Hi, i have always had a big tumble dryer with a hose that goes out the window as the kids were growing up. 4 years ago hubby and i moved from a 4 bedroom house to a 1 bed bungalow.The tumble dryer wouldnt fit in the kitchen so is under a lace cover at the side of our bed :rolleyes:It finally broke down yesterday and im thinking ablout getting a small condenser one instead, i just have the room on the counter top.Has anyone got one of these, what make, how does it work and where does the water/steam(?) go that usually goes out the hose out the window,and anything else you can help me with would be appreciated.

Hi

Condensor tumble dries work by condensing the steam into water which is collected in a little reservoir and can just be removed and emptied down the sink when full.

Sorry, can't help with where to buy one etc but I think Hotpoint make a vented one (if memory serves) so they might make a condenser too?

If you use one alot don't buy it if you don't use it alot it will do the job.

A condenser does just that, condenses water so it has to have a drip  tray or bowl to collect the water it has to take longer.It has to turn the water into steam>water.

It scientifically has to take longer than a normal vented dryer and also the smaller ones can take longer due to lack of air space.  I am not fond of the condensing dryer at all and this it also steams the clothes too much so is particularly harsh on delicates.

Some people think they are OK but you won't ever get an engineer to tell you that they are.

If space is an issue you would be better with a small vented one. :-) HTHS

I have a large condensor tumble dryer that gets hammered during the Winter :) Hubby has repaired it once LOL The steam gets condensed and collects in a tray at the bottom that needs emptying quite frequently :)

I would never go back to an ordinary one now

I am the same as you Mel and find the new one we got a few months ago brilliant Drys clothes in such a short time we struggle sometimes keeping the washing going to keep up with it :rolleyes: :D

I'm not a fan of dryers - I gave my first dryer to my sister as I didn't use it. I much preferred my old-fashioned airer in the kitchen. However, I was persuaded to part with it when we refitted the kitchen a couple of years ago and I bought a condenser dryer. It works absolutely fine - no condensation and little noise - BUT I only use it on odd occasions - eg. if I've had a lot of visitors and I need to dry lots of sheets quickly and it's raining :) (I'm also a scrooge and hate wasting electricity on drying clothes :D )

My next house will have a utility room with lots of space for an oldfashioned airer :D

Daisy

My next house will have a utility room with lots of space for an oldfashioned airer

Oooh yes please

If you can possibly get a vent to the outside, not difficult at all if placed against an outside wall and possible elsewhere with trunking then a vented one is better in terms of performance, economy and most of all :) the environment although getting it out on the line whenever you can is best of all :)

We have a condenser drier, it does the job :)

All I would say is you will still need a window open/extractor fan on, the room can still get quite damp (we have now moved ours out into the garage because of this!) Also you need to empty the water and de-fluff the filter with every use for maximum performance.

I too have the condenser/dryer out in the garage.
Had it a couple of years and pleased with it.Considering the amount of dog hairs it has to deal with!

Thanks everyone for your help, im afraid i chickened out and am getting a large vented one similar to the others ive had, In 27 years ive had two, my first one lasted 21 years the second 6 years, shows how things have changed!