Please reccomend a decent but affordable condenser dryer

[seamusuk]

Heat Pumps..

Hey Richard
You have made the right choice in my opinion as well. I was lucky enough to get a Miele at a REALLY good price and really cant fault it. It dries in roughly the same time as the Electrolux condenser it replaced did on low setting(always used that as I prefer not to bake clothes). It creases less and saves 40% on the electricity bill so whats not to like.
If I was buying on a budget I would have no hesitation in buying the Beko- it looks great for the ££
Seamus

 

[richardc1983]

Thanks guys. What's the power input then and why does it use an element if heat is generated from the air via the element?

 

[seamusuk]

Cant speak for the Beko...

Hey Richard
The Miele is rated at 1.5kw so much lower than a normal condenser
Seamus

 

[richardc1983]

According to the website where I bought it from under specs it says rated 2.68kwh

This perhaps means the output of the heat pump though. Not nessersary the input.

 

[richardc1983]

Took the indesit compact back to sonic yesterday. They tried to get me to buy one of the beko models I had listed as they didn't have the heat pump one in stock. I told them even if they still had it in stock they would have been more expensive than where I have purchased from.

Tried to do my fellas washing yesterday. 4 loads in the Hoover and was still trying to dry this morning over radiators! Put towels out yesterday at midday they were still wet at 8pm last night!!!

 

[vacbear58]

4 Loads!

Are you sure he is not taking in washing for the whole street! To be honest, if I had that much to dry I would take it to the launderette and dry it there.

Got a load in the Beko now:
Kingsize duvet
2 kingsize bottom sheets
4 pillow cases
12 T shirts
12 Underpants
About 12 handkerchief

I did this lot as two loads in the Miele (I might have pushed it as one load) - doing fine

Al

 

[richardc1983]

He has horses so is at stables twice a day so has two changes of clothes morning and evening then usual work stuff and clothes in between plus a couple of towels!

Here's his typical wash basket the first time I did it all!

 

[sesteve]

Blimey!!

I thought mine got through lots of washing even without the horses but I can see now why your door boot ends up groaning.

Great choice going for the heat pump. I bought a John Lewis heat pump dryer about 4/5 years ago and it's been great in terms of energy saving (I work in energy which is why I justified the expense and the reason for getting a dryer at the time as well having underfloor heating which meant no radiators).

The only downside of mine is that it is not so great at retaining all the moisture though but I'm sure the new machines are much better. I've noticed that I can put anything in the dryer too and it doesn't shrink or damage so it seems the lower temp helps.

Lets us know when you get it

Cheers
Stephen

 

[suds]

Steve..

...a fellow AEG fan

You say you have had a heat pump for about 5 years, how long have they been about? I was under the impression they were fairly new. Would like to see a pic of your John Lewis dryer. Their current range of laundry appliances are Electrolux/AEG sourced was it the same when you got yours?


B

 

[richardc1983]

Yes Stephen, 5 loads on the floor in piles and 1 in the washer already!

Saving all my washing up and just changed bedding and looking forward to the dryer arriving next week!

 

[sesteve]

Hi Richard

Well it will certainly be put through its paces and you should save a small fortune on the leccy bill!!

Hi Brendon

Yes this is basically an AEG model - they also had a heat pump dryer out at the same time and I think it was the first on the market. I think I got it in 2007 and it cost £500. I remember Which? reviewing it. Not sure if they went back to the drawing board for a while as I hadn't see it in the shops more recently. Still going strong but the fluff is beginning to build on the heat exchanger so might look to try a thorough clean in the summer.

 

[sesteve]

I have it in a cupboard in the living room at the moment as i re-fitted the kitchen with built in appliances to sell it. It's on top of the Meile which isn't plumbed in.

 

[suds]

Nice..

...control panel Steve, I like all the buttons. So you have had quire a few years good service out of it then, that' s good to know. How do you clean your heat exchanger - what does this "thorough clean" consist of. Also how old is that Miele below the dryer in the pic.

Richard - lol lucky you, I seem to run out of laundry to play with quite regularly. How old it that Hoover? I used a similar one approx 15 years ago whilst house sitting -was very impressed with its purposeful sound and high water levels! You have any vids of it running?

B

 

[richardc1983]

It's about 35 years old lol!

Advice re cleaning the condenser - I work in air con and the condenser is known in the business as the "evaporator" best way to clean it is with vacuum cleaner but do not press the fins they damage easily.

Also you can clean them by spraying a spray bottle of water to flush anything out but vacuum first otherwise you will push the lint further into the coil.

 

[richardc1983]

Already having trouble with ultimate appliances. Rang them last week to ask when delivery date was they said they was getting them in today (Monday 4th) and would be delivered Wed 6th to me. Now they are saying they getting them in this week and they will be dispatched next week to me.

So I have had to do 2 washes today and have it hanging up all over the place! Will leave bedding & towels till next week.

 

[richardc1983]

Had a call today dryer will be delivered between 4&7pm on Friday! Just in time for the weekend

 

[hoovermatic]

....people often forget about the water used for a conventional condensor which if You are on a meter will end up costing too........

Pardon my ignorance but what do you mean by this? I have had a condenser dryer for 14 years and this statement has me scratching my head! Thanks

 

[chestermikeuk]

Me tinks...

Suds is equating it the usage of a washer dryer which as you know when using the condenser dryer uses large amounts of water which most people are not aware of!!

 

[suds]

Oops....

...yes, totally forgot that it was on the washer dryer! Apologies. Ok then I have a question how does a condensor dryer work then?! I obviously am out of my depth - will keep quiet now

B

 

[hoovermatic]

Thanks for the explanation guys!

......years ago (1996) I rented a washer dryer from Radio Rentals (remember them?) but rarely used the dryer as it was so small capacity (4.5 lbs) and took HOURS!! I was on a water meter then but had no idea that it actually USED water in the drying process - maybe just as well I didn't use it lol! As far as I am aware the moist air from the drying clothes passes over the many fins of the condenser unit and the water drains into the reservoir. I am sure that is a hideously simplistic explanation but that seems to be it as far as I can see!