Dryer Exaust Venting.

[akronman]

My house

When I moved in here 22 years ago, before my washer and dryer collecting era, this house had a gas GE dryer that vented into one of those water bucket devices. And it had a gas stove in the kitchen with no vent fan. I immediately installed a Carbon monoxide detector which never once alarmed me, and I ran the dryer and stove about 4 years before upgrading and running the vent thru the wall.
As far as I can tell, from 1916 when it was built to 1990 or so when I vented outdoors, there's no evidence any previous owner ever vented thru a basement window or out the wall, and there was gas only, never a 220Volt outlet for an electric dryer. So with only one gas dryer running, no one ever dropped dead here in ages.
Now I have 4 outdoor vents, too damn many dryers!

 

[sprog]

Sorry John

This is a bit of a drift, but I need to call balls and strikes when it enters my realm. Human health and disease is my training/life, and I have been published in numerous medical/scientific journals. To which, I rely on peer review. Cotton is an irritant, not a carcinogen. There is no evidence that cotton dust causes cancer.

Moreover, I would not accept nor advocate the liability of suggesting that carbon monoxide levels from a gas fired antique/vintage drier are acceptable. Sure, you may be lucky. But would you risk it? Also, you assume culpability by making these statements. John, believe it or not, this website is reasonably well read... you in particular.

With all respect...

https://journals.lww.com/md-journal...t_exposure_and_risk_of_lung_cancer__a.19.aspx

 

[mattl]

I concur with John...

 

I mistyped in my post and said CO2 rather than CO, but I too have a digital read out Carbon Monoxide alarm a mere 2' from my dryer's vent, next to the gas water heater and gas furnace and the digital read out does not budge when running the dryer.  I have another Smart Fire/Monoxide alarm a bit further away and these things are sensitive - not  a beep from it either.

 

Optimally I'd vent outdoors but while doable a good deal of work with out much benefit, plus in the winter I like the extra humidity, summer not so much.  If the burner is operating properly I think the risk is small, misadjusted is where the danger comes in.

 

[combo52]

Venting A Dryer,

Hi Chris, I may be overstating the harm that cotton dust can cause to the human lungs, but even an irritant is worse that a minuscule amount of CO on the human body.

 

  For the record I think all dryers should be vented outdoors.

 

  Gas dryers just don't produce much CO because of the way the flame burns in free air, this is true whether you are talking about new or vintage dryers, the air shutter adjustment has been eliminated on newer gas dryers over the past 20 years or so the chance of having a burner miss adjusted is small.  

 

Chris, what are your thoughts on using gas ranges in homes since they produce up to ten times as much CO and it is nearly impossible to capture all the combustion products in kitchens with current venting systems ?

 

  John 

 

[combo52]

Venting A Dryer,

Hi Chris, I may be overstating the harm that cotton dust can cause to the human lungs, but even an irritant is worse that a minuscule amount of CO on the human body.   For the record I think all dryers should be vented outdoors.   Gas dryers just don't produce much CO because of the way the flame burns in free air, this is true whether you are talking about new or vintage dryers, the air shutter adjustment has been eliminated on newer gas dryers over the past 20 years or so the chance of having a burner miss adjusted is small.   Chris, what are your thoughts on using gas ranges in homes since they produce up to ten times as much CO and it is nearly impossible to capture all the combustion products in kitchens with current venting systems ?   John 

 

[sprog]

to John

Hey John,
You are absolutley right, gas fired ranges produce quite a bit of CO. I can't tell you how many times students (Boston area) report to the E.R. with CO poisoning because they misuse gas ranges to heat apartments (cheap but foolish).

Regarding CO and gas appliances, I employ two CO detectors (one for the basement, and another for the kitchen). I've had a few CO alarms in my basement (gas-fired boiler backdraft on windy days). I've since switched to a condensing boiler with a sealed external intake.

As for me, I always vent (including kitchen).
I see it like seat belts and air bags... one hopes to never need them, but when you do...

But that is my preference.

Let's talk about combos...

 

[kb0nes]

One point to remember with Carbon Monoxide is the effects are CUMULATIVE. Yes low percentage short term exposure is harmless, but constant exposure could be a problem.

CO will latch into the receptors in the hemoglobin that carry oxygen and this effectively renders it worthless until the kidneys filter it from the blood. More hemoglobin will have to be created to replace it. This is why people that suffer significant exposure to CO get blood transfusions so that the blood becomes effective again before they die from lack of oxygen.

It really isn't wise to vent a gas dryer indoors, but then again by the same token it isn't wise to cook with a gas stove for the same reason