Description
What the Bosch WTG86403UC Is
This is a 24 inch condensation dryer from Bosch’s 300 Series. Condensation drying is the defining characteristic and it is what separates this machine from almost everything else in the category.
A conventional dryer heats air, passes it through the clothes and pushes the resulting hot moist air out of the building through a duct. A condensation dryer instead recirculates the air, cools it to condense the moisture out, and disposes of the water. There is no duct to the outside, which means the machine can be installed in an interior closet, an apartment, a basement without an exterior wall, or anywhere a vent path is impossible.
The cabinet is 24 inches wide and 33 inches high, which is the European compact size rather than the 27 inch North American standard. It stacks with a matching Bosch compact washer, and it pairs naturally with a 24 inch washer such as the Electrolux ELFW4222AW in terms of footprint, though matched stacking kits are brand specific.
No Vent, But Still 240 Volts
This is the point that catches people out, so it is worth stating clearly. Removing the vent requirement does not remove the electrical requirement. The specification sheet gives 240 volts, which means a dedicated circuit on its own breaker with the correct receptacle, exactly as a conventional electric dryer needs.
So a buyer choosing this machine to solve a venting problem in an apartment still has to confirm that a 240 volt outlet exists at the position, or budget for an electrician to install one. The listing does not publish the amperage or the receptacle configuration, so both should come from Bosch’s installation manual and be confirmed before ordering.
Households that need both no vent and a 120 volt supply are looking at a heat pump combination machine instead, such as the GE Profile PFQ97HSPVDS, which publishes 120 volts at 11 amps.
Where The Condensate Goes
Every condensation dryer has to dispose of the water it removes from the clothes. Machines of this type either collect it in a tank that gets emptied by hand after each cycle, or drain it away through a hose to a standpipe or a laundry sink, and many support both.
This listing says nothing about which arrangement applies. That is a meaningful omission, because emptying a tank after every load is a daily chore, while plumbing a drain is a one time job. Establish it from Bosch’s installation manual before ordering, and if a drain connection is preferred, confirm what is available at the intended position.
Capacity, Cycles And Noise
Capacity is stated two ways: 4.4 cubic feet in the specification table and 4 cubic feet in the description. Either way this is a compact drum, roughly half the size of a full size North American dryer. It handles everyday clothing loads for one or two people and will not take a comforter.
Fifteen dry cycles and four temperature settings is a generous program list for a machine this size, and Wi-Fi connectivity is included. The drum is stainless steel, which is more durable over a long life than the aluminized alloy drums fitted to many larger machines.
Bosch publishes a noise level of 67 decibels, which very few laundry listings do. No test standard or distance is stated alongside it, so it should be read as an indicative figure, but 67 decibels is not quiet, and that is worth knowing for a machine likely to be installed inside a living space rather than in a separate laundry room. Condensation drying also runs at lower temperatures and takes longer than vented drying, so the noise lasts longer per load.
The lower operating temperature has a compensating benefit worth stating. Gentler heat is easier on synthetics, elastic and printed fabrics, and it is one reason compact European style machines have a reputation for treating clothes well. Households that mostly dry everyday clothing rather than towels and bedding will notice that more than the extra time. Anyone weighing the trade should compare against a conventional vented machine such as the GE GFD55ESSNWW, which is faster and hotter.
Highlights
- Condensation drying with no exterior vent duct required.
- Compact 24 inch cabinet suited to apartments and stacked installations.
- Fifteen dry cycles and four temperature settings.
- Stainless steel drum.
- Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Published noise figure of 67 decibels and a published 240 volt supply.
- Energy Star certified and ADA certification stated, at only 92.2 pounds.
Things To Consider
Capacity is stated two different ways on the same listing. The condensate disposal method is not described at all. The amperage and receptacle type are not published. None of those are trivial for an appliance being installed into a small space.
The door hinge is listed as right hand and there is no mention of it being reversible. On a compact machine destined for a narrow closet or a stacked pair, hinge side determines whether laundry can be moved between machines conveniently, and it should be checked against the layout before ordering.
Condensation drying is slower than vented drying. That is inherent to the technology rather than a fault, and it is the trade for not needing a duct. Households with a vent path available will dry clothes faster with a conventional machine such as the LG DLE3470W, and the wider field sits in the dryers category.
Only four customer ratings sit behind this listing at 3.2 out of 5, which is not a usable sample and gives a buyer nothing to lean on for a machine of this kind.
Who Should Buy It, And Who Should Not
It suits an apartment, a condo or an interior laundry closet with an existing 240 volt circuit and no possibility of venting, where a compact 24 inch machine fits and where slower drying is acceptable.
It is the wrong purchase for a family, for bedding, for anyone without a 240 volt supply, and for anyone unwilling to either empty a condensate tank or arrange a drain connection.
