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Powered Dryer Exhaust Vents
A long vent pipe (or one with several bends
or turns) connecting your clothes dryer with
the outside can be problematic. Air pressure
increases with distance and with each bend
(in general, each bend deducts about 5 feet
from the recommended maximum length), which
means that your dryer cannot vent moist air
as efficiently and thus decreases its energy
efficiency, increases its drying time, and
increases machine wear and tear. Long vent
pipes also provide more surface area for
slow moving lint to accumulate, which increases
the potential for a fire in the vent.
When a straight shot to the outside is not
an option for your dryer's vent, consider
installed a powered dryer vent. These fans
boost the dryer’s exhaust air venting pressure
in order to move the exhaust a greater distance
and/or through more bends in the vent pipe.
When purchasing a power dryer exhaust unit,
here are some features to keep in mind:
- Dryer exhaust contains small, moist lint
particles, and so the fan motor should be
protected from lint accumulation. This is
typically accomplished by placing the motor
outside of the dryer exhaust air stream.
- Units that turn on and off automatically
when needed are the most convenient. If you
choose a model without an automatic switch,
find one that can be controlled from close
to the dryer.
- The power vent fan motors come in various
sizes. Match the power vent’s capabilities
to the length of duct and number of bends
in your system.
- Mounting location can be important because
of space and noise considerations (particularly
with a high powered unit). Choose between
units that "push" or "pull"
the air. Push units can be installed next
to the dryer, while "pull" units
can be installed at the other end of the
pipe, perhaps even outdoors.
Do not use an a power vent designed for heating/
cooling ducts in a dryer exhaust vent. Those
units are not designed for the continually
high moisture and lint conditions produced
by a dryer. |
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