Tumble dryers (heat pump) - any makes and models to go for? Any to avoid?

[Rollerball]

Thanks a lot, they do try to confuse us don't they?

 

[Rollerball]

Next question - what sort of gap should be around a heat pump tumble dryer?

Where I plan to put it the gap would only be about 5cm for the sides, maybe 8cm at the back and about 8cm at the top (it will be sitting under a shelf). Is all that enough or do I need to find a smaller dryer?

 

[endecotp]

Next question - what sort of gap should be around a heat pump tumble dryer?

What do the installation instructions say?

 

[Rollerball]

What do the installation instructions say?

They don't for the dryer I was thinking of buying, that's the problem.

I've looked at generic advice online and it varies a lot - for example some say that maybe an inch either side and 4 or 5 inches at the back is okay, but that you need a foot above the unit ...... on the other hand some people get away with an inch or two either side and up above.

 

[endecotp]

I don't know the answer - hopefully others will comment - but note you do need to consider both what the drier wants and what the worktop material above needs. You don't want to cook your expensive kitchen worktop; you might care less if it's chipboard in a shed.

 

[Rollerball]

Thanks a good point about the worktop - thankfully it's in the utility room so it's just some wood (not chipboard) covered with some kind of vinyl.

 

[Rodders53]

We've had three HP condenser dryers.

Our Miele is good in that the filtering is excellent (as long as one cleans them as directed)... but it tangles a bedsheet / quilt if on the 'delicate' setting - it doesn't reverse as much as it ought. In normal setting it's OK.

Another brand we had clogged the condenser badly but it was removable / washable - just needed doing very very often and was also messy - wet clothing fluff in the sink strainer.

One was a Beko (which I think was the pita one ca 2010 and was probably scrapped?) and another a Panasonic (ca 2013) that had a condensing unit replaced under warranty and didn't reverse tumble at all. The Miele replaced that in 2019 and we gave it to a relative.

Panny TD needed 2-3mm on sides and above from the manual.
The Miele is 596mm wide to fit in a 600mm gap... so similar clearances I'd assume.

Most take air in as needed from a front-facing grille (and maybe via vents underneath, hence warning about not placing on thick pile carpets). Otherwise it mainly continually recirculates around the machine to warm clothes and condense the water.