Is it true that condenser tumble dryers don't work under 5 degrees C?

We bought a new condenser tumbe dryer which we keep in the garage - where the old venting dryer used to be, and where it worked happily for twenty years.

The new one did not heat up the other day and we called out the repair company. The engineer told us that condensing dryers don't work at temperatues under 5 C. This means in effect that you can't use them in an unheated garage in the coldest part of the winter.

Can this be right? No mention of this restriction anywhere when we bought it, or in the manual (except as a line in the Technical Data).

This makes it almost useless, since the coldest part of the winter is exactly when you need it most.

Anybody know if this is correct? Or if there's a way round it?

RichardH
November 2010