - I don't have any pictures to show you...pity, 'cause I, too, am very curious. Come on guys, show us what ya got under those skirts, huh? Please?

 

[toggleswitch]

i needs me one-a dose-

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Perhaps an unvented condenser dryer for winter..
and a vented gas dryer for summer...

HMMM GREAT now I can go buy a nice Euro condernser dryer -- no guilt--.

(It's good for energy conservation purposes. *LOL*

 

[foraloysius]

Actually Keven, I don't think the modern condenser dryers use much more energy than vented ones. If you look at the energy labels that the vented and condenser models get, the differences are small. A few hundred watts per load. I use the condenser dryer in colder season so the heat inside is not pumped outside. And in the warmer season I use the vented dryer so the house doesn't heat up. Best of both worlds. So Steve's thought is correct that you can actually save energy with using a condenser dryer.

 

[panthera]

Maybe, maybe not

Louis,
That is (for me) an open question. Certainly the newest condensers aren't anywhere near as bad as the older ones in energy use (never mind water). Still, a few hundred watts here, a few there...but you are right - I looked it up and was surprised who close they now are.
I still prefer hanging clothes out to dry when the sun shines (ich habe es damals, als wir noch eine Sonne in München hatten, vorgezogen...) and just toss the towels and undies in the dryer to air-fluff for 15 minutes afterwards.

 

[toggleswitch]

sandpaper towels and razor drawers.

Is the fluff in the dryer better before line-drying or after?
I like to tdo that before, to retain the outdoorsy scent.

Underwear in dryer? Don't you like the undies to shave and exfoliate your spheres? (ducks and runs!) LOL

[May I request a German translation for the *good* stuff? Clueless. If not for public consumption, pls feel free to e-mail me!] *HUGS*

 

[bpetersxx]

Trying the dryer fuction in my Haier xqg50-11 combination

Dress shirts came out great 30 min I think I set the dial on low I have to use a monkey wrench on it donot have a dial

Undergarments came out damp finished in the 606 Maytag dryer

 

[mixfinder]

Wrinkle in or out

Toggles,
The tumble before line works perfectly.

If you tumble after they are dry, they stay harsh and matted.
Liquid fabric softener helps a little with line dried clothes.

The best results from the line are when the wind blows and it works out the wrinkles and crease lines from the spinner.

Toggles, it is hard to vision you having a line after seeing the pictures of New York City. I vision you being there and sending hanging clothes out the window of a pulley.
Kelly

 

[panthera]

sorry 'bout that

Steve, I'm home with a bad cold and guess I was driftin' there a bit.
(ich habe es damals, als wir noch eine Sonne in München hatten, vorgezogen...)
(that is, I USED prefer to, back when we still had something called "a sun" in Munich)
I am a firm opponent to both razor burn and agent orange...and stiff undies dried to sandpaper strength is so not my world. Either shave it close or grow it a few days...

 

[toggleswitch]

O M G!

 

[foraloysius]

Steve,

Somewhere in a hidden corner on my computer I found two drawings of a Frigidaire Filtrator dryer. I think Rich (golittlesport) posted these in the past. Hope this helps to understand the differences between the condenser type dryers.

Louis