Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[Willow]

I've had both and definitely vented, more efficient and you have to keep remembering to empty the water container for the condenser.

[Lewis]

Congrats on the new place!

 

We have vented at Uni and home and suits us...

[Space Chick]

So pleased you have your keys

 

Another vote for vented here... We have a cheapy White Knight one and it's brilliant

[Snowy]

We've always had vented, but this time we got a condenser as we wanted the biggest drum we could get (lots of boys + muddy football kit) and the biggest we could afford was a 9kg condenser. I am very pleased with it - it is no hassle to empty the water bottle each time. And it's a B rating for energy efficiency (it recycles some of it's heat or something!) You can get condenser dryers that are A+++! But the vented ones only seem to go up to a C.

[abwsco]

Condensor here as well. Think mine is 10 years old now.

[Leicester_H]

Agree with Cathy!

 

We went from vented to condensor and are 'happy'. You have to brush the filters after use - 1 minute job (if that) - as otherwise a fire risk- so emptying the water simply adds 30 seconds to the work - not a real issue.

 

I'd pick the one you like best (vented or condensor).

 

H

[CatieB]

I have a condenser too and am very happy with it, it was the most efficient on the market at the time so I feel a little less guilty about using it. Yes you do have to empty water each time but it becomes a habit if you do it each time.

[abwsco]

I don't empty the water each time after use as half the time there's very little there. Dryer also warms up the kitchen when in use so another bonus

[Lesley]

We have a condenser one and it's really efficient. I water plants with the water and use the lint to light the woodburner.

[Nikipins]

We had a vented A rated white knight one for a bout 10 years it was brilliant, took ages to dry the clothes something to do with how efficiently it heated etc but not a problem as we dried things overnight in it. The bearings finally wore out but it had lots of use as we used washable nappies for 2 kids and dried them on a daily basis in the wet months of the year (11.5 months out of 12!). When we came to replace it we couldn't find a similar vented one so went for a condenser also we had moved house and didn't have an easy way to vent the machine in the new house. I was concerned that the condenser type would not be as good but it is excellent. We did go for an expensive A rated Siemens one. I would recommend that you go for one with the condenser drawer at the top so you don't have to scrabble about at floor level trying to get the draw out. I enjoy emptying the water from the condenser draw some how it seems satisfying to see how much water as been collected.

[merlina]

I had (now with the ex) a fabulous miele condenser - midrange. definitely agree to make sure the water drawer is at the top/easy to get in and out.

No special filter clearing to be done; just emptying every 2/3/4 loads depending how much stuff/how wet it is.

my only criticism of it is that its idea of 'dry' and mine aren't always the same - and there isn't an option to just put it on for a couple of hours like the old/basic one I had.

It wasn't cheap but it's used all the time (the ex hasn't heard of washing lines, ) and has held up for 6 years without incident.

When I get round to sorting my place out, that's what I'll be buying

[Snowy]

I got the Whirlpool sensor machine and you have 2 options - either set it to a timed dry, or set it to how dry you want things to be (extra dry/cupboard dry - there are others but I've never used those!) It does dry things very well and doesn't seem to take as long as our old dryer. I think the huge drum helps - things come out very uncreased too which is a bonus!

[Leicester_H]

No special filter clearing to be done;

 

Are you sure ? I though they all had mesh filters to trap the fluff generated by tumbling - you simply have to brush it off. If you don't, they gradually block and then become a fire risk.

See eg. http://www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/safety/home-safety/tumble-dryer-safety/

 

Stay safe, H

Edited December 31, 2012 by Guest

[merlina]

you have to remove the fluff in the filter (in the door) - that's all

Some dryers have something much more convoluted - so I was just saying there was nothing fiddly to do

[Mercedes55]

Our is a washer/dryer with a condenser and I am another one that doesn't empty anything out. I've looked and looked at the instruction manual, which I have to say is very confusing, but the only option I've ever found is a "fluff clean" programme that actually fills the machine with cold water and takes about 12mins to complete

[Charlottechicken]

I have a White Knight condenser, and find it no bother. Fluff trap in the door well has to be cleaned out pretty regularly, as others have said. The other week I noticed a puddle of water underneath every time I dried stuff, and found out I had to take the condenser thing out (it's on the front) and run it under the tap to get the fluff off, did that and no more problems! That was the first time I had done that in many years

 

Added bonus is it heats the room it is in and you get some clean warm water to use from the water reservoir too!

[Saronne]

I've got a condenser one, too. Had it for 5 years and it heats up the kitchen. Seems to work a treat.

[newcountrygirl]

Definately condenser. Wouldnt be without mine.

[The Dogmother]

We have a condenser one and it's really efficient. I water plants with the water and use the lint to light the woodburner.

 

Ditto, mine can also be plumbed to drain into the washing machine outlet pipe instead of the reservoir. I've had White Knight ones before and they were fab, now have a Hotpoint and won't bother with one of those again. I only use it when it's not possible to line dry.