Condenser Dryer vs. Vented Dryer
Having a working clothes dryer is as important as having a working washing machine. Although you can hang clothes in a line to dry, this cannot be applied during the colder months. Line-dried clothes often do not have the softness that clothes dried in a machine have, which is quite a big difference.
There are two main types of clothes dryers, which are known as the vented and the condenser dryer. The vented type is the more popular between the two, as it is the type used for most homes. With this type, the air is drawn from the surrounding area, heated and then blown through the clothes to dry them. The hot air evaporates the water from the wet clothes and fabric, which actually helps them dry. This type of clothes dryer is best for houses where the laundry room is adjacent to an exterior wall, since this makes conventional vented dryer easier to use.
The second type, which is the condensed dryer, is not as popular as the first type. They are mostly unknown and in fact, most people have not heard about them. Some houses do not have a ventilated area, which makes condensed dryers the best choice for them. Places such as apartments do not have a ventilated area, so you are better of using the condensed type if you living in such a place.
Condensed type dryers works in a different way. Instead of blowing warm air into the clothes, it releases the air back into the room then collects the moisture from a different area of the dryer which makes the clothes dry. You have two options when choosing this kind of dryer. You can have a machine that would trap all the water for when you are ready to throw it away and you can also have the models which have a hose on the side allowing the water to drain while the dryer is busy with the clothes.
What is a Condenser Dryer
For a more detailed description of a condenser dryer, have a look at this website. I thought the author did an excellent job describing the features: http://ths.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/laundry/2004120958010854.html
You’ll note the description as follows:
In a condenser dryer, there are two separate “loops”. The inside “loop” of air is sealed from the outside environment – air from within the drum is heated, then blown through the tumbling clothes, then the moisture-laden air is passed through a heat exchanger, where the water recondenses. The same dry air is then reheated, where it is again blown through the drum and clothes, and the cycle begins again (this is a more-or-less continuous process).
The outside “loop” in a condenser dryer consists of either air or water. Some condenser dryer models are air-cooled, and use the ambient room air as a heat sink, by blowing it across the outside of the heat exchanger. These dryers will tend to heat the indoor air in one’s laundry room significantly. Note however that ONLY heat is released – all MOISTURE is contained within the unit. The condensed water can be either pumped away to a drain line (e.g. into a standpipe shared with the clothes washer) or stored in a container within the dryer to be emptied later (not all models offer both options). All standalone Euro condenser dryers are of this type, i.e. units from Miele, AEG, Bosch, Asko, Malber, and Eurotech.
If you’re not sure what dryer brand to buy, you can take a look at those made by Bosch. The WTE84100AUW model, for example, is a great model to start with. It is very easy to use with its single-button operation, which makes it ideal for any young mothers. It also has a LED warning indicator when the lint filter gets full, which is great as condensed type dryers needs to be cleaned of lint regularly. If you are worried about your silk bed sheets, this dryer from Bosch features a low heat option for delicate fabrics. Yup, there’s no more need to wait for your silk sheets to dry for a good night’s sleep, as this dryer can dry it fast.
There are a lot of condensed type dryers available in the market today. Although they are not advertised as much as conventional ventilated dryers, many online stores offers them so just take a look online.