I'll be brief. (Yes, it happens... from time to time... occasionally...).
I need to buy a tumble dryer. They come in two types: condenser, and vented.
I am deeply, deeply prejudiced against condenser ones. This is because I have a washer-dryer, which is a complete nightmare as a dryer (though ok as a washer). I have ruined 3 loads of washing, and now never use it. Ever. It can't dry at low temps. It bakes the clothes. Seriously. You might as well put them in a rotisserie. It can only dry a tiny amount of stuff at a time. I hate it. With passion.
However, the new dryer will live in the garage, so it would be useful to have a condenser dryer rather than a vented one. Use of a vented one involves leaving the garage door open for the vent tube, which I have happily done for several years, in two different garages, but it's not ideal.
My question is this:
Are condenser dryers ok? Will they dry at low temps? Are condenser dryers a different breed from condenser combo washer-dryers?
(OK, that was 3 questions.)
Which is no use on the issue, so come on, Bloggy Friends. Enlighten me.
.
Sorry I've only ever had a vent one and that was fine.
ReplyDeleteMy advice would be........ stick with what you know!
Maggie x
Nuts in May
Gosh I had no idea there were two kinds...I've only ever seen the kind with a vent. But agree about washer/dryers - we had one in London and the only time I used the dryer the whole thing blew a fuse.
ReplyDeleteI once had a washer-dryer and never would again, though that was an awfully long time ago so they may well have improved. Anyway, I now have a condenser one and it's absolutely fine. It can be set to the degree of dryness I want or on a timer and I've had no problems at all.
ReplyDeleteI've got a condenser and it works fine. I don't usually use low heat though. I just hang dry anything I worry will shrink... and sometimes I shrink things I don't want to. I thought I would hate it since I've only ever had a vented one, but I don't. It's just a pain to have to empty the water all the time.
ReplyDeleteI also didn't know there were two types, but I do know that after 5 years I'm still missing the wonderful industrial washers and driers in the US. Sigh!
ReplyDeleteSave some of the water for your steam iron, though, no need to worry about limescale or to buy distilled water.
ReplyDeleteI have a condenser type, I rarely use it, I had a vent one many years ago, Condenser one has been fine, I have a window open when I use it and a door in summer.
ReplyDeleteBut most importantly, NEVER go to bed with one on overnight or go out and leave one on - apparently they are a huge fire risk. (both types I believe).
I only have experience of vented ones - in the garage. We leave the garage open a crack (it's an 'up and over' door) and that all seems to work fine. Sorry, I haven't added anything to the discussion really - just told you something you already know... ;)
ReplyDeleteI hated my condenser. It took forever to get things dry whether the machine was running inside a laundry room (which the condenser made damp and muggy) or inside a garage. And emptying the condenser tank was just one step too far for unwilling teenagers to go. Nothing like having them program the dryer to run during off-peak hours only to discover the following morning (once they were safely off to school and out of my reach) that the machine had stopped mid-program because the tank was overflowing and the laundry still sopping wet.
ReplyDeleteI'm a vent girl, all the way.
I think my mum has a condenser as there's nowhere it could vent and you have to empty a gallon of water when the cycle's finished. It's actually really good and has several choices of "dryness". I can ask her which make it is if you'd like.
ReplyDeleteDunno why anyone bothers with dryers. We dangle an airer from the ceiling and it dries the vicarage linen almost creaselessly and for free.
ReplyDeleteYou've a higher ceiling than I have, then. The one in my kitchen is 6 ft 6 ins and there's no room in my utility room. I dry the laundry out of doors if I can but I tried a floor-standing airer in the kitchen and it was not a success.
DeleteWe have a condenser and it works very well - yes, we need to empty the drawer from time to time, but it does the job perfectly, and without having to leave any doors or windows open... (Having said that I tend to use an airer to dry most things and just use the dryer for stuff like sheets and towels)
ReplyDeleteI know I'm a bit late arriving here but I agree with you re washer dryers, I have a vented dryer and it's a pain having to leave a window open, and I've never had a condenser.
ReplyDeleteMy brother works for an electrical shop here in Dublin, he's really good on advice and I can ask him if you like (no bother, he loves questions!) just leave a comment on my blog if you want me to do that.