Vented or Heat Pump Tumble Dryers?

[Dustydog]

In a postoperative moment of boredom, I started investigating a replacement for our thirty year old vented tumble dryer.

Big mistake!
I discovered this and gave up. It is real and not something I have ever heard of . What next?

Vented dryers were found to be significant contributors to waterborne microfiber pollution if consumers clean the lint filter with water in accordance with some published appliance usage instructions, as most (86.1 ± 5.5% for the real consumer loads tested) of the microfibers generated during vented tumble drying were collected on the lint filter

 

[otherclive]

It’s been known about for a long while that clothes with man made fibres are leading to contamination of watercourses and the sea. The items such as fleeces using polartec or similar being particularly susceptible to shedding plastic contamination. We are gradually changing over our sweaters etc to natural fibres ie wool or cotton. It’s not just a tumble drier issue it’s your washing machine too.

Here’s another one to worry about. Washing up liquids are generally packaged in plastic containers which are not suitable for potable liquids. So if you have a dishwasher you’re fine as it rinses the items. But if you wash up in the sink and don’t rinse the items there will be micro particles of plastic from the washing up liquid container ready for anyone to ingest. And we worry about what colour water hose to use on site! But the good news is that the WHO do not consider ingested micro plastic to yet be a risk. Just stay off the fish and shellfish. 🦞 🎣

 

[Mr Plodd]

We're all doomed Capt Mainwaring.

At 70 I have ceased to worry about such things and just get on with enjoying myself.

 

[Mel]

Who is cleaning the fluff filter with water? Just wipe the fluff filter with your fingers and put the fluff in the bin.
To be fair, if I had collected all that fluff over years, I would have several duvet’s worth by now.
Condenser dryers also have another filter in a pull out cartridge which the manufacturer does tell you to rinse with water but you would be daft to let that fluff go down the drain as it would block the trap. Catch it in a plug sieve thing instead and put it in the bin.
Mel

 

[Gafferbill]

....another fantastic design feature of some modern tumble driers that recently caught us out.
Been married 52 years so had 2 perfectly satisfactory tumble driers.
Both lasted 25/26 years and used a reverse/forward action so as not to roll the contents into a ball.
Just bought a new one.......never occurred to us that all tumble driers wouldn't have this reverse action.
The new one only runs forward and rolls bulky items like sheets into a ball....brilliant design NOT.

 

[Dustydog]

Our old faithful.

99% of everything dry within 60 mins
Ability to use at very short notice eg fully dry single shirt 20 mins
Excellent fluff collector filter cleaned before every use.
Fully auto reverse tumbling.
Not overly power hungry.

Heat pump tumble dryer.

No first hand experience.
Reports say 4 hours at least to dry? What is dry?
Fluff filter not dissimilar to my oem
I suspect not cheap to run.
Is there a real benefit?

 

[Mel]

We had a heat pump tumble dryer. By Miele. You would expect better but it did take ages ( hours) to dry stuff. Seemed to fill the kitchen with fluff as well. Gave up on it after 6 years and got a cheap indesit that you just switch on and turn the timer. Full heat dries a load including jeans in barely an hour ( but it will shrink stuff) Half heat takes longer, about hour and a half or so but less risk of shrinking.
I try and hang stuff on the line as much as I rather than use the dryer but this is Britain.
I would add that this one is also a condenser dryer but not a heat pump. Not vented to the outside. Have to empty the water from a tank after each use,
Mel

 

[otherclive]

We try and use the garden line when possible, and also use a dehumidifier in the main bathroom, which is quite effective particularly if there’s any heating on too. It provides a good source of demin water for mixing with the screen wash concentrate. Tumble dryer lives in the garage and is rarely used.

 

[Dustydog]

Does all this mean my old faithful washing on the line doesn’t give off micro filters in the breeze😜

 

[Buckman]

We had a vented tumble drier and it was very efficient drying clothes within a short time. We made the mistake of giving it to our daughter and bought the heat pump version. Takes forever to dry clothes and when you take the clothes out they still feel damp despite the machine stating that the cycle is complete and the clothes dry!

Some of you may remember that I raised a thread about it, but got shot down in flames. See https://forums.practicalcaravan.com/threads/are-you-really-saving-energy.63655/#post-537527

 

[GUMPY]

Tumble dryers use huge amounts of electricity.
When drying stuff
First call is the line in the garden
Second call is the Lazy Maid
The tumble dryer is the absolute last resort

 

[Dustydog]

The final solution is now clear.
Use a decent washing line outside or make use of Clive’s spare bathroom with dehumidifier😜

 

[Tux]

It’s been known about for a long while that clothes with man made fibres are leading to contamination of watercourses and the sea. The items such as fleeces using polartec or similar being particularly susceptible to shedding plastic contamination. We are gradually changing over our sweaters etc to natural fibres ie wool or cotton. It’s not just a tumble drier issue it’s your washing machine too.

Here’s another one to worry about. Washing up liquids are generally packaged in plastic containers which are not suitable for potable liquids. So if you have a dishwasher you’re fine as it rinses the items. But if you wash up in the sink and don’t rinse the items there will be micro particles of plastic from the washing up liquid container ready for anyone to ingest. And we worry about what colour water hose to use on site! But the good news is that the WHO do not consider ingested micro plastic to yet be a risk. Just stay off the fish and shellfish. 🦞 🎣

Why would anyone not rinse?

 

[otherclive]

Why would anyone not rinse?

You tell me.

 

[Hutch]

Tumble dryers use huge amounts of electricity.
When drying stuff
First call is the line in the garden
Second call is the Lazy Maid
The tumble dryer is the absolute last resort

Our Condenser tumble dryer ,will dry two large bathroom towels , a small towel and the shower floor towel/ mat , and other stuff, underwear etc for about 50 pence, on economy 7.
But prefer to dry outside.
If I really want to save money to pay for heating etc. I don't go to the pub in the afternoon. Or drive to a park to take the dog for a longer walk.

 

[GUMPY]

Our Condenser tumble dryer ,will dry two large bathroom towels , a small towel and the shower floor towel/ mat , and other stuff, underwear etc for about 50 pence, on economy 7.
But prefer to dry outside.
If I really want to save money to pay for heating etc. I don't go to the pub in the afternoon. Or drive to a park to take the dog for a longer walk.

It's recommended not to run a tumble dryer when you are asleep due to fire risk.
Mine runs off the solar battery so price is not really a consideration unless we run out of power. Not that there has been much solar gain this week.

 

[Hutch]

It's recommended not to run a tumble dryer when you are asleep due to fire risk.
Mine runs off the solar battery so price is not really a consideration unless we run out of power. Not that there has been much solar gain this week.

Yes it is true, don't run anything when you are not in attendance, But, this was advised on certain low priced and quality Dryers. Also the technology and safety of these units have changed.
I see no reason NOT to use Tumble dryers at night.

I have CO2 extinguishers in all rooms upstairs.
And three Dry powder down stairs.