Miele T9820 Recall??!!!

[needtowash]

I just bought a Miele W4800 and a T9820 Gas dryer from Craigslist. I got a smokin deal $400 for the set and now I know why. I just had them installed and used them for the first time last night. The washing machine seems to be fine. I put a load into to dryer in my garage. I immediately started to smell gas. Not coming from the machine but coming out of the dryer exhaust vent at the front of my house. I turned off the unit and called the gas company. The gas company technician detected carbon monoxide at a dangerous level inside of the dryer and also coming out of the exhaust vent. He said the gas burner must not be working in the machine.
Then I did a google and found out that this model was recalled years ago because of fire and Carbon Monoxide danger.
Is Miele obligated to recall my machine? Is there a time limit on recalls? Can this dryer be fixed?
What am I up against here?
Anyone have any experience with this recalled dryer?
Thanks

 

[nmassman44]

Miele recalled that dryer model a few years ago. They said there were loose connections inside the dryer with the gas line. Call Miele and tell them you have the dryer and they should come out and fix the issue for free. I have the electric version that I do like and the sensor system works very well...its the entire drum that senses the moisture in the load, not just a small pad of two strips in other dryers. Miele is very good at taking care of issues. And register your machines with them. You have the same washer I have as well.

 

[laundromat]

I had one of their full size washers and , after learning its mother oboard was in need of replacement, I set up the repair. Even though the unit was out of warranty, they did the work and supplied the part FREE! A few months later, some smart ass where I lived removed its dispenser tray. I called to order it and told them it also had issues shutting down during the final spin. He sent me a new dispenser tray and four new leveling legs with rubber slip resistant feet all FREE! I immediately wrote a letter of thanks to their corporate U.S. Headquarters and the machine is flawless. Call them and I'm sure they'll be able to either replace or repair it. They might ask for proof of purchase. If so, tell them it was a gift and you didn't receive the receipt.

 

[launderess]

Both The Dryer and Washer Are Like Weights Around Miele'

Necks! *LOL*

In particular Miele had no experience in building gas dryers for the domestic market IIRC, especially one of that size. You'd have thought all that careful German R&D and planning would have spotted potential problems, but too many slipped past on the 4xxx and 9xxx series. Hence their very short active product life. Am sure if possible Miele would love to purchase up remaining units in consumer's hands and be done with the things. However thanks to Miele's product/parts guarantee they are stuck producing and or stocking parts even for these discontinued units for fifteen years at least.

 

[logixx]

Miele had a 24" gas dryer on the German market back in, I guess, the 90s but it never caught on. I, too, wonder why Miele sells flawless gas dryers for commercial laundries but building the same machine for domestic use failed.

 

[launderess]

Where the gas dryers Miele's or Cordes Design?

IIRC Cordes had some great commercial and quasi such laundry equipment, which is why Miele wanted to get their mitts on the company.

Miele's early rotary ironers were Cordes, at least according to the service information one has seen. That document gave both the Miele and Cordes model numbers.

 

[logixx]

The gas dryer was model number T478G

(c)medien.markt.de

 

[jerrod6]

Oh boy

I had one of these and had problems with it. I don't have electric run to my dryer as all of the previous dryers in my house were gas. I got the T9820 Gas dryer matched to my Miele 1986 washer and there was a recall. The Miele tech came out and replaced a few parts and everything was OK......so he thought, and I paid nothing for the fix.

I didn't have any problem with it leaking gas.

My problem was that the burner would stay on for 5 minutes then shut off. It would do this for about 15 minutes then it would come on and everything was ok. I called for service and Miele couldn't find anything wrong, so they replaced the gas ignitor.

A few weeks later the same thing started to happen. A few months later something else happened.

I put a load into the dryer and then started a load in the 1986 Miele washer. The load time in the washer was 41 minutes. So twenty minutes later I hear loud beeping in the laundry area...I run down the steps and find the dryer running....beeping... and every light flashing. I'm like... what?
I open the door and the everything was wet just like it came out of the washer.
I glance over to the washer and it has 20 minutes left, so this dryer ran for about 20 minutes and everything is still cold and wet.

I turn it off. Call Miele and explain what is wrong.

The customer service rep says he will send someone out. Now..since this dryer is out of warrenty I ask him if there will be a charge .....he says yes. I explain that he can send someone out....but that there is not going to be any payment from me, because this mess has happened before...so he needs to think about this...before he sends someone out...NO payment from me for this service call GOT THAT?. THERE WILL BE NOT PAYMENT! I was angry and it was in showing in my voice. I further explained that I he could look at my account and see that I had purchased several Miele appliances and I was not going to put up with this, and that if this didn't get resolved I would not be buying another Miele.. dryer and would consider not buying another Miele anything because this is not what is supposed to happen with this brand.

He said he would talk to his supervisor.

3 minutes elapsed. The customer service rep returned to the line and explained that they would replace my dryer with the newer model for free. So I now have the T9822 gas dryer with better performance.

The T9822 gas dryer is smoother and quieter. I have had not problems with it for the past two years...but....like the 9820 dyer when you use the Normal setting it leaves everything except thin cottons damp. This seems to be the norm with these dryers, but for most in the USA we want items to be DRY.

The Miele tech came and adjusted the moisture sensor for the 9820 so everything was dry when using Normal. He explained that leaving things damp was Miele way in Europe. I said that I understood if this is the "thing" in Europe to leave cottons damp, but since this machine is specifically for North America..this is NOT our thing so what is Miele thinking? We will just accept this? If you don't have the Tech out I suggest that you use Extra Dry which will dry thick cottons bone dry or use 45 minutes dry.

45 minute dry. Well Kinda.---Be aware-----IF you open the door to check on the clothes using this cycle....the timer will reset to Zero...so when you close the door it will start at 0 minutes and run for another full 45 minutes. So if you are 20 minutes into the dry and open the door...check and restart...Well...You aint gonna get 25 more minutes....you gonna get another 45 minutes. In my mind...this is poor design from Miele and I expected better.

Just my thought about the big Miele dryers for the North American Market.

When it is time for a new dryer it will have to be gas. It isn't going to be a small one so it will be a Whirlpool or something else that is gas and works to USA specs. I really don't care much about dryers...It can have 2 temps and nothing else and satisfy me.

 

[logixx]

Ha, my Bosch will leave things ever so slightly damp on Cupboard Dry (Normal). I got around this by using the option to fine tune the dryness level, which adds 5, 10 or 15 minutes to each cycle.

 

[brisnat81]

Hi Jerrod,

The Dryer Manuals in the rest of the world advise using normal plus, rather than normal for mixed loads, or loads with heavy seams.

Normal is for loads where all the fabric is the same density etc and there are no variations.

What does the manual say about those settings?

Cheers

Nathan

 

[brisnat81]

Looking at the manual for your dryer, its pretty dumbed down as usual for the US

It does specifically state that for Multi-layer, mixed loads of sturdy cottons, e.g. towels, bath robes. to use extra dry

and for Normal its Single and multilayered cotton and linen laundry e.g. terry towels, beach towels, bath robes, T-Shirts,underwear, cottons, bed linens, baby
clothing.

On the dryer, how much longer does Extra dry run for? I think the key difference between Normal and Extra dry is the Mixed Loads statement.

This is how the AU manual describes the similar function

Cottons Extra dry
Fabric type Multi-layered fabrics, which would not be thoroughly dried using
the Normal + programme.
Notes Do not dry jersey fabrics in the Extra dry programme as they
have a tendency to shrink.

Cottons Normal +
Fabric type Single and multi-layered fabrics, e.g. mixed load of cotton fabrics
e.g. towelling, jerseywear, underwear.

Cottons Normal
Fabric type Load of similar cotton items, e.g. underwear, flannelette bed linen,
towelling.
Notes If laundry is still too damp, then finish drying using the Warm air
programme and use the Normal + programme next time.

I guess the line that the US manual is missing, is to go up to the next program the next time if things are still damp

 

[jerrod6]

Well our manual doesn't call anything cottons...it just says Normal and Extra dry, however it does state the type of fabrics to be used in the descriptions. For Normal it says single and multi layered cotton and linens, terry towels, beach towels, t-shirts - bedlinens......

My problem with normal on this machine is that it doesn't completely dry anything of the above items. Bed sheets....one sheet is dry, the other sheet is damp, one pillowcase is almost wet, the other one is almost dry.

Single layer towels? forget about it. Everything is left so damp nothing can be done with the towels except using the 45 minute cycle. Well what is the point of even putting these in on normal when they are not even close to dry. This dryer is supposed to have a sensor but apparently it doesn't work well on towels even though we are told they can be dried in this program.

T shirts - these come out damp and wrinkled. Once the wrinkles are there even finishing them off on a more intense program will not remove the wrinkles.

45 minutes warm

This says it for final drying of multi-layer fabrics with unique drying characteristics then it lists jackets, pillows and voluminous textiles. The drying of single items: beach towels....etc.

For me if the dryer was designed correctly there would not be a need for any final drying of anything. With a moisture sensor it should tell the dryer in the normal program when the item is dried.

I do use 45 minutes warm many times instead of using Normal. Why bother with normal when it does an incomplete job on almost everything. I do like that at least with 45 minutes it does a reverse tumble every 15 minutes, unlike normal that may never do a reverse tumble until near the end. But like i said once you start it you better not check on anything because restarting the dryer starts another full 45 minute program on top of the time that has already elapsed.

The amount of time added to the program when using extra dry depends on the load. Last week I did a load of towels which lasted 58 minutes. Normal would last 29 minutes but you are left with a load of really damp unusable towels.

On normal most loads last 25 minutes before the cool down starts to cool down the items that aren't dry to begin with thus setting in wrinkles.

On most loads extra dry lasts about 42 to 46 minutes.

Delicates works ok as far as drying goes, BUT...because this dryer uses such a vast amount of air to dry there have been a few times when my gym shirts have been sucked onto the intake vent. Once there they remain and get destroyed.

The gym wear is Nike Dri-Fit which is made out of some type of Lycra. It clings tight to your body so when you sweat it pulls the moisture off your skin and lets it evaporate in the air. Once a shirt gets on the air intake and if it remains it takes the shape of the intake vent with all of the hex holes. So I am left with a shirt that is completely wrinkled beyond fixing and it is stamped with the intake hex holes all over it. Nothing removes these hole marks and nothing removes the wrinkles. You can just see me at the gym now...walking around with a wrinkled shirt with hex hole marks all over it. As far as I am concerned the shirt is destroyed and 40+ dollars is down the drain.

So when I wash my gym wear I stay in the area and check several times until the load is finished.

With the reputation Miele is supposed to have, I just think they could have done better with this dryer.

 

[launderess]

"I just think they could have done better with this drye

Now you understand why Miele pulled the plug on the 9XXXX series dryers.

Does seem odd because all the problems you are describing are often the same things Americans complain about of Miele's condenser dryers.

IIRC, and if incorrect am sure someone will correct, European dryer manufactures tend to produce machines that dry more gently than American versions. That is rather than blasting items dry with very high temperatures, EU dryers like to do he thing slowly. Supposedly this is better for fabrics in theory.

 

[logixx]

"That is rather than blasting items dry with very high temperatures"

Not really. My modern Bosch condenser runs at 167F during a normal cycle. The reason why European dryer (including vented ones) are slower is the limitation in power draw that they have. Most dryers won't pull more than 2800 watts, while most American dryers add another 2700 watts on top of that. The gas Miele above would dry a load full load in 50 minutes becasuse it got hotter than other vented Euro dryers with their weak heating element.

reviewed.com tested the Miele dryer and found it to be very gentle because of it's high airflow and relatively low operating temp of around 130F - most dryers range from 140 to 150F (and some GE dryers they tested peaking at 180F).

Laundry Reviews, Features, and Deals - Reviewed

Find the perfect washers and dryers here, the most comprehensive source for unbiased, trustworthy washer and dryer reviews, including top load, front load, stackables, and more.

laundry.reviewed.com

 

[launderess]

Well I Did Say One Wasn't Totally Sure And Invited

Correction if wrong, so now that is sorted! *LOL*

My Oko-Lavatherm is rated for 2735 watts but being a condenser dryer still takes ages to dry things.

 

[dustin92]

Not surprisingly, GE (and Frigidaire) dryers are among the hottest over here. We had a GE once that melted the filling in several comforters, and after our Frigidaire Gallery series dryer, Will never own another Frigidaire product. The thing had four heat settings- Low, medium, medium-high, and high. Of those settings, you had: low- you want me to do what?, Medium- Melt/burn any synthetic, Medium-high- Scorch asbestos, and High- portal to H***. Of the four dryness settings, Damp, Less Dry, Dry, and Extra Dry, you had- Damp (barely warmed up), Less dry (a bit warmer, still wet), Dry, (still usually a bit wet), and Extra Dry (either mostly dry or crispy) Before those two, we had a Whirlpool made dryer with one heat setting, never had a problem or anything damaged.

 

[logixx]

No problem, Laundress. Just open all the windows of your apartment and let the nice 23F air in - you'll see the dryer becomes faster.  Simple and convenient as that! ;-p

 

[launderess]

open all the windows of your apartment and let the nice 23F

What are you trying to do, see to it I am carried off or something! *LOL* Am already suffering through a bit of the flu as it tis! *LOL*

Did some reading upon ambient room temps and condenser dryers and the common advice was nothing below 49C. General consensus was the colder room air harder dryer must work to heat.

Being as all this may did try it once (opened windows and cracked front door to create a draft), didn't notice any vast difference in performance. IIRC outdoor temp was in the mid 30sF

 

[logixx]

My Bosch Axxis is in the basement, approx. 50F room temp. It now dries faster than in the summer, when temps reach the upper 70s. The colder the air sucked into the condenser - to a point, as you mentioned - the faster the it can condense steam into water, thus the faster moisture is removed from the load. As you have seen for yourself during this year's heat and humidity wave: condenser dryers like it cool and dry, otherwise things take forever to dry.

 

Don't know if the dryer has to work harder to get hot with low ambient temps. Mine still gets really hot.

 

And get well soon!