Cheap or expensive tumble dryer. Which is best?

[loggy01]

Should I go for an expensive tumble dryer or will I get just as good a product with a cheaper one? Anyone had any experiences of these?

[ronnie963]

my last on cost �150 and it lasted about 6 years and i've just replaced it with one that was only �72 from a auction but you can buy them for �300 plus, but for thet i'd what the laundry ironed too.Shop around for the best buy

[Kos]

They're such basic items that it's hardly worth spending a lot on them. However I have found that the condenser ones are a good buy because you don't need to provide extraction pipes for them.

My tip is to go to a shop that sells 'graded' goods, ie have slight cosmetic damage due to the delivery driver 'accidentally' dropping them. They are always a hell of a lot cheaper from these places and should still have a full guaranteee.

[Ethel]

I have one of the most expensive dryers on the market after years and years of using various cheaper ones.

The difference is staggering. It's so quiet I can set the timer and use it in the middle of the night, when my electricity is cheap.

Far less fluff comes off the clothes.

The sensor really does work and stops drying as soon as the clothes are dry to my preference - there are various choices.

The clothes come out much smoother and fluffier for some reason.
I can dry silks, woolens, eveything.

It has a 10 year replacement guarantee, although that was an offer available when I bought it - the guarantee is normally 5 years. And yes - this guarantee actually means something!
It must be said, after twenty five years experience of tumble driers, I love my miele!

[jake-the-peg]

I bought a cheap Bosch, got it home and put a great gash in my hand because the drum had slipped.

Took it back and was told that some of their models are made in a spanish factory that they bought and aren't the same quality as the ones that come out of Germany.

I stumped up extra cash ( and got a discount for bleeding over the sales floor) and got an expensive one.

That was 6 years ago and it's never so much as hinted at a problem despite daily use often with heavy loads.

Personally I'd go up the range but maybe it depends on the use you'll give it

[wendilla]

I have an electra which I bought when east midlands electricity had there own shops and mine was bought 24 years ago was in constant use when kids were young and is still used at least twice a week in winter months .It also has a delay time setting on it and was one of the cheaper range ones.

[jon1968]

I had a 'bells and whistles' one (not Miele) and there was always something else going wrong with it so downgraded to the second cheapest one from Argos 3 years ago and no problems. I would recommend the reverse tumble feature on whatever you're buying though as it seems to get everything a bit more fluffy.

[BillyNoMates]

I've always used Gas tumble dryers for the past 10 years. Slightly more expensive but significantly cheaper to run and quicker. Obviously they require a CORGI registered gas fitter to install and venting externally. But I would not go back to an electric dryer.

[=rizla=]

Bought our whilst we we still students so it was the chepest in the shop, that was about 12 years ago now, its used for all our laundry and hasnt set a foot wrong( kiss of death for it now!) although it is a little noiser than the expensive ones i guess, its in the kichen so it doesnt bother us. So far as a condeser one, i'd never remember to empty the thing!, a big hole in your wall and a �10 kit from screwfix is what you want!!

[foulecamp]

Can I recommend the condenser ones: they are a bit more expensive but ours has been so flexible.

[mimififi]

I have a condenser AEG. It is the best thing I've ever bought. After years struggling with cheap driers and then haveing about 4 years without one, when baby nmber 5 came along I really wasn't coping with the laundry and so decided to bit the bullet.

Like Ethel, I couldn't be more pleased. Everything it says it does it does. It stops drying when it senses the wasing is dry. you need to switch it on for it to start, not just shut the door, essential safety feature imo. It has a huge capacity and drys in super quick time. It is nearly silent and plays a tune when it's finished. It even has a light inside so you can see properly when you are emptying it. It is also one of the most energy efficient on the market and I haven't noticed a massive rocket in my fuel bills since using it.

I have to say, I went for AEG as I had an AEG washing machine which is now nearly 10 years old and washes as well as it did when I bought it. I also now have an AEG dishwasher which is also of blinding quality. I can recommend spending as much as you can afford.

When I've saved up, I'm going to buy and AEG oven also.

[silverdaler]

a word of advice to all tumble dryer users following an unfortunate incident when mine caught fire ! the repair man told me to ALWAYS allow the dryer to finish the cycle including the last 5 minutes (which apparently cools down the element). my family used to get impatient and open the door prematurely, a piece of fluff at the back caught fire - nearly a disaster !

[loggy01]

The Engineer thinks this is why my "still under guarantee" tumble dryer was written off. I never used to let it cool down and it doesn't do the heating element any good either.

[cupotee]

Mine is a very old dryer the name of which I can't remember without going to look at it....brilliant machine....but my recommendation will have to be NOT to use it overnight as my friends family had to be rescued from an upstair window by the fire service.

But for one of the children waking to the smoke and flames screaming for his parents...they might all be burnt to death,

I have a while meter but leave nothing on overnight any more.

[cupotee]

WHITE METER...cheaper rate, sorry