Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Adapting condensing tumble dryer to drain automatically
1,307 views
Skip to first unread message
Martin Pentreath
Jan 17, 2012, 5:32:50 AM1/17/12
to
Hi all,
I'm wanting to buy a Siemens WT46W567GB (or IQ 700) dryer, see here:
http://www.siemens-home.co.uk/WT46W567GB.html
It's a condensing dryer, but I'm pretty lazy and I don't want to have
to empty the reservoir after every cycle. There seems to be no
"official" conversion kit to let me plumb it so that the water drains
automatically. I was under the impression that as long as the
reservoir drawer is at the top of the machine (it is), it should be
fairly easy to run a bit of hose from wherever the water drips into
the reservior, and to redirect it to the drain instead. Is this
basically how those kits work?
On speaking to Siemens technical helpline I was told no kit is
available because "it is a self-cleaning model" (it is billed as
having a self-cleaning condenser). Does that make much sense to
anyone? I think maybe the condensate is somehow used in cleaning the
condenser, but then ultimately it must still drip into the drawer, so
I don't understand why that would make a difference.
By the way, it's going in the cellar so it has to be a consenser,
there is a drain easily available there, and I know that there are
other models where conversion to drainage would be easy, but I
particularly like this one.
Cheers!
Martin
I'm wanting to buy a Siemens WT46W567GB (or IQ 700) dryer, see here:
http://www.siemens-home.co.uk/WT46W567GB.html
It's a condensing dryer, but I'm pretty lazy and I don't want to have
to empty the reservoir after every cycle. There seems to be no
"official" conversion kit to let me plumb it so that the water drains
automatically. I was under the impression that as long as the
reservoir drawer is at the top of the machine (it is), it should be
fairly easy to run a bit of hose from wherever the water drips into
the reservior, and to redirect it to the drain instead. Is this
basically how those kits work?
On speaking to Siemens technical helpline I was told no kit is
available because "it is a self-cleaning model" (it is billed as
having a self-cleaning condenser). Does that make much sense to
anyone? I think maybe the condensate is somehow used in cleaning the
condenser, but then ultimately it must still drip into the drawer, so
I don't understand why that would make a difference.
By the way, it's going in the cellar so it has to be a consenser,
there is a drain easily available there, and I know that there are
other models where conversion to drainage would be easy, but I
particularly like this one.
Cheers!
Martin
Lobster
Jan 17, 2012, 5:45:19 AM1/17/12
to
On 17/01/2012 10:32, Martin Pentreath wrote:
>
> It's a condensing dryer, but I'm pretty lazy and I don't want to have
> to empty the reservoir after every cycle. There seems to be no
> "official" conversion kit to let me plumb it so that the water drains
> automatically. I was under the impression that as long as the
> reservoir drawer is at the top of the machine (it is), it should be
> fairly easy to run a bit of hose from wherever the water drips into
> the reservior, and to redirect it to the drain instead. Is this
> basically how those kits work?
>
> On speaking to Siemens technical helpline I was told no kit is
> available because "it is a self-cleaning model" (it is billed as
> having a self-cleaning condenser). Does that make much sense to
> anyone? I think maybe the condensate is somehow used in cleaning the
> condenser, but then ultimately it must still drip into the drawer, so
> I don't understand why that would make a difference.
Well whatever this self-cleaning function does, at the end of the day
>
> It's a condensing dryer, but I'm pretty lazy and I don't want to have
> to empty the reservoir after every cycle. There seems to be no
> "official" conversion kit to let me plumb it so that the water drains
> automatically. I was under the impression that as long as the
> reservoir drawer is at the top of the machine (it is), it should be
> fairly easy to run a bit of hose from wherever the water drips into
> the reservior, and to redirect it to the drain instead. Is this
> basically how those kits work?
>
> On speaking to Siemens technical helpline I was told no kit is
> available because "it is a self-cleaning model" (it is billed as
> having a self-cleaning condenser). Does that make much sense to
> anyone? I think maybe the condensate is somehow used in cleaning the
> condenser, but then ultimately it must still drip into the drawer, so
> I don't understand why that would make a difference.
you're still going to have water to get rid of somehow.
My thought would be that there is likely to be a reason that the
manufacturer hasn't provided for a permanent drain - something like
maybe compromising this self-cleaning thingy? - and that you could
bugger it up by attempting to modify it. I mean, even my little cheapy
B&Q own-brand dehumidifier comes with that option, so why wouldn't a
reputable company like Siemens fit it? AFAIK most condenser driers do
have a permanent drain option, so I would suggest choosing an
alternative model.
David
Andrew Gabriel
Jan 17, 2012, 6:15:38 AM1/17/12
to
In article <71f78fe8-dbcc-411d...@b23g2000yqn.googlegroups.com>,
Maybe there's not enough water to wash away the lint down a pipe,
so it would just continually block?
--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]
so it would just continually block?
--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]
Harry Bloomfield
Jan 17, 2012, 6:44:42 AM1/17/12
to
It happens that Martin Pentreath formulated :
>
> Martin
The spec says -
Exhaust water pipe No
and the manual says you have to empty the condensate from the (small)
drawer at the top right, so I would guess there is no obvious means by
which to convert it to self drain. Best look for an alternative.
For information, our washer /drier discharges into the drum, from where
it is pumped by the usual pump out to drain.
--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk
> Hi all,
>
> I'm wanting to buy a Siemens WT46W567GB (or IQ 700) dryer, see here:
> http://www.siemens-home.co.uk/WT46W567GB.html
>
> It's a condensing dryer, but I'm pretty lazy and I don't want to have
> to empty the reservoir after every cycle. There seems to be no
> "official" conversion kit to let me plumb it so that the water drains
> automatically. I was under the impression that as long as the
> reservoir drawer is at the top of the machine (it is), it should be
> fairly easy to run a bit of hose from wherever the water drips into
> the reservior, and to redirect it to the drain instead. Is this
> basically how those kits work?
> Cheers!
>
> I'm wanting to buy a Siemens WT46W567GB (or IQ 700) dryer, see here:
> http://www.siemens-home.co.uk/WT46W567GB.html
>
> It's a condensing dryer, but I'm pretty lazy and I don't want to have
> to empty the reservoir after every cycle. There seems to be no
> "official" conversion kit to let me plumb it so that the water drains
> automatically. I was under the impression that as long as the
> reservoir drawer is at the top of the machine (it is), it should be
> fairly easy to run a bit of hose from wherever the water drips into
> the reservior, and to redirect it to the drain instead. Is this
> basically how those kits work?
>
> Martin
The spec says -
Exhaust water pipe No
and the manual says you have to empty the condensate from the (small)
drawer at the top right, so I would guess there is no obvious means by
which to convert it to self drain. Best look for an alternative.
For information, our washer /drier discharges into the drum, from where
it is pumped by the usual pump out to drain.
--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk
Bolted
Jan 17, 2012, 7:49:15 AM1/17/12
to
On Jan 17, 10:32 am, Martin Pentreath <martin_pentre...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
bought it anyway. It is a heat pump condensor, and the water is
flushed over the fins to wash off the lint. As Andrew Gabriel
suggested, I think the rationale is probably that any tube would block
up.
wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm wanting to buy a Siemens WT46W567GB (or IQ 700) dryer, see here:http://www.siemens-home.co.uk/WT46W567GB.html
>
>
> I'm wanting to buy a Siemens WT46W567GB (or IQ 700) dryer, see here:http://www.siemens-home.co.uk/WT46W567GB.html
>
> On speaking to Siemens technical helpline I was told no kit is
> available because "it is a self-cleaning model" (it is billed as
> having a self-cleaning condenser). Does that make much sense to
> anyone?
We've got this model, and I went through this loop, gave up, and
> available because "it is a self-cleaning model" (it is billed as
> having a self-cleaning condenser). Does that make much sense to
> anyone?
bought it anyway. It is a heat pump condensor, and the water is
flushed over the fins to wash off the lint. As Andrew Gabriel
suggested, I think the rationale is probably that any tube would block
up.
NT
Jan 17, 2012, 8:00:23 AM1/17/12
to
Dave Liquorice
Jan 17, 2012, 10:09:16 AM1/17/12
to
On Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:49:15 -0800 (PST), Bolted wrote:
> It is a heat pump condensor, and the water is flushed over the fins to
> wash off the lint. As Andrew Gabriel suggested, I think the rationale
> is probably that any tube would block
Block if only the constant dribble of water is going down the pipe.
> It is a heat pump condensor, and the water is flushed over the fins to
> wash off the lint. As Andrew Gabriel suggested, I think the rationale
> is probably that any tube would block
How about a water level sensor in the drawer and small pump to empty
it when it gets close to full.
--
Cheers
Dave.
Bolted
Jan 17, 2012, 11:46:07 AM1/17/12
to
On Jan 17, 3:09 pm, "Dave Liquorice"
I suppose. I admit the energy I put into finding a mechanical
solution may have been slightly greater if the chores were divided up
differently in my household. I have an adequate bio-mechanical
substitute.
solution may have been slightly greater if the chores were divided up
differently in my household. I have an adequate bio-mechanical
substitute.
goodstu...@gmail.com
Feb 4, 2016, 2:22:24 PM2/4/16
to
I decided to do exactly what w
goodstu...@gmail.com
Feb 4, 2016, 2:37:15 PM2/4/16
to
I decided to do exactly what Dave Liquorice suggested and I bought a small bilge pump to place in the reservoir. It has a built-in float switch and runs on 12V DC. I do not have it yet, but I should be able to install it so that it will allow a bit of water to remain at all times . . . presumably enough for the "condensor cleaning cycle" to still do its thing.
I was convinced that this would be the only solution after doing a bit of deduction. There is a "trap door" in the bottom of the reservoir to let water out and a filter where the water comes into the reservoir. I was sure that the "trap door" pops open to let the water out for the "condensor cleaning cycle" and there is only one reason for a filter . . . after all condensate, alone, should not need filtering . . . the filter is there to filter "rinse water" that is being pumped back into the reservoir from the "condensor cleaning cycle," when it might have picked up lint while doing its job on the condensor.
I will let you know how it works out. If successful, Bolted's "biomechanical solution" may be very grateful.
jp
I was convinced that this would be the only solution after doing a bit of deduction. There is a "trap door" in the bottom of the reservoir to let water out and a filter where the water comes into the reservoir. I was sure that the "trap door" pops open to let the water out for the "condensor cleaning cycle" and there is only one reason for a filter . . . after all condensate, alone, should not need filtering . . . the filter is there to filter "rinse water" that is being pumped back into the reservoir from the "condensor cleaning cycle," when it might have picked up lint while doing its job on the condensor.
I will let you know how it works out. If successful, Bolted's "biomechanical solution" may be very grateful.
jp
jerry...@gmail.com
Feb 21, 2016, 5:59:14 AM2/21/16
to
Well . . . I did manage to accomplish the above-described solution and it does work. However, there are 2 things that you should know.
1) In spite of my buying what I think is the smallest size bilge pump that I could find, it required cutting the top of the reservoir to allow it to fit. I then ran the outlet hose and 12v power leads out the back side if the dryer, just under the top panel (a small notch in the edge of the panel was also required). One consequence of my pump installation is that I cannot pull the reservoir out without, first, taking the top off the dryer and lifting the pump out of the reservoir.
2) The small, removable screen at the input end of the reservoir is meant to filter the condensate. I am no longer able to remove it for cleaning . . . without taking the top panel off of the dryer to, first, remove the reservoir. Given that the filter rarely needs cleaning, I am OK with that. The reservoir gets a bit scummy after a while, even before I made my modification. So, I will clean that filter at the same time that I take the reservoir out to clean it.
Funtionally, the pump kicks on when the reservoir is nearly full. The pump shuts off when the float switch falls back to its lowest position but a siphon action continues to draw water until the reservoir is nearly empty. So, between pump cycles, the water rises to a level that is more than enough for the "self-cleaning cycle" to do its thing. I have yet to be standing near the dryer when it starts to pump the water out but I am sure that it does not happen with every load (not every load will have enough water in it to fill the reservoir). If the system ever fails, I am sure to find water in the floor.
Was it worth it? For me, yes? My dryer sits in a room with no sink to dump the water into. I was dumping it out the window onto the roof and that extra step added to the annoyance.
Do I recommend this modification to anyone else? Only if the perceived hassle factor of dumping the reservoir is high enough OR if you are an incurable tinker.
Finally, here is a bit of "lagniappe." Whether you manually empty your condensing dryer or it drains passively (or in my case, "automatically"), the condensate is distilled well enough to use in your steam iron (after filtering it to remove any fibers). So, run your condensate drain hose into a large plastic bottle with a tap at the bottom. Filter the water on the way into the bottle or when you remove it from the bottle to use it. Oh, be sure to put an overflow drain on the bottle to mitigate any "overproduction."
Signed,
Incurable Tinker
1) In spite of my buying what I think is the smallest size bilge pump that I could find, it required cutting the top of the reservoir to allow it to fit. I then ran the outlet hose and 12v power leads out the back side if the dryer, just under the top panel (a small notch in the edge of the panel was also required). One consequence of my pump installation is that I cannot pull the reservoir out without, first, taking the top off the dryer and lifting the pump out of the reservoir.
2) The small, removable screen at the input end of the reservoir is meant to filter the condensate. I am no longer able to remove it for cleaning . . . without taking the top panel off of the dryer to, first, remove the reservoir. Given that the filter rarely needs cleaning, I am OK with that. The reservoir gets a bit scummy after a while, even before I made my modification. So, I will clean that filter at the same time that I take the reservoir out to clean it.
Funtionally, the pump kicks on when the reservoir is nearly full. The pump shuts off when the float switch falls back to its lowest position but a siphon action continues to draw water until the reservoir is nearly empty. So, between pump cycles, the water rises to a level that is more than enough for the "self-cleaning cycle" to do its thing. I have yet to be standing near the dryer when it starts to pump the water out but I am sure that it does not happen with every load (not every load will have enough water in it to fill the reservoir). If the system ever fails, I am sure to find water in the floor.
Was it worth it? For me, yes? My dryer sits in a room with no sink to dump the water into. I was dumping it out the window onto the roof and that extra step added to the annoyance.
Do I recommend this modification to anyone else? Only if the perceived hassle factor of dumping the reservoir is high enough OR if you are an incurable tinker.
Finally, here is a bit of "lagniappe." Whether you manually empty your condensing dryer or it drains passively (or in my case, "automatically"), the condensate is distilled well enough to use in your steam iron (after filtering it to remove any fibers). So, run your condensate drain hose into a large plastic bottle with a tap at the bottom. Filter the water on the way into the bottle or when you remove it from the bottle to use it. Oh, be sure to put an overflow drain on the bottle to mitigate any "overproduction."
Signed,
Incurable Tinker
0 new messages