Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
An odd thought that popped into my head...during the winter, when I run the clothes dryer, all that heated air it's generating and blowing over the clothes is then going right out the vent and into the outside. Anyone tried disconnecting the exhaust vent and allowing the warm air to instead fill your house? It would probably be pretty humid air as well, but that could be a good thing in the winter time. What do you think, is it worth trying?
You don't want to vent it directly into your house because it will blow tiny particles of lint everywhere. But you can buy an indoor dryer vent at most home improvement stores. It's basically a little box that you put water in and attach to the vent hose, the water traps the lint and the warm, humid air escapes into your home.
You don't want to vent it directly into your house because it will blow tiny particles of lint everywhere. But you can buy an indoor dryer vent at most home improvement stores. It's basically a little box that you put water in and attach to the vent hose, the water traps the lint and the warm, humid air escapes into your home.
That is not a bad idea. I don't do laundry everyday and dryer is in a part of the home that no one really spends time... but for someone who does laundry often and can heat up a nice living space, sounds like a good idea.
I wonder why dryers aren't just connected to the furnace to begin with. I mean, why do you need two devices that generate hot air? The furnace could either send hot air to the dryer or house (in forced air homes). Maybe I'm just not thinking this through.
I believe the post says they do NOT do laundry every day....
It was an odd comment. I can't imagine the waste of water and resources if there are people out there that do laundry every day. I do a couple loads a week. I'm getting rid of the big comforters, my washer just can't handle them. I also want to get full size beds instead of queen.
Folks, you can buy those diverter boxes with a stocking-like lint trap. It will blow the warm air into the living space....BUT....you CANNOT do this with a GAS dryer. With a gas dryer the exhaust of the gas burner goes out the dryer vent. It is NOT just warm air....it is Carbon Monoxide....a deadly odorless, colorless gas that WILL kill you.
Good point, Frank. I've never had a gas dryer, so didn't even consider that. I don't know how common they are, but I figure most people these days probably have electric.
Anyway, depending on your house I suppose it may or may not have much benefit. For people with a few kids in the house, they may be doing a lot of laundry. My house is a rambler with a basement (where the laundry is located) and is fairly simple in layout, so I figure the extra heat would rise from the basement and make its way throughout a good portion of the house.
One must remember the humidity aspect of it. If the air is humid it can cause moisture problems, leading to mildew, mold, etc. Also, I doubt the stocking for the lint would catch all of it....plus, as it clogged it could cause more problems with the dryer as it would restrict airflow.
On a related note, it is a good idea to clean out your dryer vents once a year or so to prevent a dryer fire. A clean dryer vent also results in shorter dryer times, etc, thus saving money.
Frank
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
