Which Dryer to buy for Laundry in Garage?

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ratsun81

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#2315275 11-Sep-2019 22:01

Stu:
ratsun81:

What you must consider if you are going the heatpump route is amount of use, if you dont use it daily the payback isint worth it.

Payback doesn't really factor in to it, considering the comment by the OP that venting isn't an option. I read the same statement (on Consumer, from memory) when I was looking at options. If you don't have the option of venting due to the location of your laundry, then the heat pump models are really the only way to go. The last thing I want is ~10m of flexible ducting in our ceiling space growing nasties due to moisture that never quite dries properly, let alone ugly ducting running up the wall before entering the ceiling.

Condenser and Heatpump dryers are two distinct separate types of dryers.

Neither require venting like a traditional unit and both have their main outputs as water.

Price for condenser is around 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of a heatpump dryer. So payback for sure comes into it because to pay 2x to 3x the price for marginal power savings means you have to use the heatpump unit excessively to make economic sense.

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steevg

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#2316408 12-Sep-2019 10:06

Certainly some very valid factors here, and the main factors whcih keep arising are useage and location - the two things we're considering ourselves.

As the Dryer will be in the garage, it's unlikely we're going to go down the heatPump route. Pricing is top-end of our budget anyways, and with the intention to use it mainly just to finish-off drying towels, and the ocassional emergency (wife's work clothes etc), I'm edging towards either a condenser or traditionally vented product.

Never having had either, how do the two compare in "actual" energy usage?

Note: The garage is aprox 6m x 6m (36sq m), but it is a part of the house and adjoins the lounge and bedroom area's - really don't want to keep a constant eye out for mould probems, or have a need to keep doors open to stop moisture build-up.

Thanks everyone. This is really helping.

timmmay

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#2316410 12-Sep-2019 10:10

@steevg for occasional use just get a vented standard drier. They're cheapest and effective.

DonH

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#2316449 12-Sep-2019 11:19

Is installing an extractor fan in the garage an option?

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Stu

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#2316657 12-Sep-2019 16:57

ratsun81:
Condenser and Heatpump dryers are two distinct separate types of dryers.

Neither require venting like a traditional unit and both have their main outputs as water.

Price for condenser is around 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of a heatpump dryer. So payback for sure comes into it because to pay 2x to 3x the price for marginal power savings means you have to use the heatpump unit excessively to make economic sense.

Oops, of course you're correct. Somehow managed to completely forget the existence of condenser models while reading/replying while I wasn't fully paying attention to the task. That will learn me.

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richms

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#2316666 12-Sep-2019 17:16

You cant just compare the name plate kW on dryers as they all use either PTC elements or some smarts driving them so the power usage drops once the clothes are hot in them, and it needs less heat going into them too. I put a kWh meter on mine and did a lot of towels and it was 40c or something close enough to zero to not care about the cost of it.

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DS248

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#2316678 12-Sep-2019 17:49

We bought a new dryer probably about 2 years ago now (maybe less than that). Went through the heat pump vs condenser vs standard vented model issue and finally decided on a standard vented model. Though for other appliances we have avoided F&P for some time, we had bought a new F&P washing machine (front loading) a year or so earlier and that had performed flawlessly (& is very quiet) so we opted for a matching F&P dryer, hung from the wall above the washing machine (both in the garage - installed 3 m of ducting to vent the dryer to outside). Very happy with both. Dryer has also performed flawlessly. Dryer SO much better than the ~12+(?) year old F&P dryer it replaced.

Aside from the cost issue, there seemed to be quite a few issues / negative reviews of the heat pump & condenser models, whereas the model we bought had only very good reviews at the time. Yes uses more power than the heat pump model (not really the condenser model though). But for our usage, the total additional power per year is fairly trivial. That said, we dry most of our clothes on racks in a spare room with a dehumidifier running - dry quickly enough and does not shrink cottons etc. That of course would be an argument in favour of the heat pump model (but still the upfront cost issue - we already had the dehumidifier).

steevg

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#2316767 12-Sep-2019 20:11

Hi again all,

To answer an earlier question - yes we could fit an extractor fan in the garage, hadn't thought about that (good idea).

Seems more likely that we'll go for the new DC8060P1 vented model. Price seems reasonable, and has a nice selection of features.

DS248 - yup, we also prefer to dry clothes on the line if possible, so the dryer will be a backup or emergency measyre rather than regular weekly use. Makes sense to go for something which we can either load up or just throw a few items in at last minute, without the issues surrounding Heat Pump models.

richms:

You cant just compare the name plate kW on dryers as they all use either PTC elements or some smarts driving them so the power usage drops once the clothes are hot in them, and it needs less heat going into them too. I put a kWh meter on mine and did a lot of towels and it was 40c or something close enough to zero to not care about the cost of it.

richms: which type of dryer were you referring to with testing the Kw/H meter?

richms

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#2316852 12-Sep-2019 22:27

steevg:

richms: which type of dryer were you referring to with testing the Kw/H meter?

Both my old unvented fog the room up one and the LG condenser ones have pretty non uniform power consumption once things get warm inside them. The condenser one moreso.

Richard rich.ms

steevg

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#2316947 13-Sep-2019 09:06

Thanks for the clarification richms . . . and yes I'd expect condensation to be an issue with a vented dryer, though (hopefully) possibly not quite so much in our 6m x 6m garage . . . . with a large extractor vent directly above for good measure.

On another note, we placed an order for a F&P Washing machine on Monday to Van Dykes in Putaruru - they were very competitive on price and also offered FREE delivery. I waited for confirmation for 4 days before calling to find out where it was, only to be told that it'll be another 2 weeks before their Rotorua branch can deliver as they're not "out our way" (Taupo) until late in the month . . . . !

Note to self: Make a list of questions to ask when buying products:

Delivery times (anticipated or confirmed)
Warranties (Manufacturers - do they cover parts & labour)
Will the product be included in the next sale (Labour Day/Christmas/Easter - general sales etc)?
Is installation included?

I'm sure there are many more - please add your own based on your own experiences.

Wade

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#2317123 13-Sep-2019 12:43

We settled on the 7kg standard F&P dryer which is installed in our internal access double garage

Keep in mind the F&P vents out the front so doesnt need to be externally vented, we usually open the internal access door or lift the garage door a few inches just to encourage a little airflow and it works well

The cost and benefits of the condensor version didnt stack up for us

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DS248

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#2317156 13-Sep-2019 13:54

re: extractor fan

Yes, a lot better than no exterior venting if ducting really is not possible but I would try to install ducting if at all possible.

I realise OP said ducting a vent to the outside is not an option but the reasons for this are not clear given that in the post above, it appears possible to have an extractor vent directly above the dryer. Aesthetics?

Our dryer is in a large double garage that has lots stored in it so we want to minimise any moisture. Dyer is on a wall above the WM and has ducting out the back, up the back of the dryer and across the roof to the exterior (pic below). A bit of effort to install but means dryer is always vented to the outside. No need for separate powered hardware or to remember to switch on a fan, etc

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