The first decision you must make when buying a tumble dryer is whether
to buy a vented or a condenser dryer. As you'd expect, there are pros
and cons for both. This page helps you understand all of the
differences, including the reliability and repair implications.
Condensor tumble dryers are becoming more popular but vented tumble
dryers still have some advantages and the convenience of not needing a
venting hose (as always) requires some compromises.
Until I can put together my own reviews the best Tumble Dryer reviews available online are by Which?
Due
to their resources and independence, Which? usually have the latest
reviews and collect the opinions and experiences of thousands of
members -
Which? tumble dryer reviews
(Plenty of free information but will need to be a subscriber (take
advantage of the 1 month trial offer to get the full benefit)
Vented tumble dryers are cheaper than condenser dryers, they are
also simpler, more reliable and more economical to run. According to
Which? "on average, vented tumble dryers use about a fifth less energy
than condenser dryers to dry a full load of cottons."
So
why bother with a condenser tumble dryer? Well condenser tumble dryers
are a convenience product but they do offer a solution to a genuine
problem for some where venting the dryer outside is difficult or even
impossible.
My advice would be that if your
tumble dryer can be sited somewhere that allows you to correctly vent
it outside, either through a wall or through a window, then a vented
dryer is probably best. If this would be particularly awkward, then buy
a good quality condenser dryer, which should condense the steam into
water.
Modern washing machines now have a far superior spin speed, and, of
the ones we recommend, the cheaper model has a 1200 spin speed, the
other a 1400 spin speed... so your washing will be fairly reasonable
(some items could be about ready to iron) and this, in turn, could
affect your other choices.
Could you get away with just airers and a washing line? Or have you considered a dehumidifier?
A Spin Dryer... will work efficiently, and is cheap. The main
advantage to it is that it is only the size of a large pedal bin, so it
can be stored under the worktop in a small amount of space.
A Tumble Dryer... much more expensive... for a decent quality item
you need to pay a quite steep price. They do a good job, but are
another full size kitchen appliance to find room for.
A Washer/Dryer... instead of a washing machine... disadvantages, if
it goes wrong then you have no back up in either the washing or drying
department... and of course being a more complicated piece of
machinery, it IS more likely to break down! The only advantage is that
it will be a space saving item.]
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