Extending HP (heat-pump) dryer life

[henene4]

Now, our Siemens dryer has passed and the new Bauknecht TK EcoStar 72 A++ is about to arrive next week.
So, researching, some questions came to my mind I wanted to ask all of you.
First, we always use softner even if we are using the dryer. Further, my grandma uses dryer sheets as well. Well known fact, both contain waxes and oils. Is it possible that they pass the fluff filter and the fine filter in front of the heat pump and than build a layer on the heat exchanger? I don't know how well these contents steam out and thus can harm efficency and life time of the heat exchanger unit. And as I can't simply rinse the condensor down it could turn into kind of a problem.
Than, another aid that I use periodicly is a set of 3 dryer balls. These are the ones with nobs that get soft when heated. They help prevent tangeling and fluff pillows and blankets and everything else that is big, filled and bulky wonderfully soft. Do you think they could harm a dryer? They seem pretty hard and make a hell of noise before they get soft in the heat, but than again, I have not seen any visible damage when I use them.
And, last but not least: the fine filter. Any usual heat pump dryer has the usual fluff filter and an additional fine filter in front of the heat exchanger as it can't be removed being sealed in the heat pump circut. Now, as it appears to me, the Bauknecht version of that filter is quite thin and airy. So, just to take precaution, do you think it would be possible to exchange that filter with something else, for example, the black filter screens used in the first generation Miele HP dryers? As discussed earlier, Miele had 3 filter stages in their first generation HP dryer. One of them was a black foam type material that sat behind the usual lint screens. So I thought, if to much lint would pass the original Bauknecht heat exchanger filter, I could order an exchange filter from Miele for a door screen (round about 10-20€ plus shipping) and than cut it into shape to fit it in there. These filters are pretty good, robust and fluff-tight so they might prolong the time till to much lint got onto the condensor. But may this devalid the warranty? Or inhibit the air flow (though they were ment for HP dryers)?
I just wanted a 2nd opinion on these question and I guess you know the most about it. So let me hear what you think.
Best wishes and a nice summer (vacation)
Henrik

 

[dascot]

Adding an extra filter would definitely invalidate the warranty and possibly impair the working of the dryer, as it will be designed to have best airflow as it is, and airflow could be reduced with additional filter.

I've never heard of any harm coming from the dryer balls.

Softener and dryer sheets are probably not recommended. Certainly AEG do not recommend using them in their recent instructions so I'd imagine others will do similar. I don't think they are forbidden though, but may be best to leave them out if you're concerned.

 

[henene4]

I may have been a bit unclear about the filter thing:
AEG uses a this fine mesh-screen in front of the heat exchanger. Whirlpool/Bauknecht uses a thin layer of rubber foam (feels somewhat simmilar to what is used to fill pillows) fixed in a plastic frame. Opening that frame, you can take this filter out and clean it up. My idea was to take any other material and exchange this filter with the new material. So basicly getting an improved filtration-material. And what came first to my mind was the Miele filter material. But I guess its better to wait and see how this will work out. Thank you dascot!

 

[henene4]

Found the video I searched for!

Here it is!

The filter I meant is the orange filter down by the heatpump. I thought about exchanging it with the material in this link below.

http://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B00DDTOU0G?pc_redir=1405183862&robot_redir=1

 

[logixx]

I'd just vacuum the filters from time to time and see how that goes.

 

Have you felt any waxy residue on your Siemens dryer? I have used mine for two years now and add softener to almost every load. There's not a trace of wax anywhere so I suppose it's all good and you can keep on using softener.

 

[henene4]

There is kind of an residue,but it is more sticky than waxy. But it could be the dryer not being in use for 4 days now, either.
New dryer will be delivered tomorrow, between 8 and 11 German time (so about 1 to 4 AM forum time, and thus, my second day of summer holidays in a week I can't sleep as long as I wished ). The old dryer gonna be taken to the dump by Hermes (they deliver it either) for only 14€ which is really worth the money for us. They put it up as well so it can be used right away. So I'll have the first touch tomorrow

 

[logixx]

Really, you have a sticky residue in your dryer? I use mine one day a week and even on the sixth day, there's no residue at all. Not on the filter, airpath, condenser... On the other hand, we're only two people - that's two to four loads a week. An currently using a full dose (60 ml) of Vernel. I find that Lenor, while it didn't leave a residue, scented the plastic parts of the dryer. Vernel doesn't.

 

[henene4]

Its really hard to identify. It is kind of sticky, but yet, still not like anything I have felt on the condensor before. It mainly is existing at the front edge and is almost completly washed away by water. No smell at all. Verry strange. Like dried in softner mixed with lint.

 

[iej]

We've had the Bosch Logixx heat pump for a couple of years now. I wouldn't say there's anything particularly you need to do.

Dryer sheets don't work very well in it though at all as the drum temperatures aren't high enough to evaporate whatever stuff is on them.

Just make sure you clean the filters properly and regularly. Other than that, I don't think they're any different from any other dryer in terms of maintenance.

I don't like the Bosch though - too many build quality issues!
So far, the handle's come straight off the door and I've found a lot of gunk build up in the condensate tank and it's not easy to clean.