Do condenser dryers really get clothes dry?

[supersuds]

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm in the market for an unvented dryer. I've never known anybody who had one, so I've been reading some reviews and some people complain that clothes never really get dry, while others indicate it isn't a problem.

Any thoughts from users? I don't mind shirts and trousers coming out damp, but I don't want to put towels away unless they're REALLY dry, for obvious reasons.

BTW, the dryer I'm thinking of is a Bosch like the one at the link. A combo like a Duomatic would be even better, but I doubt if any daily drivers are out there!

http://www.testfreaks.com/dryers/bosch-wte86300us/

 

[cfz2882]

condensor dryers

my splendide combomatic 6100 will get the clothes dry-just
takes a while,about 2 hrs for a load that includes a couple
pairs of jeans or some towels.
this machine works by trickling cold water along the inside
surface of the S.S.outer tub while the drain pump cycles.
I do not remember how many watts the air heater is,but
this little combo runs on 115 v

 

[combo52]

AIR COOLED CONDENSER DRYERS

They do work but they are slower and use at least 25% more electricity than vented electric dryers. They are also much more complex and trouble prone with out even considering the fact they are made by Bosch, one of my very least favorite dryers in terms of durably and performance. I don't think there are any heat-pump dryers available in the US yet? but if you really have to have a no vent dryer this would be the way to go in terms of efficiency and speed, these will even give gas dryers a real run for the money when they are widely available.

 

[supersuds]

It's a compromise, I guess. I just don't care for the option of using a regular dryer and having lint everywhere. The only other condenser dryers that I can see being readily available are LG, which a lot of people here seem to disfavor, and Miele -- really out of my price range.

I do live in an area with low electric rates, at least.

 

[mikeklondon]

Hi i can only talk about Miele and yes it will dry the load you can set it for how dry you like, If I could i would always go for a vented dryer, its so much quicker. but its not much more to run due the the hot air recirulating in a condenser dryer. Mines 6 years old and it been OK . just not the best I have ever had

 

[lavamat_jon]

I have an AEG condensing dryer, and even though not as quick or quiet as a vented dryer - it still dries laundry very well and doesn't leave laundry noticably stiffer than mum's vented dryer. I'd love to be able to vent a dryer, but isn't a possibility here - and the added bonus is that you can be super-stingy and use the condensed drying water for ironing.

Jon

 

[logixx]

Most of Germany uses condenser dryers - they work very well. I even find them to dry more evenly because I can easily mix different fabrics without the thicker items over-drying, which always happened in the SpeedQueen dryers I used.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I would hate that! Not only does it take LONGER to dry, but it costs more money to dry......But I guess if it's an *only option* then I would have to do it.

 

[hoover1100]

Condenser Dryers and energy efficiency

It was my belief that modern condenser dryers are infact more efficient than vented models and only take marginally longer to dry.

Not owned one personally but have always gotten on with them reallly well when i have used them.

The heat being put back into the room is a real bonus in our climate.

Matt

 

[brisnat81]

Hi Suds,

They do dry, but I've given up using my Miele Condensor dryer as a condensor dryer (I've removed the condensor and access door), as in summer here with Temps of 85 to 90F inside the garage and 80% humidity, it could take 3 plus hours to dry a full load spun at 1800Rpm.

If your laundry space is airconditioned, it'll work fine. You just need to have a room air temp differential from the temp inside the dryer for it to work properly. Unfortunately I'm in the sub tropics and it just gets too hot in summer when it's wet and damp. In Winter it works fine for the most part.

Cheers

Nathan

 

[foraloysius]

My Miele T420C (at that time a BOL condenser dryer) does a very good job. Yes, it is a bit slower than a vented dryer but it does a much better job than the vented Zanker I had before this one. My Miele is around 13 years old now and it still works flawlessly. I have cleaned out the condensor now and then but it doesn't seem to collect much dust.

The advantage over a quality condenser dryer is that they are better sealed than the ones from cheaper brands. So no humidity leaks out of the dryer with my Miele. A friend of mine

I called a friend of mine who has a Bosch Softstar, also a condenser dryer, about the same age as mine. That machine has gotten a lot of use because he refused to line dry anything for many years. It's still working great and he is still very happy with it.

 

[zodawash]

to condense

I've recently switched to a Condensor dryer (AEG) and its much better than other vented dryers i've had. I think they do vary alot though in how good they are. My Hoover condensor dryer of about 2002 was hopeless at drying quickly and steamed the windows up in my kitchen. The AEG dries quickly and does not steam up any windows.

 

[supersuds]

Thnaks for all the replies!

Just a few specific responses, but I appreciate all the comments.

Jon, saving money by using the condensed water for ironing is possibly THE stingiest idea ever. (I love it!)

Nathan, the summer heat consideration is something I hadn't thought of. It can get fairly hot and steamy here. Mine would have to be in an un-air conditioned garage (that is unless I opened a connecting door to the kitchen). I guess the air conditioning unit is then drying the clothes, indirectly!

Louis, glad to hear from someone with specific experience with a Bosch. Though I'm sure John Lefever knows what he's talking about.

Hmm. Decisions, decisions.

 

[dj-gabriele]

Why would you use a dryer in the summer?

That's not essential and wasteful and as many have already pointed out it takes longer for the machine to do its job if it's a condenser model.

 

[brisnat81]

Hi Gabriele,

Where I am, the wet humid time of the year is November through to February, which is summer. I either end up with washing hanging all over the garage on the internal line, or I put it in the dryer.

The other 8 months of the year are usually dryish and I hang everything outside. Having said that, we've had rain almost every weekend for the last 6 weeks, so everything has already been going through the dryer.

In winter clothes dry on the line in the garage in up to 12 hours. In summer when its humid, it can take 24 - 36 hours.

The southern states of Australia have Hot dry summers, we're just a little too far north for that.

Nathan

 

[favorit]

So Nathan, I' never complain again about my wet climate

Gabriele we have to remember it and stop complaining about the thick fog in winter and the humidity in summer : somenone else on the other side of the world has a summer climate far worse than ours in the Padan Plain

in case I'll fly there in Oz, for sure I won't arrive in december, i'd rather go in Iceland

 

[logixx]

Jon, saving money by using the condensed water for ironing is possibly THE stingiest idea ever. (I love it!)

No, it isn't. Some years ago, a woman on TV - it was about how to save money - suggested to recycle the fluff from the lint filter as cotton pads from cleansing ones face etc.!!!

 

[combo52]

DRYER VENTING

US dryers and others with powerful blowers will work quite well with up to 20 or 30 feet of flexible vent hose draped out a door or window as a temporary vent. The trick is moving the vent hose between uses which keeps lint from building up inside, plus you wouldn't have a restrictive vent hood on the end of the hose. I have customers who have done this for years with no problems, when laundry day is over they roll it back up and stash it in a corner. With a long vent hose just avoid the really tight bends which are what really restrict air flow the most.

 

[ronhic]

The southern states of Australia have Hot dry summers, we&#3

...Yep, we do...

Sheets spun at 1200rpm will dry in just on an hour when hung in the shade on a 30c day here if there is a very slight breeze....