Tumble Dryers

[liberatordeluxe]

Thanks Paul C for the recommendation of the Indesit dryer. Where did you buy yours from? I have seen that one on Appliances Online and Tesco Direct however TD is out of stock. I have noticed a lot of dryers are now 7kg but that's way too big! 6KG is ample for 4 of us.

 

[hoover1100]

Drum size

They all have the same size drum they always did, from 6kg up to 9kg the drum is the same, it will just take a longer to dry 9kg than 6 kg and leave clothes much more creased.

In reality most dryers will only hold around 5kg max.

Matt

 

[paulc]

Matt's right, my dryer certainly doesn't take a full 6kg load out of my Miele washer. I got my dryer from Sainsbury's direct as I got a shed load of nectar points with it.

 

[fido]

I would not touch a new Hotpoint, Creda or Indesit dryer with a 10 foot barge pole unless they have changed considerably in the last 2 years! They are just flimsy junk compared to their older models. They did help to keep me in work as they are so unreliable.

 

[foraloysius]

A friend of mine had an AEG vented dryer. He was quite happy about it. Basically it's the same as the Zanussi vented dryers, but only with more options. So if you want a good basic vented dryer I think Zanussi is a option to consider.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Honestly for the use for bed sheets and towels you're going to use it for, i think pretty much any dryer would work fine...but if you happen to find a very good deal  you should take advantage of it immedately!
Used is your best deal...not to mention would be a pity to have a new machine let in an outside  space to rust because of wet winter weather...if you buy a used one for a trifle you can even don't care much if it is going to die faster...BTW this is another aspect to consider...try too look for electromechanical timers/programmers ( better, stronger, long-life and more resistant to weather conditions)  and simple switches and controls  rather than newer junky  electronic ones that are more sensible, so to to fog  and humidity also...not to mention LCD stuff etc...simple and strong machines are better in your case...no too fancy electronic stuff that may suffer outside conditions...
 If I were in your situation I'd probably be more confused than before with all these different suggestions... but that's normal, everyone is different and have different tastes....
But for the use you have to make of it about every one would be good, as long as they're not chinese garbage like my last electric dryer named Bomann that I still have in the garage, and that I'm too honest to trim to someone...
It is simply unusable..... lint filter does not work, it is filmsey, it makes a terrible noise and had well 8 repairs (under warranty) in the 3 months I had it...
 I'd personally go for VTG 60s, 70s and 80s... but if you want a new one I say:
Stay away from Bomann and  newer  "crashed square door" Whirlpool models (the tangler dryers)....  the 6th sense style door for istance..
White knight is reliable...the cons about white knight that I could experience was a high level of noise (  inferior panel and control panel and door vibrations against cabinet) and fact that lint tended to get stuck in the door ring thus littering all around during emptying (not a big issue for outside though)..., then it had a too  small door access...
You may want one with a large door as to facilitate loading and avoid items dropped or rubbed on the outside dirty floor during loading and emptying opeation especially in the dark or in : <span id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="hps atn">"</span><span>it's too</span> <span class="hps">damn</span> <span class="hps">cold</span> <span class="hps">out</span> <span class="hps">here</span><span>, better</span> <span class="hps">hurry up and gets things done faster thus not caring much of what you're doing</span><span>,  while you're shaking  like  Miley Cyrus  in the last MTV awards" situations</span></span> ..I guess that would be better anyway...

Speaking objectively, euro dryers are better to have the reverse tumble as they have  way smaller  drum room compared to the size they're supposed to handle, this  compared to american dryers and rated size  that they're supposed to handle,  euro ones   do and would tangle and crease stuff alot more compared to american ones, reverse action is true prevent more tangling and creasing but does not solve or avoid it, it became a must for euro ones given the reasons before, true fact is that most american dryers do not have reverse tumble, but there is not that much of a need for them  like  it is indeed for euro models... on the other hand they have drums more than 2 times bigger  than euro ones  and tangling is possible but not so likely to happen..
I've seen  and owned euro reverse action dryers tangling items so badly that made and kept  balls of sheets bouncing  till the end cycle having them still wet internally and creased alot.... my whirlpool was a master doing that all the times and when I say all the times I mean all the times! I always had to be at home while drying them, so  interrupt the cycle, take sheets out unwrap them and resume... the typical BUM BUM BUM BUM  was the signal that it was time to do that...the   Bomann, Siltal and the  Zoppas (Zanussi)  we owned in the past   6-7  on 10  times would  have done that while drying large items too.... and you imperatively  had  to divide bed sheets and rest of laundry in two portions to do not have stuff  like if came out from  the  butt-hole of a chicken...
Since I own the  Speed Queen (no-reverse) tangling is happened just once.....and I never experienced it happening so often with other american dryers, like it was for euro ones I have used in my life...
US models have larger rooms, way more space to move the laundry, so tangling is not that common and creasing is almost unexistent...

But again for the use you're gonna do a euro-model would be more than needed...
Keep in mind, this is a personal advice:
If you're like most people that start with   your idea: "oh yes I'm going to use it just for towels and heavy hard to indoor dry stuff" be aware that the conveniency of a dryer is addictive..LOL   Jokes apart is of course a great convenience...who didn't have one can't really speak and cannot know!
I know many like you that  said that and then finished to use almost exclusively the dryer...you know: " I'm in a hurry, still have to clean house, stll have to go shopping, etc------ I'm gonna put this load in the dryer  this time, no time to hang it"...finishing then to do that almost always .. absolutely nothing wrong with it....it's more than normal...why waisting time and efforts having to deal  with the drudgery of hanging laundry if you can conveniently load and start a dryer in a few seconds, also having your load dried quicker?
Of course there is people who would still use it as prefixed.....
Anyway....speaking too much...
My suggestion is to go for the used market...as Launderess said you can find really good deals that will give you a really long life ahead of them, and  for way less than the half of their market value as if new...

So I'd go for the used..... whatever you decide at the end wish you good luck..

[this post was last edited: 9/10/2013-19:11]

 

[optima]

Montpellier

Liberatordeluxe

If your after a low cost but a reliable dryer try googling Montpellier dryers, 2 models are available either vented or condenser. We have sold them for a long time but are only available through independent retailers. Sensor dry & a 6kg load capacity but drum can hold more + a far better build quality than Indesit Company Dryers.

 

[vacbear58]

Hoover

I cannot see from your profile where you are based, but the drier on the link might be good if you can get to it:

Reasonably vintage, light (if any) useage, and modest cost

Al

Pardon our interruption...

 

[liberatordeluxe]

Thank you all for your contributions in helping me decide what to go for particularly KenmoreGuy.

Regarding the compact dryers I had a look in Currys today and the White Knight seemed to be well built compared to the others despite only being small. The door was a bit flimsy but if it had reverse action that would be enough to hold towels and bed sheets despite being 3kg? The drum is actually not a bad size really. I have seen lots of used ones on Ebay albeit not local.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

I'm glad I was helpful....
Compact dryers are a good choiche for people that actually do not really  have space in homes so that is the only thing they can fit...

That said.. if you have  the possibility to fir a regular euro size that would be better...I think...I used to always dry bed sheets alone  in full size euro dryers...as the results otherwise would have been improposable (for my canons) because of tangling and creasing...
I never owned a  3kg white knight dryer nor seen one in person  but I assume that would be able handle a king size bed set without having  improposable results...   but even if not improposable I think the  results would not be that good....
 More than tangling (that is anyway likely to happen because of small room) I'd be concerned about  the typical euro dryers creasing and limited space to air the load properly, what I call:  a  typical euro dryer "tight" load, so this  if the dryer you're using have a further smaller drum like a 3kg one,  a  King size bed sheets load plus  pillow covers  would not come out nice ...and so taking longer to dry and giving creases, not not much for towels (that are harder to get creased) but for bed sheets and else...
Here is a video of how a load of sheets + pajama would do in a compact white knight...personally looks like  a big  twisted and  wrapped ball  tumbling, not drying as it should and hus getting lots of wrinkles, would be nice to know the exaxt load composition (king size? Single? Heavy pajama? Thin Pajama?), but this gives an idea:

[this post was last edited: 9/11/2013-14:58]

 

[passatdoc]

Stateside, they are standard issue, and most new or even 50-year-old construction has provision for a dryer hook up. In California, electricity is 15 cents/KwHr, on the high end of prices for the USA, and it has always been more economical to use a natural gas dryer. While the machine may cost $40-60 more than its electric version, the cost gap is quickly recouped.

Most condenser type dryers are European in make and size (24inch/60 cm instead of 27 inch/70 cm), for use where there is no venting: converted closets, under kitchen counters. That said, most mid-century or later houses and condominiums have a laundry area with hook ups and venting.

My current dryer is a Frigidaire/Electrolux gas model, which stacks on top of its matching washer. Although I have space to place them side by side, I choose to stack so that I can use the freed space for something else (a table for folding and storing clothes). The two most important features of my dryer to me are:

1. Moisture sensor. My former dryer was mid-range but did NOT have this feature, and sometimes shut off before clothes were fully dry, or it would cook the clothes long past the point where they were dry

2. Permanent press cycle: starts out warm, releases wrinkles, then cools down to lock in "straightness". By cycle end, clothes are room temperature.

Most of my work clothing is office casual: khaki trousers and collared shirts (no ties), all 100% cotton with no-wrinkle finish, and nearly all of them from LL Bean (www.llbean.com). If hung up promptly, they look as if someone slaved over an ironing board, but the system only works with a moisture sensor and a true perm press cycle. Next to my machines I have a "laundry center", a set of steel shelving with a rod to hang the clothes, plus three sorting bags. Similar to the device in the photo, except mine has a shelf above the hanging bar allowing storage of lightweight items. So I am well equipped to hang clothes after drying. I need a device on wheels, because the tank water heater is tucked in the corner next to the washer/dryer stack, and if service is required, I have to be able to move the laundry organiser without a lot of fuss.

PS: if you buy a dryer with moisture sensor, and if you use dryer sheets, the waxy substance in them can coat the sensor and render it less effective. I tear the sheets into thirds, using only enough to prevent static cling, and clean the sensor with alcohol on a quarterly basis.

 

[paulc]

liberatordeluxe

unless space is an issue do not get a compact dryer. You will certainly NOT get a kingsize bedding set in it without long drying times and excessive creasing. The novelty of separating loads to dry them will soon wear off.

 

[hoover1100]

Compact dryers

If it is a choice between a compact or a washer/dryer or no dryer at all, then a compact is best, but they are NOT practical if you can fit a full size model in.

 

Sheets will have to be washed individually and they are more expensive to run as you have to run more loads to get the same amount of washing dry.

 

If I had to have a compact I would certainly have an Indesit/Hotpoint (Creda) over a white knight!

 

Matt

 

[launderess]

According To The Owner's Manual For My Whirlpool

Compact it can do two sheets or one sheet and two pillow slips. These were given for full through king sized and find are pretty accurate.

One rarely dries bed linens n dryer anyway as they are put through the ironer or Kaltmangel, if not hand ironed. On the rare occasion it is required normally do so only long enough to get the creases out and the things are "damp dry", they are then hung up to finish drying/airing.

Sheets will most always ball up to some extentIMHO. They do it in my WP compact, and they have done so in the Lavatherm despite it having drum reverse. The only place it does not happen is with the large dryers at Laundromat. However things do often end up in a tangle. To solve this usually stop things about halfway, pull everything out, fluff/untangle and put back into the dryer.

I believe energy savings wise you get the most value for money when dryers are operated at or near full capacity for cottons. Find also fuller loads tend to tumble better as small ones slide about from vane to vane without the free falling through air that makes for better tumble drying.