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Maximizing The Efficiency Of Your Laundry Dryer

Winter Dryer Vent
In many parts of the world, the climate is dry and this can allow you to save on your utilities. In these areas, a few simple changes can save you money on your utility bill and make your home more comfortable at the same time.

The standard cloths dryer installation is based on a four-inch flexible aluminum tube that is connected to a pass-through that vents the exhaust from the dryer out of the house. With this setup, the dryer pulls in conditioned air from the house (air that is heated during the winter and cooled during the summer) and heats is up with a 220v heater. The hot air is passed over the wet cloths where some of the moisture is evaporated. Then the air is vented out of the house.

When you are doing laundry during the summer, you are paying to cool the air (Air conditioning), then heat the air (dryer) and then you exhaust the air out of your house. This Is a hugely wasteful process with all your investment going out the vent. If you want to save money during the summer and you live in a dry climate, close the air conditioning vents to your laundry room and open a window. This will allow the dryer to draw in outside air (not air conditioned), heat it and vent it without putting any load on your air conditioning. This should help keep the house cooling by not venting any air (that must be replaced). It also save money by not cooling the air before it is heated and vented..

During the winter months, you want to do the opposite. Close your windows, open your central heat vents and re-plumb your dryer vent. Disconnect the aluminum tube from the pass-through and stuff a piece of insulation in the pass-through. A pair of old socks works as a backup. Now bend the aluminum tube so it points up and install a nylon stocking or panty hose over the end of the tube. Connect the toe end of the stocking to a string that will pull the stocking straight.

Now when you do laundry, you are taking heated air, heating it more, adding humidity and returning back into the home where you want it. The nylon stocking will catch all the lint that made it past the dryer lint trap. You may have to replace the stocking after a few months if it becomes built-up with lint. Excess lint is fire hazard so you must make sure the stocking filling up. If the stocking becomes blocked, it is a HUGE fire hazard. Based on your area and how airtight your home is, you may get too much humidity in your home. If you begin to see sweating on the inside of your windows then return the dryer vent to the standard setup.

These seasonal changes to your laundry routine will keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer/moister in the winter while you are saving on your utilities.


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