Replies

1. 
   Charles_Vsn_Citters | Nov 05, 2000 01:39am | #1

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   I see three problems. You need an in line fan to boost the air flow. You need to recapture the heat, the hot water tank idea might work better as a per heater for your hot water tank. You need to do something with all the water that will condense when you remove the heat, and there may be as much as a gallon or two per load of clothes. I have had to repair homes where because of a poorly vented dryer there was dry rot and blistering paint. With all the hot air out there there is also alot of water.

1. 
   Phill_Giles | Nov 05, 2000 09:59am | #2

   *May I recommend a small passive heat-recovery unit ? You'll still need to run the ducting and add a fan; however, you put one of these little guys near the end of the duct-work. In the summer, you turn off the recovery flow, in the winter, you turn on the recovery flow and you get warmed fresh air coming into the house replacing the air displaced by the dryer. Check with a HVAC supply store and see what they got in the way of a recovery unit (passive units are pretty reasonable) and possibly a duct diversion gate to bypass the unit in the summer

1. 
   Dave_Richeson | Nov 05, 2000 03:47pm | #3

   *Josh, there is a ton of water in the dryer exhaust. A heat recovery system may be what you need. Thenewer higher efficency gas furnaces(90%+) units use a heat recovery system for the flue gas. They do such a good jop of it that the flue stack allowed to be PVC pibe and exit thru the side of a building. The amount of water produced in the combustion of natural gas is amazing. Look into the design of a 90+ furnace and adapt it to your end use. You may need to install a small pump to move the recover water unless you can gravity feed it to a drain.

1. 
   The_Tennis_Court_Builder_...on_t | Nov 05, 2000 04:01pm | #4

   *Water and lint...not made for pumping...not made to go through small heat transfer openings...near the clogged stream idea,aj

1. 
   Phill_Giles | Nov 05, 2000 05:59pm | #5

   *That's why they have lint filters on dryers (ours works really well) and a more serious filter ahead of the fan as backup - this is not rocket-science.

2. 
   The_Tennis_Court_Builder_...on_t | Nov 06, 2000 04:00am | #6

   *Phil...As you say...Definitely not rocket science...The idea is stupid...My duct right now is well lined with lint..and yes...there is a lint filter...and yes it is cleaned after each load...and yes most all dryers release lint into the exiting air...and yes it would clog up any pump and yes it does clog up the devices made to capture the lost heat.Time to study rockets Phill, near the stream with lint,ajSo hows the union work?...Enjoying the Presidential TV show.

2. 
   josh | Nov 06, 2000 04:01am | #7

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   so how many thought this was polotics, no its good old question related to building. remeber those days
   so my question is about dryer vents and wasted heat. We are
   helping with adding a sunroom to a house. We were going to have to run the dryer duct a long way to get out. Asking this questioon weeks ago found that we were running too far (30 feet and 4 -90's) Now the owner , and I , would like to capture that amazing amount of heat thet goes out and away. those little dust trap, lint trap gizmos are not the answer. They bring too much moisture and dust into a house.So we need some ideas. For instance Can you run the exsaust through an old gas fired water heater chamber and captuer enough heat to send to a radiator
   any good ideas