Tumble Dryer

I ordered a tumble dryer from a catalogue last night. http://www.catalogue.24studio.co.uk/page.asp?b=ChristmasBookAug06&p=452&o=1&s=3
It has a built-in vent kit and a fluff filter. The guy asked me if I wanted a condenser. He said he didnt know what one was. So I just told him no.

After looking online and seeing what one was. I am curious if I'd need one? It is neccessary to have one? If it makes a differance my dryer will be outside in the shed along with the washer. So it wouldn't be in the house....

I'm guessing this is what he was talking about http://www.kleeneze-team.co.uk/images/Condesner.jpg

If you are able to hang the vent pipe/hose thing out of a window, or through a hole in the wall to the exterior of the shed, then i dont think you'll need a condensor.

I have a condenser because I don't have anywhere to vent my dryer.  The beauty of a condenser dryer is you can put it anywhere because it doesn't need to be vented. 

We hang the hose out the window.  Works a treat.

Carly, I'm jealous.... 

You won't regret it.  It's my fav thing in the house!

Fluffy towels, soft blue jeans, unwrinkled tops, fresh baby clothes.

Bliss.

Fluffy towels, soft blue jeans, unwrinkled tops, fresh baby clothes.

Oh, go ahead, just rub it in a little more for those of us without    

A condenser is used to remove the moisture from the exhaust air so that you don't dump all that humid air into the house where it will cause damp problems (condensing on cold windows, etc.).  If you can vent the dryer to the outside, then you don't need one.

Is a condenser a type of dryer, or something you add on to a regular dryer?

Thanks!

A condenser dryer is a different type of dryer. The other type is a vented dryer like we are used to in the states. We have a vented dryer in an enclosed "lean to" off of the kitchen so I just open the back door when I am using it. As Paul said if you can stick the tube anywhere, out the door or out the window (it doesn't have to be fitted) its doable.

A condenser dryer has a bladder that collects all the water. You need to empty it when it's full, every load or so.  I doesn't vent to the outside at all. 

I LOVE my condenser dryer. 

You can put it anywhere - we spoke to a cabinet maker and he said he made a special cabinet for someone to hide their dryer in the lounge! 

my sister in the US has a condenser dryer in her little apartment and it's great! Just have to fill up the water thingie once in a while. It helps warm the house too in the colder months.

looks like I should've told him that I wanted a condensor one! Oh well. I can always put the tube out the door.
I am so excited. I was getting so sick of having clothes on the line and having it rained on..
and got sick of my radiators being covered in clothes

My husband says we cannot have a dryer because it is so costly to operate.   Roughly, how much would it cost to run once a week for 30 minutes?

Roughly, how much would it cost to run once a week for 30 minutes?

Based upon my current daytime rate of 9.975 pence per kW/h (including tax), a typical 3kW U.K. dryer would cost just under 15 pence for 30 minutes.  Do bear in mind though that this typical 3kW British dryer is much less powerful than the average 5 to 7kW American dryer, so you'll probably need to run for considerably longer than a half hour.

If you have Economy 7 for storage heating, you can save money by setting the dryer to switch on with a timer to benefit from the lower night rates.  My night rate, for example, is 4.221 pence (inc. VAT), bringing a half hour of 3kW down to 6.33 pence.