Save some money on heat this winter. Vent your electric clothes dryer inside in the winter! Not only will you recover all the heat normally pumped outside but you'll be adding humidity to the air.
Simply disconnect the venting pipe to the outside and install a separate 4 inch aluminum flexible vent pipe. Bring the pipe up behind the dryer and extend it over the top so you can reach it. Put a knee high stocking over the end to catch the lint. Be sure to insulate (like stuff an old towel) in the opening to the outside for the rest of the season.
Source: My Dad had showed me this years ago.
By Jim from Cleveland, OH
This page contains the following solutions.
I lived with an electric dryer vented inside for about 16 years. It worked for me. I have a tenant living with one. Works for him too. You have to keep the cup filled with water in the type that I am familiar with.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
What are the dangers of venting an electric dryer indoors?
Kathy from OH
Putting a nylon over a vent pipe can cause a fire.
Never vent a dryer into a house. Some people do this by putting a nylon stocking over the vent pipe because they think it is a cheap source of heat. While it is true that it heats up the interior of the home, it adds moisture to the air which causes mildew, mold and fungi growth, and dry rot of the framing members in the laundry room area walls, floors, and ceilings.
When I was younger I moved in to a house we'd just bought & started using the electric dryer without bothering to vent it to the outside & guess what!? The mirrors in the WHOLE house steamed TOTALLY up & everything was damp everywhere in the house... It left a very moist & somewhat warm foggy feeling in the house. This was not cool in the least, so I quickly got the dryer vented properly because I feared I was causing dangerous mold spores to grow (from the warm damp air) inside the bedding, sofa, carpeting & it's under-pad... It also isn't good for anyone with allergies...
* If you live in a dry area (Like Arizona) you could open the windows & run a load or two, (If you REALLY need some clean clothes before you can get it hooked up) this wouldn't hurt anything, but I wouldn't do it on a regular basis. Also, be sure to have your dryer hooked up properly, because if you use a plastic vent hose & not the fire-resistant metal type, then if lint gets stuck in a kink or bend of the line a nasty house fire might start!
I used my dryer a few times when the hose became disconnected, & saw mold spores. It was very damp. I don't think it's a good idea at all.
I just had to comment regarding snoozer55's suggestion. It's a well intended suggestion but please be very careful!
Dryers pose significant & very real fire (due to lint) & health (due to mold) risks. That's why building codes are so specific about dryer venting.
It's critical to avoid restricting the airflow (you're not even suppose to allow sheet metal screws to protrude into the vent). And it's obvious from the picture there is not enough exhaust holes to allow proper venting.
This would never pass code, permits more than enough moisture to form mold, will increase the time it takes to dry your clothes, & is a maintenance headache. But if you're inclined to do this, at the very least cut large 4" holes & optionally attach coarse stainless steel screen.
BTW, I commend snoozer's ingenuity & completely agree there should be a better solution, like some sort of a heat exchanger & condenser unit. It's a shame to waste the heat & water.
Good luck!
What about all the moisture what do you do about that? Does the bucket catch a lot of it?
I know that venting a GAS dryer indoors would be extremely dangerous, because of carbon monoxide it produces.
Venting an electric dryer indoors would cause heat and moisture to accumulate inside ...but there could be times when that it very desirable, like when it is 20 degrees outside, and the air indoors is extremely dry because the home is heated with a forced air heating system.
It seems to me that the warm moist air from the ELECTRIC dryer exhaust is exactly what is missing from the indoor air UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.
Any additional thoughts on this premise? Hidden hazards I am not thinking of ?
I know that venting a GAS dryer indoors would be extremely dangerous, because of carbon monoxide it produces.
Venting an electric dryer indoors would cause heat and moisture to accumulate inside, but there could be times when that it very desirable, like when it is 20 degrees outside, and the air indoors is extremely dry because the home is heated with a forced air heating system.
It seems to me that the warm moist air from the ELECTRIC dryer exhaust is exactly what is missing from the indoor air UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.
Any additional thoughts on this premise? Hidden hazards I am not thinking of?
I just last night found out that the remodel done 5 yrs. ago on my basement where the laundry room was relocated did NOT have the dryer vented outside. I found the other end of the hose just lying on the floor on the other side of the wall in my furnace closet.
Does this bucket cause moisture?
Snoozer's solution looks like a bigger version of what I paid money for. I lived with an electric dryer vented using a vent kit for years. Worked really well. It did add needed humidity to my basement and helped it stay warmer in winter. I'd do it again if I didn' have an outside vent. I don't think this is a solution for a gas dryer.
1. Only do this during winter months when the humidity level in a home is low.
2. Only do this with an electric dryer. ( gas dryers cannot be used as carbon Monoxide is a byproduct of burning natural gas )
Yea, it depends on the house and area youre in. You could vent an electric dryer indoors safely but it can lead to too much humidity in the place and mold. But you should never vent a gas dryer indoors due to carbon monoxide build up and the same issues with electric dryer with mold. Now you might ask yourself why isnt a gas stove required to be vented outdoors? The answer is that a gas stove doesnt give off as much carbon monoxide as a gas dryer or gas boiler. The quantity is much much larger and for longer periods.
I use a 5 gallon bucket wit added water putting the hose inside the bucket. Should a lid be used also or just tbe hose in tbe bucket enough
I have a gas dyer and I need to vent it inside the house. I am aware of the heat and lint issue and extra humidity in the room. How do I vent it?
By Jim
Do a web search for indoor dryer vent. Home Depot and such stores carry kits for this. I have seen them advertised, and it supposedly isn't that bad an idea.
Some people have had luck with putting the hose inside a glass 1 gallon jar, but you have to watch it so it gets emptied often. Perhaps a sign on the dryer? Good luck. Here's a link that will help.
Every search result says that venting a gas dryer indoors is deadly.
Every home improvement show on the TV says all types of dryers should be vented to the outdoors. I doubt that it is safe to do otherwise. You should check building codes in your area, and also visit your local hardware stores for kits to do the job. What you should not do is cobble together something based on some random advice from people who really know nothing about the issue.
Electric dryers can be vented indoors. It's not safe to vent a gas dryer indoors.
You can NEVER vent a gas dryer indoors! Unless you are wanting to die...
I wouldnt do that. Gas burns creating carbon monoxide. Good way to never wake up after taking a nap after doibg laundry.
Gas dryers should never be vented inside. In addition to the hot moist air and lint, the vent from a gas dryer contains the combustion products of the gas fuel! The national codes have exceptions for interior venting of condensing type dryers. Some states allow electric dryers to vent to interior spaces. For electric dryers, the dryer vent trap should be free of damage and the termination of the venting should be a commercial interior dryer vent kit. In summary: Do not vent a gas dryer inside!
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