Need Help with a Bosch Condenser Dryer

[toploader55]

Friends of mine that own a Gorgeous Bed and Breakfast here on the Cape bought a Bosch Washer and Dryer.

They are terribly disappointed with the dryer as it seems to take forever and are not pleased at all.

Attached are pics of the Dryer, Controls, and Model Number.

Does anyone have suggestions as to particular settings for Drying Towels and Sheets ?

They are now using the dryer only for sheets and are drying them 1-2 at a time and pillow cases in a separate load.

Thank You all in advance.

 

[brisnat81]

When you say disappointed, is it just the length of a cycle, or is there a performance issue as well?

It’s normal for these to take 60-120 mins to dry load, the speed is dependent on the room being cool enough to condense the moisture. Once you get over 80deg, the dry time starts to drop off, once you get over 90degs, I just don’t bother.

I find my Mieles leave sheets horribly wrinkled, I try and line dry sheets wherever possible. It seems to be related to the condenser drying, rather than the capacity, as I run sheets through a vented dryer of the same size and don’t get the wrinkles.

I’m assuming it’s a regular condenser dryer rather than a heat pump as it’s rated at 12 amps. I’m wondering why they didn’t buy a Heat pump dryer? This one has all of the draw backs of a condenser but without the low running costs of a heat pump.

 

[toploader55]

Hi Nathan.

Sorry I missed you this summer at Jon's this summer and congratulations.

I have heard and read here posts about Condenser Dryers and know they are slow for the most part.

Just was asking if there was a setting or something that would speed them up.

Hope to see you next time you're here. Eddie

 

[foraloysius]

These dryers are notorious for tangling up things, especially fitted sheets. Most European dryers have reversing drums, the Bosch dryers don't have that.

The Sanitize cycle may speed things up a bit but probably only marginally.

 

[launderess]

Going by my AEG Lavatherm

As noted above, you need indoor ambient temps to be cool (if not down right chilly) and dry in order for a condenser dryer to operate efficiently. Without that difference between hot/moist internal air versus what is outside/around the dryer the thing cannot "dry" effectively. Things will get there eventually, but will take ages IMHO.

IIRC sometime back a member (who now no longer regularly posts), installed a Bosch (IIRC) condenser dyer in his NYC apartment. Given our hot or warm and humid weather for much of year he also had AC on as well. That created the necessary cooler air needed for effective drying. I am not going to turn on AC (a huge energy hog), just to run another energy thirsty appliance. So use the Whirlpool electric vented dryer instead.

General advice is for towels, thick items, etc.. is to extract as much moisture out of things before they go into dryer. I use a spin dryer even though the AEG Lavamat has a final spin speed of >1800 rpms. It only hits that speed for final minute or less of spin cycle. Whereas can leave things in spin dryer long as one wishes until feel as much moisture as possible is extracted.

Don't dry sheets in any dryer as a rule. But for the few times have tried with the Lavamat it was a mixed bag. Even with reverse tumbling things often got wadded into a ball. This is a pain as if the mass doesn't work itself out one has to open door, take things out, undo the mass, put things back in and restart. Not something one should be doing with a condenser dryer as all heat has now wafted out and thing will use more energy to get itself back up to proper temps.

If one does bed linen it usually only for ten minutes or so until they are "damp". Then taken out and hung up to finish drying.

 

[launderess]

Don't think Sanitize cycle will be of much use in this instance.

"One of our sons has severe dust mite allergies, so we frequently used the Sanitize mode which is designed for half-loads and helps kill any bacteria and ensure hygienic conditions. Sanitize is a great mode for what it accomplishes. The downside is that you’re looking at over 3 hours to complete the cycle on a half load of laundry. On the other spectrum, the Bosch condensation dryer has a nice Low Heat mode that drops the temp and increases the dry time to care for more delicate fabrics."

Bosch Condensation Dryer Review WTG86402UC

During our search for a compact solution, we came across the stackable Bosch condensation dryer and washer combo and decided to give it a thorough review.

www.protoolreviews.com

 

[launderess]

Looking at owners manual

It might be best to dry small loads of thick toweling material items (around half rated capacity) rather than full.

For "thick and thirsty" heavy cotton things suggest the "Cottons Extra Dry" cycle. Cotton Dry seems equal to "cupboard dry" on my Lavatherm which is recommended for cotton clothing or linens that aren't particurly thick and or have heavy seams.

https://assets.ajmadison.com/ajmadison/itemdocs/wtg86402uc_bosch_dryer_installation_operation.pdf

 

[toploader55]

Thank You all for the thoughts and tips.

When I dry Sheets, I found by accident that it only takes like ten minutes to dry the fitted sheet by itself then the flat top sheet along with the pillow cases by themselves also 10-15 minutes.

Drying the fitted separately keeps things from balling up. This is in my Conventional Electric Dryer.

 

[cfz2882]

make sure condenser is clean

with my Asko condenser,i have to clean the condenser core of lint every 10th load or drying performance tapers off-I found one of those yellow drain clearing sticks with the barbs works great to clean an Asko condenser.

 

[launderess]

Is there a reason why couple chose a condenser dryer

Over vented, or maybe I shouldn't ask?

For anyone running even a quasi sort of commercial laundry (doing B&B linens) system I'd go with vented over condenser period.

Have said this often enough, my compact Whirlpool portable will dry a load faster and with less bother than full sized Lavatherm.

 

[combo52]

Slow [24" ] Condenser Dryer

If they are running a B&B they just need a real dryer or need to line dry and iron.

 

We have lots of customers with these things and many send out at least 1/2 the laundry and most of these customers are only 1 or 2 person households, these are not serious dryers.

 

John L.

 

[toploader55]

The reason for the Condenser Dryer is when they did their Kitchen Reno, the Washer and Dryer are situated in a corner of the kitchen where there are windows adjacent to each other and windows above the dryer. According to them, the building inspector said they could not have a dryer vent as the exhaust could travel into the house if the windows were open.

Sort of would make sense if it were a Gas Dryer. Fumes ? But a Regular Electric dryer ? Noxious Fumes ?

So I guess the bottom line is they are disappointed with the performance and are stuck with it for now. I believe that have a Samsung set at the other end of the house in which that dryer is constantly at work.

Yes Laundress, they do their own sheets and towels. It is a 8 room Gorgeous House

Captain David Kelley House Bed & Breakfast Inn | Cape Cod, MA

captaindavidkelleyhouse.com

 

[rolls_rapide]

Another option - although unsightly perhaps - could be a vented electric dryer, either:

(a) permanently kept out of the 'under counter' position altogether, with the hose out the window;

or

(b) stored under the counter, and wheeled out when required, with the hose out the window.

Option (b) might be a bit of a skiddle, especially in a busy household, since modern machines lack sensible wheels and/or rollers.

 

[launderess]

It's not my place to say I'm sure

But for all the electric energy used and bother with dryer one would recommend getting an ironer to do up the bed linens. That Bosch washer should leave things damp dry enough to go right to ironer, if not a vintage one should get hot enough (and run slow enough) to get the job done.

Even if they only did the pillow slips and flat sheets things would likely go quicker than all that bothering around with condenser dryer.

Have read various online forum posts where B&B owners used Ironrite or other ironers (such as Miele) for their bed linens.

There is always pegging things out! But weather up your way is rather chilly at times.