Dryer condensation?

[T_i_m]

Hi All,

Long time no post. ;-(

The last time I was here I had replaced the bearings in the Zanussi ZWF1431 I’d picked up from Freecycle (the 13 month old one, written off because of the welded plastic tub, that I cut open and re-sealed ) and I’m pleased to report it’s still going well. 😉

We also still have a Zanussi TD-534 vented dryer that up to recently has been another good tool. The last bit of work I had to do to it was fit a new front (felt) seal / bearing, main bearing / drum spigot and belt, all cheap and easy. I also did a temporary repair (turned up a bushing) on the idler / tension pully but that could do with a new one.

Anyroadup, we have started seeing quite a bit of condensation around the utility area when running the dryer. It might have been there all the time and we didn’t notice it or the colder weather has made it more obvious but the last time we saw (and sensed) this level of humidy one of the unused exhaust port covers had come off (don’t think it’s the case this time but will check properly).

I have looked outside in the road when it’s running and there are signs of it exhausting ok (well it’s doing something, and I checked it was all clear a while back) but I took the hose off the machine last night and the exhaust air didn’t seem to have much ‘ommph’ but I can’t remember if that’s ‘right’ / normal?

So, before I open it up, is the air *pulled* though this dryer by the fan in the exhaust side? ie, The exhaust air should be under some slight pressure, it not being reliant on any sealing of the drum to cabinet or the cabinet in general? Whenever I’ve had the machine stripped I’ve generally cleaned out all the airways but I can’t remember opening or cleaning the fan. Could that be blocked now (I’m guessing it could)?

Failing that, if it has come to the end for this dryer, what to replace it with?

Do I understand that a machine from a similar price range this TD-534 came from isn’t likely to last like this one did? I’m reluctant to spend £500 + on something where there is no guarantee it won’t need attention for the next 5 years and would only just be happy if it was nearer 10.

Then we have the vented / condensor issue. When this vented was working properly I was happy 99.9{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of the humidity was going outside. Can we say 99.9{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of the humidity is captured within the condensor models or am I going to run a de-humidifier as well? ;-(

Looking at the running costs it would suggest between the very best A rated machine to something like we have now we might save around £25 / year (£80-£30 / 2, as we only run the machines on economy 7 rates). So that could be just a £25 *saving* for the extra cost, complication (mechanics, and water tanks – drains), drying time (and possibly humidity?) over a new sensor vented jobby?

So, given what I’ve done to this TD-534 fairly recently (and that it’s still drying ok) and assuming someone isn’t going to tell me the current humidity leak can’t be dealt with easily, should I simply do a bit more work on the 534 or is there a similar spec replacement machine out there today (l/h vent, sensor) please?

Cheers, T i m

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