This is what I currently have, it still blows lint dust around while clean with required water. This is what we have tried, it broke the humidity sensor in the dryer (looks like a solenoid). Previous attempts to vent through the wall to the outside resulted in the wind blowing the flap open and letting in frigid air, and snow build up in the tube during the winter. Any creative ideas greatly appreciated.
I, personally, am not a fan of the indoor lint trap. No matter how well anyone thinks they work, you always notice fine dust particles in the house from it. To help with your exterior vent damper problem. I have seen small exterior boxes built and installed around the vent damper with a mesh screen on the bottom. It seems to help deflect the winds and snow forcing their way into the vent pipe. If there is anyway to get the vent away from the ground it may also help with snow drifts.
X2 They make plastic end caps that basically turn the exhaust 90 degrees down and have screens. This eliminating the snow problem, wind, and birds all in one shot.
We did an indoor trap at our first home. I shot the 4" piping down into a half water filled bucket with screen at the top. Caught at least 95% of the lint.
In windy ND I have grown to like the dryer vents that go thru the wall and take a 90* turn up. They have a plastic shroud to protect them and an internal cup that is blown up in use and falls down when off and seals wind out. Looks bout like a white coffee can on the side of the house but has worked very well for me.
Thanks for the great ideas! I ran across a pic what you described Greenstick , and just went by not realizing it was dryer vent I bought a contraption from amazon but not holding my breath lol. Next in line will be the 90*, if that doesnt work, it will get its own exterior box. @MyISheatsmyhome, I vacate the laundry room asap when I start the dryer, I can see the lint dust especially in the sun
Never had any luck with the indoor lint trap.. I use a flexible foil covered duct hose connected to a louvered exhaust outlet.. Venting indoors creates a very damp environment which leads to rust and mold plus dust..
Vent inside during the winter. Goes into my shop area. We can use the moisture and save on heat loss. Vent out in he summer. Wind not an issue then.
I agree save, we need any moisture we can get. I put 18 gallons of water through a humdifier the last few days to get it up to 27%.
Watch indoor ventilation of your dryer. Synthetic fabrics release bad stuff when heated in your dryer.
Phew! I was concerned that you were venting a gas dryer inside the house. In any event.....my buddy is a carpenter who flips houses. He runs into all kinds of issues and has a saying, "There's no such thing as problems, only solutions". Where in your house is the laundry room? I take it that the room has an exterior wall? If so, there are a variety of dryer exhaust vents that can solve the problem of wind, snow and critters. If you could provide some more info on the venting setup, that would be helpful. Thanks.
Its main floor, about 10' x 10' addition, depression era handyman special. We plan on demolishing it next summer, but I will use it all this winter. 3 of walls are exterior, studs,, fiberglass insulation and paneling. Its hilarious, alot of the paneling is too short and I can see the insulation in all the corners One small window on each wall, 2 old and leaky, 1 new and sealed correctly. We have unusually low humidity here so I like the moisture, ( but the lint dust is annoying and venting in there tricks the autodry cycle so I always have to run timed cycle in the end). I like your buddys saying!
Just noticed that tomorrow your high is 12f. Keeps us posted on how your stove is doing in those conditions please. I hate the below 20f stuff. It just sucks the heat right out of you and our home.
Ok, quite a few options here for venting. Since you are planning on demolishing the addition, there is no point in spending lots of money or trying to make it look pretty. Assuming the dryer is against the exterior wall, move it out far enough so that you can get a level on the dryer exhaust vent collar. measure over to the wall and mark it. Make sure your are between the studs, cut a four-inch circular hole through the sheetrock to the outside of the house and install one of these http://www.lowes.com/pd_51608-131-L267W_0__?productId=3240560&Ntt=lambro dryer&pl=1¤tURL=?Ntt=lambro+dryer&facetInfo= They also make 6-inch diameter models if that's what your dryer has. Test fit the pipe by sliding it through your cutout, and trim the pipe to appropriate length. Secure it to the structure and then push the dryer back so that the exhaust collar mates with the vent pipe. assuming you can reach around the side of the dryer, use aluminum tape to secure the vent to the dryer collar. Less than $15.00, done.
You could build a box that would hold a HEPA furnace filter, and vent into that, inside. We also vent inside, to the basement with a filter. (Electric dryer). Helps maintain humidity levels in winter, and helps keep the heat inside and cold outside. In the summer, the clothesline sees most of the laundry.
Golf, thanks for taking the time for the great instructions! Last winter (first winter in this home) we actually removed the outside vent and blocked it off. The wind was finding its way through the dryer and snow was accumulating & melting in the flex pipe. Also since my OP, sinus problems have come up, I am trying to increase the humidity in here. THanks again
