Are you fed up with having to hang wet clothes all around the house? Or are you frustrated with laundry that looks more wrinkled when it comes out of the dryer than when it went in? Then why not think about buying a new tumble dryer?
Tumble dryers are available in a number of designs including free standing, integrated or combination washer/dryer machines. On top of that you have a choice as to whether your machine is a vented or condenser type. Standard colours from most manufacturers are white, aluminium, sandstone and grey.
If you opt for a vented model, the venting kit is included when you purchase the machine. These dryers need to be fitted with the venting hose which takes the hot air out of the house/conservatory/utility room.
Condensers use hot water and suction to dry your clothes and the water is pumped out during the drying cycle. These need to be connected to a water supply, the best place for this usually being right next to your washing machine.
Both types of tumble dryer will give you the same features including the ability to dry between 5 and 7 kilograms of laundry, that’s about a 10-15 pound load depending on the machine. Many include digital timers and programme off indicators, with variable heat settings and anti-creasing facilities available on dryers with higher specifications.
Most tumble dryers are front loading and some have a safety delay mechanism on the door to prevent you from burning your fingers. Others include delay timers which let you set the programme to run while you’re out shopping or sleeping in on a Sunday morning.
Integrated appliances tend to be on the expensive side but can be fitted with full height cabinet doors to match the rest of your kitchen cupboards. These often employ a child lock as an added safety feature, a low heat option for delicate fabrics and provide low noise and low energy consumption.
You can also purchase washer/dryer combinations so you only need to find space for one machine instead of two. The dryers on these models tend to be condenser types, but that’s not usually a problem as the washing machine needs to be plumbed in anyway. The only drawback with the combination or all-in-one unit is that if it breaks down for any reason, both your washing machine and dryer will be temporarily out of action.
It’s always a good idea to check for deals on washer/dryer packages, but make sure you read the product features on each item separately to be certain you’re getting the machines that will do what you need them to.
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