Hi folks! Pardon my stupidity, but I know that you all are a good reference source for me. In a condo development that I am marketing, they did not allow for dryer venting. Most units have a small closet .. we started with the Ariston stack sets but had to pull them out due to many problems. We then went to the LG small combo; works well but costly and takes so long. Now, my question: I keep seeing something on ebay that is a small box to vent your electric dryer in if you don't have regular venting. Has anyone used or heard of this? Four of my units have the space for full-sized units (next to each other), but they don't have the ability to vent the dryers. I am open to any thoughts or ideas you have. As always, thanks for your help! Todd
Dryer Venting Question
- Thread starter tcox6912
- Start date
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If those condos are in the same area as your signature line suggests, then nothing but venting to the outside will do.
If the venting "boxes" you are speaking of are fan assist boosters, they are designed to help push dryer exhaust over longer runs and perhaps "up and over" higher runs/twists than the what the dryer's motor can accomodate on it's own. That is to say push the warm air from a dryer up to roof venting if an outside wall is not possible.
When designing any dryer vent system, how the venting can be cleaned must be taken into account. This is very much true with long runs, vent assist and when air flow is push up. If the vent runs are not kept clean it not only impairs dryer function, but can cause nasty fires as well.
It is very difficult to install dryer venting where it was not designed for, and or without access to an outside wall. While the above method does work,the optimal situation is to have a dryer vented to the outside with the shortest run possible. What you may wish to look into is perhaps installing the dryer in another area of the apartment where venting to the outside can easily be done.
L.
If the venting "boxes" you are speaking of are fan assist boosters, they are designed to help push dryer exhaust over longer runs and perhaps "up and over" higher runs/twists than the what the dryer's motor can accomodate on it's own. That is to say push the warm air from a dryer up to roof venting if an outside wall is not possible.
When designing any dryer vent system, how the venting can be cleaned must be taken into account. This is very much true with long runs, vent assist and when air flow is push up. If the vent runs are not kept clean it not only impairs dryer function, but can cause nasty fires as well.
It is very difficult to install dryer venting where it was not designed for, and or without access to an outside wall. While the above method does work,the optimal situation is to have a dryer vented to the outside with the shortest run possible. What you may wish to look into is perhaps installing the dryer in another area of the apartment where venting to the outside can easily be done.
L.
Is there not even an air intake at the top of the closet cre
If you mean this, then IMHO don't bother. It's a piece that can divert heat and humidity into the room, via a hand-operated damper. The effluent is run through a screen to prevent lint and "dust" issues. In that regard it works reasonably well. BTW I'd have to strongly dissuade all from using the above with a GAS dryer!
As far as I'm concerned no accessory except venting itself will undo or prevent damage from excessive moisture build-up.
If you mean this, then IMHO don't bother. It's a piece that can divert heat and humidity into the room, via a hand-operated damper. The effluent is run through a screen to prevent lint and "dust" issues. In that regard it works reasonably well. BTW I'd have to strongly dissuade all from using the above with a GAS dryer!
As far as I'm concerned no accessory except venting itself will undo or prevent damage from excessive moisture build-up.
This may be an indoor dryer vent I saw at one of the big box stores awhile ago. I wouldn't use one, and you probably wouldn't want this gadget either. It vents the dryer into a water bath, so all of the heat and humidity goes into the room. The water is supposed to trap any lint. I agree with Laundress, you need to vent to the outside.
I have that little diverter box and I used it on my Whirlpool dryer for a while then switched to the Fisher Paykel dryer and then just stopped using it...... Of course, the Whirlpool dryer is gas... oops! The Fisher Paykel dryer is electric, but, whenever I used it, I'd start hacking when I went into the laundryroom from all the dust in the air!!! I've since ditched that little box and properly vented both the dryers to the outside. I've also gained an electric Bosch dryer and am about to gain yet another dryer! With the Bosch dryer, I tried simply putting a set of pantyhoes on the vent outlet and it seems to work reasonably well, I just have to dust the laundryroom twice a week!
I don't know about building codes in your area, but in my area, if there is no way that the dryer can be vented to the outside, only a 110 volt dryer can be installed legally. The lower heat and longer drying time on 110 volts means that the humidity is dispersed over a longer period and the dryer is less of a fire hazard. That is a big consideration in multiple unit housing. Given the humidity in New Orleans, I don't think an unvented dryer would be a good housemate. If, however, you bought a washer that was very good at water extraction, there would be less moisture given off by the dryer. If you do use a vented dryer with any of the little boxes with the 4 X 4 filter screen, stretch an over the calf athletic sock over the opening because the force of the air coming through that little filter will blow a lot of lint through it. Is the location for the dryer anywhere near the bathroom so that you could make use of the exhaust fan while the dryer is on to carry away some of the humidity? If the builder did put a 220 30 amp line in the closet, you could use a Miele washer with the condensing dryer that uses room temperature air to cool the condensing unit. You would not have the humidity to deal with, but the dryer would still put quite a bit of heat into your living area.
brant_ix
Member
Been There Done That
I lived in a condo with the exact same situation as you...
No vent to the outside...
Here's 2 products that you can use:
I've used both but I preferred the second one. The humidity wasn't all that bad, in the winter time it actually helped. I would usually keep a window open and a fan running if it got too warm. Word of advice though, Use a piece of nylon over the vents, otherwise you will be amazed at the amount of lint that ends up floating around.
Hope this helps
~Brant
I lived in a condo with the exact same situation as you...
No vent to the outside...
Here's 2 products that you can use:
Loading…
www.lowes.com
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www.unbeatablesale.com
I've used both but I preferred the second one. The humidity wasn't all that bad, in the winter time it actually helped. I would usually keep a window open and a fan running if it got too warm. Word of advice though, Use a piece of nylon over the vents, otherwise you will be amazed at the amount of lint that ends up floating around.
Hope this helps
~Brant
passatdoc
Well-known member
If the outlet in the closet is a DEDICATED line, (no other outlets on it) it can be converted to 220v easily enough.
But if it's 12 gauge (20a) you will still, of course only be able to use it for 20a or less.
But if it's 12 gauge (20a) you will still, of course only be able to use it for 20a or less.
Thanks, folks!
The laundry closet in each unit needs either a stack set or a combo. The Aristons were what they started with, but those condenser dryers were repeatedly breaking, so we pulled them out and starting using the LG combo unit. Those have done well. Each condo has a laundry closet with the hookups and a regular outlet & a 220 line. The reason that I started asking about alternatives is because we have 2 units (of the 22 units total) that have enough space to put a regular size set side-by-side ... but no way to vent the dryer. Thank you all for the input; it is/was most appreciated. Todd
The laundry closet in each unit needs either a stack set or a combo. The Aristons were what they started with, but those condenser dryers were repeatedly breaking, so we pulled them out and starting using the LG combo unit. Those have done well. Each condo has a laundry closet with the hookups and a regular outlet & a 220 line. The reason that I started asking about alternatives is because we have 2 units (of the 22 units total) that have enough space to put a regular size set side-by-side ... but no way to vent the dryer. Thank you all for the input; it is/was most appreciated. Todd
