Tumble Dryer On Last Legs

[SIRandyraven]

Our tumble dryer is now 17 years old and seems to be taking longer to dry cloths.
The laundry is always piping hot and almost too hot to touch when removing from machine.
Yet it seems to take longer than it did a few months ago.
The current tumble dryer is a vented one and energy rated C.

Looking at the latest models available and the shops seem to be punching the heat pump versions that are twice price of a vented version.
They use less power being A rated but people say they are slower to dry cloths.
I’m not bothered about power efficiency too much because we have solar panels (with battery storage) and thus run the dryer when the sun is out and power if free from panels.

I noticed that the vented are all still energy rating C , yet the current one is a C.
I was thinking things haven’t moved on much in 17 years , but then someone said the ratings are now on a new scale.
So what is a C equiv. now on the old scale and and old C on the new scale?

Why does everything get so complicated :-)

[barry1010]

Should your tumble drier stop when it senses the clothes are dry or does it work on a timer that you set?

As your clothes are very hot when you take them out I suspect that the sensor has stopped working and this should be a relatively cheap fix. Wipe the sensor down with rubbing alcohol to get rid of any muck and sticky residue and see if that solves the problem.

[barry1010]

By the way, my condenser dryer doesn't take any longer to dry laundry than a vented one.

[Hopkirk]

A condenser one is more suitable, as heat is put back into the house and not wasted.

[barry1010]

Hopkirk, my condenser dryer doesn't put any heat in to the house. How would that work?

[barry1010]

I didn't know heat pump dryers existed - I thought you meant condenser. From what I have just read the heat pump dryer does take longer but only about 30 minute or so for a full load.

[davebro]

The heated air has to go somewhere - if it's not vented outside it stays in the house.

I think C is now the top efficiency rating - they were getting silly with all the A, A++, A+++ etc. so they gave C as the top & left B & A as room for further improvement.

[barry1010]

This one has an energy rating of A++
https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/laundry/tumble-dryers/logik-lhp8w18-8-kg-heat-pump-tumble-dryer-white-10174302-pdt.html

[piper107]

my "old" tumble dryer has a 10 min heat off at the end of cycle so clothes are cool to the touch when taking out, i though that was standard on all
btw way i take it apart and clean the accumulation of fluff etc out of it every coupe of years

[barry1010]

piper, that means the sensor is working on your tumble dryer.
I clean out my tumble dryer after every use - an accumulation could lead to fire. It only takes a minute
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/five-rules-stop-your-tumble-14112798

[davebro]

//btw way i take it apart and clean the accumulation of fluff etc out of it every coupe of years//

I think the problem with them catching fire was that fluff was getting past the filter into the electrical part of the machine. I took an old one apart & it was absolutely caked inside. They must have changed the filter system on the ones they supplied following recall.

[SIRandyraven]

Sounds reckless , but energy efficiency isn’t a huge want with a new dryer.
The heat pump ones are about £300 more than a vented one and the saving in power would justify the extra if we didn’t have solar panels and battery.
I want the dryer to finish quicker also so we hit the sunny day window of max solar power being generated.
The current vented dryer is in the garage.

We had a condenser dryer in the apartment we rented in Switzerland and it was rubbish compared with a vented version we back in the uk.
The dryer in Switzerland was 12 years old and the heat exchanger went. The landlord purchased a new one costing him £1,500 ….it was a Miele and same as previous one.
I questioned why pay so much and he said because they last longer …but our one in the uk lasted 17 years and cost 20% of that …
It was still slower regardless being a condenser version.
Here comes the best bit ….
18 months after we left for uk and dryer was basically chucked out. New owner didn’t want it and charity refused it.

[barry1010]

Looks as if you've made your mind up for a vented dryer, Sirandy :)

I've had vented and condenser and my condenser by far much better than the vented, but we all have our own opinions on these things. My condenser must be banging on 15 years now.

[bednobs]

i have the third type - heat pump. I find it ok, no problems it's the only one ive ever had that stops when the clothes are dry

[barry1010]

Pointless spending the extra on a heat pump type if you're not making the saving on the electric bill, though.

[diddlydo]

Tumble driers should be banned as they are so bad for the environment and guzzle energy. What's wrong with fresh air to dry clothes?

[hellywelly4]

Not easy when there isn't anywhere to put them outside dd.

[Hopkirk]

Ours senses when the clothes are dry and switches off

[zebo]

//Tumble driers should be banned as they are so bad for the environment and guzzle energy. What's wrong with fresh air to dry clothes?//

Let's all wander down to the river and slap our dirty washing on the stones!

[barry1010]

diddlydo, I am begging you to spend two consecutive days at my house to teach us how to manage without a tumble dryer. Hope it doesn't rain!

[diddlydo]

Barry - if it rains hang the clothes on a drying rack and wait. This is what I do if it's raining outside and it's not a big deal.