External Condensor Box – Any Good? Or do I vent through loft

[davidmbell]

I’ve never previously had a tumble dryer, mainly due to space and never really seen the need.

Well since my AEG Lavamat through a wobbly three weeks ago (British Gas STILL trying to get the right part (error code CD lots of leds flashing). I’ve been having to take my washing back to my parents where it comes back Miele’d and Tumble Dried.

MMMM my towels are lovely and my house isn’t cluttered with damp clothes…

Anyway to the point. I’ve bought a Compact White Knight Spares or Repair Tumble Dryer in BLUE! (no doubt be posting about that when I collect it Sunday) – assuming I get the thing working, what’s the general consensus on these external box condensors that I’ve seen on ebay and the likes. You part fill with cold water and vent into that.

Are they any good?

Do they work?

Etc etc.

I really don’t want to have to vent properly as the location the dryer is going is nowhere near an outside wall. If I absolutely HAD to vent it, it would go up through a cupboad, into the loft space (its a bugalow) and then join the pipe the extractor fan uses via a Y joint to use the extractor fans external vent hole/grille. This distance is about 10 meters though, will it vent that far?????

Advice very welcome please…

Thanks, in advance.

David

[iadom]

Re: External Condensor Box – Any Good? Or do I vent through

You should avoid taking a dryer vent up and out if at all possible, even for a short distance, also three or four metres would be about the limit of the dryer fans powers. If you go up from the dryer any distance then under certain conditions the inside of the vent hose will fill with condensation and drain back into the dryer. I had a customer with a dryer stacked on top of a washer, the vent hose went up into the loft. In winter, the condensation ran back into the dryer, seeped into the washer and ruined a £90.00 control unit. 😯

I have seen people use those condensation boxes, when asked most were not impressed by the performance, but I have not tried one myself.

I would see if it works first or is economically repairable, if not look for a condensor dryer.

Jim.

[admin]

Re: External Condensor Box – Any Good? Or do I vent through

Hi

I’ve used these boxes before, they are better than venting through a window or similar, but you have to use VERY COLD water and change it regularly. Its not really someting you could leave running and go out.

HTH

Cheryl

[iadom]

Re: External Condensor Box – Any Good? Or do I vent through

I may be wrong but I am sure I had one customer that used to fill his condensor box with ice cubes.

Jim.

[Goatboy]

Re: External Condensor Box – Any Good? Or do I vent through

I don’t like them! 🙁

I sold three in my shop, and all three customers came back complaining. I checked they were using them right, and sugguested ice-cubes, but now I just don’t sell them. It’s not worth the hassle!

[Author]

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