Cleaning heat pump heat ex/finny thingy

[alanm1969]

Hi.

Two symptoms. Tumble dryer in main body of house which is now getting black mould in places it never used to (was not an issue when new). Secondly, dryer is failing to dry a load in one go.

Layman’s diagnosis. Need to clean the crud out of the gaps between the fins.

I have read this website’s commentary on heat pump dryers and I do now wish i hadn’t.

I have brushed the exchanger with toothbrushes, nail brushes and shaver brushes and this does clean the immediate front of the item. However if I shine a torch between the fins I see a whole load of crumbly bits of dust/lint behind. Poking a cocktail stick between the fins (which is a Nono in the manual) removes some of this, but it is arm breaking work lying on my side.

I am guessing the reason I cannot remove the heat exchanger to hose it out like a normal dryer is because the pipes running through the exchanger contain gases or liquids that are plumbed in to other parts of the dryer?

How then can I get rid of the crud in the depths of the exchanger? A can of air Is just going to blow it around, I can’t see it blowing it out?

Alan..

[iadom]

Re: Cleaning heat pump heat ex/finny thingy

Your post is missing the most important piece of information, MAKE AND MODEL?

[alanm1969]

Re: Cleaning heat pump heat ex/finny thingy

Sorry, but as it is a generic question didn’t think it necessary.

John Lewis JLTDH17

[electrofix]

Re: Cleaning heat pump heat ex/finny thingy

assume you mean item in picture

and no its part of a system so cant be removed. you could try a vacuum but be careful you don’t damage fins.
could be a long job if its blocked. what you need is a small piece of stiff wire so you can add a hook to the end and pull out the fluff while being careful not to damage the unit

Dave

[Martin]

Re: Cleaning heat pump heat ex/finny thingy

Judging by the symptoms it requires more surgery than poking bits of wire through the evaporator fins TBH. The circulation fan at the back is probably blocked to hell with fluff too. That needs removing and cleaning and with it removed and the dryer taken outside the evaporator can be jet washed or just flushed with the garden hose.
( taking great care to protect the electrics obviously).

Once thoroughly cleaned and reassembled it should work fine thereafter. Though more frequent cleaning of the evaporator filter would be advisedable as well as cleaning the fluff filter after every load.

As for the black mould, wine vinegar should shift it with a bit of added elbow grease. Once cleaned ensure you leave the dryer door and the water container drawer slightly ajar when not in use. The room where the dryer is located needs good ventilation (essential for any condenser dryer for obvious reasons of mould prevention in damp warm environments)

Condenser dryers are such a high maintenance pain, they really are 🙁

[Author]

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