Tumble Dryers

[al]

I've been looking at getting a tumble dryer recently and had more or less decided on the Hotpoint TDC62 logic condenser dryer. Mainly because it came in Zircon Silver and matched the washing machine we have. However I've read a few bad things about it recently - namely that the condenser doesn't work all that well and it seems to produce as much heat as a vented model, but also that the logic sensing is prone to leaving clothes wet or keeping on going for 4 hours.

Thinking about it really, all I need is one that has a silver option - it will match closely enough! I would prefer a condenser as I don't want to have to put in a vent hole. The logic thing would be great - if it works! Anyone any recommendations or experience with the aforementioned model?

al

[Suz]

I have the TDC60 and love it totally. If we divorce the husband can have the kids, I'm taking the tumble dryer.

I don't need to iron any more, it can be positioned anywhere, and it heats the house as it goes.

As long as you keep the condenser lint free there are no problems. It can't run more than 3 hours there is a safety switch off, but it rarely goes for more an hour. Sometimes if you have a heavy cotton thing in with light synthetics it may need an extra go on its own, but better that than frying the other clothes. It does leave a tiny bit of moisture in though and I have discovered this is why I don't need the iron any more. Hung promptly they are indistinguishable from ironed stuff - the last bit of moisture is needed for this finished look.

It also has an "iron" setting which is 8 mins blast of heat followed by cool which effectively irons dry creased clothes. There are numerous other settings for cotton, leaving damp, non-sensor cycles etc.

Suzanne

[PoP]

Sounds ominous. Are you in a Saudi marriage or something? ;)

PoP

Replying to the email address given by my news reader will result in your own email address being instantly added to my anti-spam database! If you really want to contact me try changing the prefix in the given email address to my newsgroup posting name.....

[Al Reynolds]

I have the Polar TDC62, and can confirm that there is some moisture and warmth in the room during a cycle, but nowhere near as much as a normal dryer. If I leave the double glazing in the vent position, the moisture doesn't build up.

As for the sensor, I haven't had a problem. Large loads of cotton washing dried surprisingly quickly. However, if you don't take it out or turn off the tumbler once it has finished, it will tumble it once about every twenty minutes, which can be irritating if you've gone to bed and are a light sleeper.

On the whole I am happy, but have only had it a couple of months. Anyone had experience over a year or two?

Al Reynolds

[Andy Hall]

But a normal dryer vents to the outside, surely......

Anti-crease function.......

.andy

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[Suz]

If I was I'd probably be put in the tumble dryer for mentioning the word D-I-V-O-R-C-E

[al]

Just as well you're not then as that would probably be your last reply ;)

What's the difference between the TDC60 and 62 btw? Just an older version of the exact same model?

a

[al]

Mine's in a little outhouse not much bigger than the size of the machine square, but there is ventillation from both the door and the top of one of the windows (it slipped down about 2cm into the frame!!).

That's good to hear. As mine's outdoors kind-of, the anti-crease won't bother me. Doubt I'd be doing it overnight anyway.

On a separate tangent ... is electricity cheaper over here during the night? Never quite figured it out - the bills don't seem to indicate it though.

a

[Owain]

"al" wrote | On a separate tangent ... is electricity cheaper over here during | the night? Never quite figured it out - the bills don't seem to | indicate it though.

Only if you have an Economy 7 / White meter tariff.

Owain

[Al Reynolds]

Not if the pipe falls off the back of the drier! Or it splits, or you forget to hang the pipe out the window...

Al ;-)

[John Smith]

I had a Zanussi for about 12 years and it was great until it packed in in

2003. I replaced it with the newer model and am very disappointed. The reason is that the old model allowed me to plug it into a 24 hour timer and then I could set it to run during the cheaper night-time hours.

The newer model has a push button to start it which means an automatic timer will not start it unless you get up in the middle of the night and push the button. I have already noticed higher electricity bills and, although I paid about £400 for it, I am seriously thinking of changing it for a different model. So, seriously, if you use night-time cheaper electricity make sure any dryer you buy does not have a push start button - you will be surprised how many do nowadays and what a difference it makes in electric costs.

John.

[Bob Eager]

Come on....this is a DIY group! A little work with the timer and a suitable solenoid....!

[Gavin Gillespie]

automatic timer

although I paid

The push button arrangement, seems to suggest that these tumble dryers were specifically designed, so they cannot be used with timers, (possibly overnight whilst unattended), I can't think of any other reason they would do this.

[Bob Eager]

OTOH....my PC turns on with a push button, yet also has a timer for turning it on...!

[Christian McArdle]

Mine has a push button. An old mechically controlled tumble dryer was simply a matter of twisting the timer dial to the correct position and waiting for it to run down and turn off. On a digitally controlled system, you have lots of parameters to set up and need some way of setting it off.

Compare with microwaves. Ones with analogue controls don't have a start button, you just twist the dial. Ones with electronic controls do, as there is no other way of it knowing when to start.

Christian.

[al]

Many these days have delay start as a feature to utilise cheaper electricity ...

a

[Owain]

"Gavin Gillespie" wrote | The push button arrangement, seems to suggest that these | tumble dryers were specifically designed, so they cannot | be used with timers, (possibly overnight whilst unattended), | I can't think of any other reason they would do this.

It may be a safety arrangement so that a child can't crawl in the dryer, pull the door shut and the dryer start up, although I would have thought the risk is with commercial sized dryers perhaps the safety regs apply to all.

Owain

[Suz]

The Hotpoint TDC60 has a push button start.