EcoRenovator - View Single Post - Who is using a ventless (heat pump or condensing) dryer?

ctgottapee · 10-17-13, 01:54 AM

I've been very happy with my LG combo washer + condensing dryer.

Some of the complaints are from people who complain about anything, and because they treat this like an Xtra large machine when it really is a medium size model, especially the dryer - easy for some to do because the price is in the same ballpark.

-It will cook clothes just fine on dryer mode. It still produces heat just like a regular dryer, only instead of pumping that heated air directly out of the vent along with the humidity, it cycles it and sucks the humidity out. It can seem cooler because it's not cooking the clothes, but a high setting and small loader will shrink or melt your stuff easily.
-YOU WILL LOVE NEVER HAVING TO TAKE CLOTHES OUT OF WASHER TO PUT IN DRYER, OR WATCHING THE MACHINE TO DO IT. IT REALLY IS AMAZING.
-LG quality
-Like regular front loaders, it needs to dry out to prevent mold growth, but because it has a dryer mode, it dries it self taking care of the problem.
-120v outlet

The only real drawbacks I see for this model (and they are not biggees):
-Large families, as you no longer have 'two' machines running at once, and then the drying cycle takes longer. But you could buy two of them I guess, or keep a small dryer on hand.
-There is no traditional lint trap (because there is no traditional exhaust). What little lint collects inside you wipe out with a finger - similar to how you wipe a normal lint trap. It's more of an adjustment. Bonus is you'll never have a clogged lint trap dryer fire.
-Can't use natural gas to dry. It's getting pretty cheap in many areas.
-If you stuff it with 20 wet full size towels, it will take 8 hours to dry as it's just not meant for that, mostly because its a medium size dryer, not a large.
-Dryer mode is slightly louder than a traditional dryer as the water pump occasional runs, but now we are nit picking.
-If you don't want to vent the little excess heat it produces, you have to craft your own alternative as its not set up for a typical dryer vent. The low exhaust air pressure won't open a typical dryer vent either (think tiny bathroom fan with a 2" outlet). If you live in sun baked Arizona and put this in your main living space, it will dump some extra heat you'll have to pay to remove via A/C without a vent. In winter, it's free extra heat.
Finally
-Your limited to basically one model choice, and limited color options. Plus price shopping or looking for a super deal is impossible. If you want local support you can get it ordered but they may try to push you to floor models with higher commissions, and you'll probably pay list price.
For me, this was the biggest drawback. You are going to have to pay near list price and possibly ordered it from afar. No black friday deals, or special coupons. Some of the snazzy features of some models are not included like 'steam', but it is full featured.

10-17-13, 01:54 AM	#17
ctgottapee Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: May 2013 Location: Central IL Posts: 97 Thanks: 34 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	I've been very happy with my LG combo washer + condensing dryer. Some of the complaints are from people who complain about anything, and because they treat this like an Xtra large machine when it really is a medium size model, especially the dryer - easy for some to do because the price is in the same ballpark. -It will cook clothes just fine on dryer mode. It still produces heat just like a regular dryer, only instead of pumping that heated air directly out of the vent along with the humidity, it cycles it and sucks the humidity out. It can seem cooler because it's not cooking the clothes, but a high setting and small loader will shrink or melt your stuff easily. -YOU WILL LOVE NEVER HAVING TO TAKE CLOTHES OUT OF WASHER TO PUT IN DRYER, OR WATCHING THE MACHINE TO DO IT. IT REALLY IS AMAZING. -LG quality -Like regular front loaders, it needs to dry out to prevent mold growth, but because it has a dryer mode, it dries it self taking care of the problem. -120v outlet The only real drawbacks I see for this model (and they are not biggees): -Large families, as you no longer have 'two' machines running at once, and then the drying cycle takes longer. But you could buy two of them I guess, or keep a small dryer on hand. -There is no traditional lint trap (because there is no traditional exhaust). What little lint collects inside you wipe out with a finger - similar to how you wipe a normal lint trap. It's more of an adjustment. Bonus is you'll never have a clogged lint trap dryer fire. -Can't use natural gas to dry. It's getting pretty cheap in many areas. -If you stuff it with 20 wet full size towels, it will take 8 hours to dry as it's just not meant for that, mostly because its a medium size dryer, not a large. -Dryer mode is slightly louder than a traditional dryer as the water pump occasional runs, but now we are nit picking. -If you don't want to vent the little excess heat it produces, you have to craft your own alternative as its not set up for a typical dryer vent. The low exhaust air pressure won't open a typical dryer vent either (think tiny bathroom fan with a 2" outlet). If you live in sun baked Arizona and put this in your main living space, it will dump some extra heat you'll have to pay to remove via A/C without a vent. In winter, it's free extra heat. Finally -Your limited to basically one model choice, and limited color options. Plus price shopping or looking for a super deal is impossible. If you want local support you can get it ordered but they may try to push you to floor models with higher commissions, and you'll probably pay list price. For me, this was the biggest drawback. You are going to have to pay near list price and possibly ordered it from afar. No black friday deals, or special coupons. Some of the snazzy features of some models are not included like 'steam', but it is full featured.