Dryer Vent Booster Fan

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mrb627

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Sep 12, 2001
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Location
Buford, GA
Well, I made the decision this week to purchase and install a dryer vent booster fan. Ordered via Amazon. Will post detailed installation steps when the unit arrives.

Malcolm
 
I'm not familiar with your situation, but I've always felt that booster fans are a "last resort" kind of thing.

If there is enough static pressure drop in your duct system to cause problems, it would probably be better to correct the cause(s) of the pressure drop than to add a fan to fight the problem...
 
Years ago, on eBay, I bought two filter boxes that were made to go in front of a suction fan for a dryer. I use them on one of the indoor-vented electric dryers that I use in the winter. Even with the second lint screen in the boxes, I have nylon hoisery clamped on the discharge tube and there is still lint that it catches.

I used the dryers for the first time this fall yesterday after lows in the 40s and highs in the low 50s with no sun.
 
The dryers in my college dorm building had boosters, but only because the pipes travel a little more distance than normal.
 
Multi-family and commercial buildings are a little different story - multiple dryers feeding into a plenum, longer runs to daylight and so on. Those vent systems tend to be designed by mechanical engineers that know what they're doing, taking static pressure and code requirements into account, among other things.
 
Nice video, BUT

Their demo fails to take into account the most important factor in lint adhesion: the steamy dryer exhaust. While I can't be sure about the fineness of the lint they dumped into the test chambers, fine lint readily adheres to moist surfaces and believe me, dryer exhaust runs get moist. The major exception is the venting from an old WP perforated back cylinder dryer. Enough air passed behind the drum that there was always enough hot dry air going through the venting to keep the condensation in the pipes low. My frankendryer with the 37.5K BTU burner runs at a steady 165F and it boils the moisture out of the load so fast that the brick area in front of the vent hose is wet with condensation, even on hot summer days.
 
Vent Kit Arrived

The vent kit has arrived. A week ahead of the expected time frame. I'll need to investigate what I will need to get this thing installed this weekend. I'll post some pix, if I can.

Malcolm
 
Another Shot

Installation was pretty straight forward. Had to build a base for it. Had to run an electrical outlet too. All in all, not too bad, except for the balancing act between rafters...

Malcolm

mrb627++10-15-2012-07-02-17.jpg
 
Airflow.

You could really hear the air being forced out of the vent outside. The dogs sat out in the yard and looked up at the vent during my test run.

Also, inside when the dryer would pause to reverse the drum rotation, you could hear the suction being pulled through it.

Don't think I will ever have to worry about cleaning the exhaust line again.

Malcolm
 
Faster Drying

Well, I only had time to process a couple loads of laundry yesterday. And as far as I can tell, I have shaved about 20% off the total drying cycle. I will do some further testing next weekend.

Malcolm
 
Great job Malcolm!
Do you have a switch that turns the fan on, or is it automatic when you start the dryer?
One of my dryers has a very long vent run and I am thinking about trying this out.
Thanks for the pictures.
Brent
 
Pressure Activated

The fan is pressure activated. When the dryer starts, the fan starts.

Although I do have a wall switch in the garage that will cycle power to it, if necessary.

( wish I had done this years ago )

Malcolm
 
Looks good! Mine goes through the attic too. How long is your total run? I think mine is like 15 to 18 feet from what I can tell with two small bends along the run.
 

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