Does anyone have any recommendations on tumble dryers?

My mum gave us her old one when we moved in five years ago which is old and crappy and hence is rarely used.  OH has suggested buying me a new one (I think its guilt from the go-kart he has just bought himself) and whilst I am loathe to buy a big item so near to Christmas, well he's offering so I may just take him up on the offer but get a cheap one as I don't really use it that often (we have an indoor drying line in the lean-to), although I would probably make more use of a new one - our one goes on for 2 hours and everything still comes out soaking wet so I reckon I could be converted to tumble drying with a fully functioning dryer!

My washing machine is a Hotpoint so I am inclined to lean towards a Hotpoint dryer (so they match!) but after the problems we have had with the washing machine its probably wise to have a think about a totally different brand, but I have no idea which brands are better than others.  I'm looking at the £100-£200 mark really.  Vented or condensor makes no difference as I have somewhere to put either.

Or should I just convince him to chuck out the dodgy washing machine and get a combined washer/dryer instead?

Thanks for your help!

I know nothing about tumble dryers, but would definitely suggest that you wait until the New Year, you're bound to get one cheaper in the sales! :)

ooh good thinking Batman!!

I've got a Zanussi Condenser/dryer which I'm very happy with.  It has 2 temps and variable timer.  Because it is a condenser you don't get any steam in the room or need an outlet hose as all the water is collected in a container which you just take out when full and empty (save some for the steam iron though).  It also has a bigger opening than my old tumble dryer so you are not playing tug o'war with the dry bed linen as you are trying to get it out.  It has 6kg weight limit which is more than ample.

i had a combi and when the dryer part broke i had to either pay £600 to repair or buy a new one.
so i bought two seperates for £370!!!
i much prefer seperates cos if one goes bust at least you dont need to replace both!
i have hotpoint washer and dryer, its a condenser, extra large drum etc and it was £189 from currys 6 months ago, for an extra £120 i had accident and repairs cover on it for 5 years so if it goes bust they will repair or replace as many times as needed for free. not technically free i know as i paid 120 for the cover but you know what i mean :) its worth it as it covers any accidents by kids dogs electrical failures etc,
zanussi and hotpoint are good but DONT be tempted by BEKO i have had 4 washers and 3 dryers by beko and each one rotted inside (bolts etc) and flooded my kitchen!!! i had to get my home insurance to replace all my flooring! nightmare!!!

Same as Chez_swa - Zanussi condenser. Brilliant, had it nearly five years and never had a problem (touch wood) :P Washing machine on the other hand is about to meet its doom!!!!

Dee

We recently bought a Tricity Bendix and it is FANTASTIC. Best I've had. It's quiet, fast, filters easy to clean, was cheap, and best of all it has a round wahsing machine style door which locks so no more silly square door that opens as soon as a dog leans on it like all my previous ones. Got really annoying when the dogs could open it all the time!

LOL Goldmali, mine used to be the same, the locked doors are SSSOOO much better arent they :D

I'd always choose a Zanussi - very reliable machines.

Ive got a 6kg Candy, its bloody massive but its ace i wouldnt be without it now! If you are wanting reviews u could always go to www.reviewcentre.com i always look on there before i buy anything x

We have a Hotpoint condenser dryer and it has been very reliable :) We have lost the bottem panel due to a pesky chewing Lab but apart from that it is in excellent working order after 3 years of excessive use :)

Lucy
xx

I have a Creda dryer - was only a cheap one and 8 years later its still doing its job like it did on day one. Touch wood ive never had any problems and it hasn't cost me another penny.

Nothing fancy, it's a standard white dryer with two temps (high and low :D) and a timer.

My mother-in-law had a washer/dryer and said it was rubbish and would never have one again, they are more expensive too and parts aint cheap either! If you have the space I would go with separates... also means you can have washing in the washer whilst another load is being dried :)

I always check the review centre as suggested by someone else and also http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/ it's a good place to find cheaper suppliers of the same products.

Rox

I have recently bought a new condenser dryer after using a vented one for years and find it takes far longer to dry the clothes trhan the vented one did. It also gives off alot of heat and if I could I would go back to a vented dryer in a shot!

I cannot understand why vented models are so hard to find.  With the emphasis on power efficiency and that being reflected in the rating of all appliances you would think that consumer demand would be driving it towards venting only with just a few condensing models sold for homes where it was impossible to vent   I don't know what I will do when I need to replace my vented model.  I try to use the dryer only in an emergency but I think if a condenser was all I could get I would have to do without all together.

Hi there

It might be an idea to check out the condenser part of yor drier. I have found that with mine that any hair that doesn't get caught in the filter gets wrapped around the condenser and the drying time is then horrendous. I thought that something was wrong as the water container didn't seem to be filling up as quickly as it should. It took me nearly the whole day to dry 2 throws for my sofa and then I had a poke round and found the condenser was full of fluff. I try to clean my condeser once a week, this keeps the drier woking in perfect order.

I will try that, thanks for the tip!

AGain, go to your local library and consult the Which? magazines.

I think in tests, and certainly in my experience, contrary to what I normally do (ie buy german machines) I buy the cheapest dryer on the market, I only want it to tumble dry and as long as you have a timer and a hot/cool knob that is all you need.

My current dryer is circa 10 years old and cost £60 so on a cost per use basis is very good value for money, it is a white knight i think.

Thanks for all your replies, I'll have a proper read through later.

But thanks for the tips on Which magazines at the library - I didn't know that, that's very handy!

The company I work for sell and rent all kinds of Home Entertainment and White goods.  By far the best makes (IMO) that we have had no service problems on are

Miele
Aeg/Bosch
Beko

I rent my AEG Washing Machine and Vented (lives in garage!) dryer and have not had a single problem for 3 years!!  Still going strong.

Oooh I'm glad Beko is on your list as this afternoon I decided I'd had enough of my Indesit w/m so I've ordered a Beko :)
Never had a problem with the condenser dryer (zanussi) though admit having to clean the condenser out with all the fluff and hairs - just stick it under the power shower then unblock the plug-hole :P

Dee

My dryer is a Miele, a vented one. Have had it for 13 years, never any problems, still works as well as when it was brand new.  The amount of fur collected in the filter is amazing! :-) In the spring I save it for the birds in my garden, makes lovely nesting-material :-p .
This dryer has outlived two Whirlpool washingmachines, I've found two litters seem to be their maximum, after that it's fast downhill ;-) So the one I've got now is also a Miele. I'm hoping it will live a long and healthy life in my home :-p ,making up for it's price...

I have a Bosch condenser dryer and it's great, I had a Creda one before and it broke down 3 times in 18 months, I ended up throwing it out in anger.  I also have a Hotpoint washing machine and would never buy one of those again......Creda and Hotpoint are both the same company!

Creda and Hotpoint are the same company indeed. It also incorporates Cannon. Likewise Zanussi, Electrolux and Tricity Bendix are all the same company.

I have a White Knight gas powered tumble drier. It only about 2.5 years old but I am very happy with it. Much cheaper to run than an electric one too :)

I can recommend a Creda dryer especially the one with eco-sense which means you dont need to use the timer,you just press the button and it automatically switches off when the clothes are dry.The one I have now is a condenser,and my daughter has one too.In fact she had a vented one for 8 years,that was on every day as she has 2 young children,and it only packed up a couple of months ago. She went and bought another Creda,the condenser one this time,and like me,she is delighted with it.They are quite reasonably priced too .compared with other brands
Hope that helps,
Jean

My Creda condenser dryer packed up 2 days ago, (still 'going round' but not heating up). Its 6 years old though and very noisy! but weve been really pleased with it as it was fairly cheap and we didn't expect it to last that long.  I've got washing all over the radiators at the moment though, apart from when the dog decides to drag it off!!!  Wish it was the summer, its certainly not clothes drying weather outside today!

My Creda finally packed up on monday after twelve years - I guess it couldn't last forever :(.  Have ordered a Hotpoint which is arriving tomorrow, so have avoided doing any washing till then. Have not had a hotpoint before, so hope it's as good.

I use my tumble dryer all year round, saves on ironing too.

Does the thought of all that energy used, let alone the cost, not trouble you?  I can understand it if you have no access to outdoors but as this is a dog board I would not have that was the case with many of us here.

I haven't had to use my tumble dryer for 16 years - I have an outside line for good weather, and a ceiling rack (one of those ones with a pulley) for bad weather.

Ditto KG - except that I was cajouled into getting rid of my airer when we did the kitchen up 2 years ago :( I had to buy a tumble dryer then (I'd managed without out one through 2 babies/children) but I hate using it as it seems so extravagant :D We're not poor but I still go round the house after hubby and the children (when they are here) turning lights/TVs/computers etc off. Old habits die hard - and now, with global warming it's back in fashion to be economical with energy :D :D :D

Daisy

I agree Tohme We have everything else from Miele but the tumble dryer is just the cheepest we could find and is not at least 4 years old and used most days.