Dryer Exaust Venting.

[combo52]

Venting A Dryer, Reply #17

Hi Chris, I do agree that Carbon monoxide is deadly in dangerous concentrations [ I was incorrect when I called it CO2 ] and anytime you burn natural gas you get some CM.

 

I also agree that anyone that has gas in their home, has a fireplace, uses a gas or charcoal grill or portable generator or any other thing that burns fuel or a garage attached to your house needs a CM alarm and monitoring device.

 

However the amount of CM created by running an unvented gas dryer is minuscule, I have never even been able to get a reading on our CM monitor running an unvented gas dryer in my small home shop space. In the same space preheating a gas oven to 350F will quickly get you a reading of 35PPM of CM.

 

CM in small quanties is harmless and does not stay in the body.

 

Cotton Dust is regulated by OSHA and is considered to be harmful to the health of your lungs and should [ like about every other very small particles ] be avoided on a regular basis.

 

It can cause cancer, Small quantities of CM are not know to cause any lasting harm.

 

John L.

 

[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...

Cotton dust exposure and risk of lung cancer: A... : Medicine

d for observational studies with data on cotton dust exposure and lung cancer risk. Studies that reported adjusted relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of lung cancer associated with cotton dust exposure were included. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to key...

journals.lww.com

 

[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