Buying Advice

So we got rid of our combined washer dryer when we recently bought our ISE10 washer. Winter's coming and my wife tells me we need a tumble dryer. I'm thinking of putting it in the garage.

I'd like the ISE machine, however having spent lots on a washer I'm thinking of spending only 200-300 for the machine. I wonder if a vented is OK to use in my draughty garage without a hose or whether to go for a condensor. Any ideas/recommendations would be appreciated. The vented seem to be simpler/easier to repair when necessary but not sure if people always recommend these to be vented to the outside world? Condensors seem OK but I think I'm right need emptying/defluffing each time??

My only other issue is a sloping garage floor, will have to knock up something to level it where the machine is going to go.....

Hi,

Vented is probably best if it gets very cold in winter and hot in summer.

Condenser dryers do cope with the extremes of temperature as well just not as well in some cases as a vented would so, it'd still work okay most likely but you would get condensation in the garage in winter when you'd be using it more.

TBH you can still get condensation using a vented dryer as well just due to the increased room temperature with the machine running.

Condenser don't need drained if they have a drain out facility (most do) and can be connected to a waste water pipe, then you need never bother with emptying the tank.

All dryers need filters cleaned and, condenser dryers also occasionally need the condenser cleaned as well. Failing to do so regularly will serious impede the performance of any dryer as they all rely on good airflow.

One of the biggest problems we see is that people don't clean the filters, airflow deteriorates and stats blow, performance is very poor and a host of other woes. It is essential on any of them to do it.

HTH

K.

Thank you, a very helpful reply. I've decided to go for vented as I'm buying at the cheaper end and that seems to be the recommendation if you are not buying big (I'd love an ISE10 to match the washer but maybe next time). The garage is an integral one but can get cold in winter so hopefully I'll be OK with my vented machine.

I've convinced myself I'll be able to tackle a hole in the wall of my breeze block garage!

I went for a Zanussi ZDE47100W after having a little read on here, all comments welcome!

If anyone's drilled a hole for a dryer there seems to be 2 schools of thought - (i) get someone or hire a "core drill" or (ii) "stitch-drill" (ie drill multiple holes round the circumference you want to drill, drill more in the centre then remove the middle with a chisel.

Think I'll go for option ii (the breeze block will be quite soft I think) but again welcome advice before I crack on!

One thing to be aware of when installing a vent hose in a garage, or anywhere else for that matter. Make sure that the hose runs out level or down from the dryer through the wall without any 'U' bend in it, do not route the hose up above the dryer and out.

If you do route it up then in cold conditions the inside of the vent hose will fill with condensation and lead to water running back into the dryer or the hose filling up completely with water.

Thanks to all for your advice. I fitted the vent this afternoon without problem. To any other DIY novices like me, the "stitch drilling" worked fine, made an almost perfectly circular hole and any minor imperfections are covered over by the plates in the vent kit (less than a tenner from a builder's merchant).

Tumble dryer arrives tomorrow, here's hoping I've chosen something at least half decent.