[dUnKle]

Although there are only 2 of us the amount of washing we produce is shocking. Mainly down to me wearing a uniform which I like to have a clean shirt everyday, in fact im rather fussy in that (with exception of trousers and jumpers) everything goes in the wash after one wear. Other half also works in care so gets through few sets as well

Anyway ..................

We have a more than capable and 2 year old washing machine which does good job of getting stuff cleaned but its the drying thats the problem

Are tumble dryers worth bothering with ?
Is there much difference between the full size and table top ones ?
Are the expensive / difficult to run ?

[Spiderkid]

Not sure this is in the right section of the forum?

Anyway, my wife and I have used a condenser tumble drier for the last 4 years (2 different makes) and have found it indispensible, especially living in a relatively small terrace and not having much external space to dry things.

Essentially you can put a condenser anywhere as it collects all the water in a special storage draw which you then empty into the sink, so it doesn't need to be vented to the outside (plus all the heat eminates into the kitchen (or wherever you're using it) and doesn't escape outside, which is very nice during the winter!

Both driers have fully dried a large load (5-6kg) in 1-2 hours depending on what's in it. Our new one has a sensor setting which is supposed to stop the drier when the clothes are dry, although I'm not entirely convinced that it works. Energywise they are hungry beasts, but it's an issue of convenience for us, there's just no way we could do without it now. Just make sure you get the highest rated drier you can. Cheaper ones tend to be about a C rating, our current one from John Lewis is a B, but you can get A rated driers now (although they are expensive!). Happy hunting!

[Dude a llama]

I am a white goods engineer so can offer you advice regarding a tumble dryer. DO NOT buy a condenser dryer unless you have no way of venting a normal vented dryer,they are a lot more unreliable.

If you're going for a vented dryer one of the better dryers on the market are actually one of the cheaper ones and would recommend a White Knight.

If you need a condenser dryer go for either a Zanussi or Bosch.

I wouldn't bother with the smaller capacity dryers unless you are stuck for space,they are not much (if any)cheaper and are generally less economical to run.

Hope this helps.

[Spiderkid]

Originally Posted by Dude a llama

I am a white goods engineer so can offer you advice regarding a tumble dryer. DO NOT buy a condenser dryer unless you have no way of venting a normal vented dryer,they are a lot more unreliable.

To be fair though, I've had no problems with either of the two condenser tumble driers that we've owned for a total of 4 years. If you can get a vented one great, but it all depends on the space you're planning to use, in both houses we've never had the space for a vented drier and have been quite happy with the condensers (you just have to make sure you clean them and look after them!)...

[IronGiant]

If you get one with a sensor, try and get one where the sensing is optional, in case you find the sensor is turning off the drying too soon (this can happen if the load is mixed eg synthetic and cotton).

Dave

[SWMBO]

we also have a condenser dryer which is kept in my son's built in wardrobe, as we have no room for one downstairs we have never had a problem with it its fantastic i used to use it all year round until hubby finally decided to get a washing line put in the garden last year so now its only used in the winter time, as we have hot air heating in the house we have no radiators so the dryer is fabby

[IronGiant]

SWMBO, With a hot air system, can you put clothes on an airer in front of/over the vent? Or do you just end up with a house full of condensation?

Dave

[johntheexpat]

Originally Posted by Spiderkid

Not sure this is in the right section of the forum?

I agree. If you get a front loader with a glass window, surely that counts as TV? Well the quality of the programming may even be better!

[SWMBO]

Originally Posted by IronGiant

SWMBO, With a hot air system, can you put clothes on an airer in front of/over the vent? Or do you just end up with a house full of condensation?

Dave

hmmmmmmmmm could do but its much easier to put it in the dryer...

[KhalJimbo]

I have a built in Washer/Dryer and its amazing!! I turn it on when I go to sleep, and wake up to some nice clean smelling dry clothes, and it makes my house smell really pretty too

[shodan]

bought a cheapo Indesit one which 5 years later is still running! (amazingly! and I've had to replace the matching washing machine with a decent Bosch model). One of the thermostats on it went once and I managed to identify it and get one off ebay for about £3 and fit it all myself and before that I'd never seen inside one and I'm not an electrician or engineer.