Many homeowners would agree that dryers can be a chore to deal with. They end up forgetting to vent their dryers properly, and as a result, accidents happen. If your dryer doesn't have outside access, you might be wondering how to vent it. We did the research to bring you the answer.
Experts suggest that using an indoor venting kit would help in reducing lint buildup inside your home. However, this method doesn't work with gas dryers because of the harmful gases produced. So, you will still need to vent your dryer outside through the window or upgrade to a ventless dryer.
Reading through that, you might think that it's a hassle to properly vent your dryer at home. However, this is for the good of everyone living inside the house, not just you. And in this article, we will discuss this topic in greater detail. Without further ado, let's get into it.
Venting A Dryer Without Outside Access
Here we'll talk more about venting a dryer without outside access.
Install An Indoor Venting Kit
A lot of homeowners might not have the luxury of installing an exhaust vent for their dryers at home. So, an indoor venting kit is a good solution. They're small and compact enough to fit in almost any home.
These indoor vent kits are usually external lint traps that provide more filtration when you're drying clothes indoors. Most dryers have around one or two lint traps installed inside of them that help filter dust and small particles like lint, preventing them from floating in the air that you breathe in.
First, check whether or not your dryer is compatible with the venting kit that you wish to buy. Always make sure to read the product labels so you know what you're getting before buying. And remember that this doesn't work on gas dryers, as an indoor venting kit doesn't solve the issue of carbon monoxide buildup.
Click here to see this external lint trap on Amazon.
Vent It Out The Window
If your home doesn't allow you to drill holes into the walls and if buying an indoor venting kit is not an option for you, consider moving your dryer closer to a window. There, you can install a window vent kit to help act as an exhaust outlet for your dryer.
This way, it releases all the harmful gasses outside of your home without flowing back. However, many don't see this as a long-term solution since it pollutes the air and can still be dangerous if inhaled by someone outside.
If you're considering this option as a temporary solution, you can just connect an exhaust pipe from your dryer that leads to outside the window. Then, make sure to seal both sides to ensure that the gases don't flow back into the house.
Click here to see this window dryer vent kit on Amazon.
Consider Buying A Ventless Dryer
Considered to be a more permanent solution, a lot of homeowners have been switching to ventless dryers in recent years. This kind of dryer is more popular all over Europe but has since been gaining traction in the United States in the last decade.
Compared to the traditional dryer, a ventless dryer has less capacity and takes longer to dry clothes. But its positives greatly outweigh these two knocks against it.
Ventless dryers are highly efficient and cost less to run than a traditional dryer. Additionally, they don't vent to the outside as their name suggests. Instead, they recirculate the warm air inside repeatedly and trap the lint more effectively in the filters.
So, if you plan on replacing your old dryer or considering buying a dryer for the first time, we recommend a ventless dryer. They don't produce harmful gases and they keep the air clean for those who have asthma and allergies.
Click here to see this ventless dryer on Amazon.
Why Vent Dryers To The Outside?
The reason why it's important to vent your dryer is to prevent condensation in the room in which it's located. This is to prevent the buildup of mold and water stains on your ceilings, walls, and floors.
Additionally, small particles like lint and carbon monoxide accumulate inside the house. They are both not only bad for one's health when inhaled but they can cause a serious accident at home; too much lint lingering around can cause a house fire to occur.
It is important to remember that, while a dryer may look harmless, there are dangers when it comes to using one. Call a professional if you plan on relocating the dryer at home to a much safer location.
Dangers Of Running Dryers Without Ventilation
We've discussed why it's important to always ventilate your dryers during every use. And in this section, we will explain what the effects would be if you continue to vent your dryer indoors.
Mold And Mildew
The growth of mold and mildew happens when there's too much condensation in the room in which the dryer is located. As a result, it provides a suitable environment for them to fester and grow.
As much as possible, make sure that the warm air that's being released by the dryer gets vented to the outside. This is to avoid making a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Asthma And Allergies
Using a dryer indoors can cause the buildup of small particles like lint and dust to accumulate in the air. This in turn can endanger those living inside the house with respiratory ailments.
Always vent the room where the dryer is located after every use. This is to prevent the buildup of such dangerous particles in the air that may cause harm to your loved ones.
Fire Hazard
The lint particles that the dryer produces are not only bad for one's health when inhaled but they're flammable as well. These tiny particles can easily fill up a room, and as a result, they can set the room on fire if one is not too careful.
Dryers are the cause of over thousands of house fires in the United States each year. That's why it's important to always check the dryer's vent lines and filters for excess lint, debris, and clogs to prevent such a situation from happening.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Dryers release a lot of harmful gasses into the air when in use. The main component of those gases is carbon monoxide. This type of gas is known to be very poisonous and can easily cause death in the household if left to linger.
If you own a gas vent at home, make that it's being properly vented outside. Additionally, check the vents now and then to make sure that no clogs are happening. Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it's odorless and colorless, a potential silent killer in your home.
Safety Tips For Running A Dryer Without A Vent
It is important to remember that there are ways to safely use a dryer without a vent and that all you need is a little extra work. However, take note that these are only temporary solutions, so you should switch to a more permanent solution whenever possible.
Ventilate The Room
As stated earlier, it is important to always keep the room where the dryer is located well ventilated and airy. This is to prevent the accumulation of warm air which, in turn, causes condensation to form.
As much as possible, keep the windows open when using the dryer indoors, and make sure to check for wet spots after every use. This is to prevent mold and mildew from growing.
Reduce Lint And Particle Buildup
Earlier, we talked about using an external lint trap to help deal with the excess lint that gets shot out into the air. But it is also important to remember that the dryer itself needs to be properly maintained as well.
As we discussed, dryers are equipped with at least one filter inside. Therefore, you must clean the filters regularly. Additionally, make sure that the exhaust pipes have no lint or particles clogging the inside as well.
Install A Temporary Vent
If you're unable to vent the dryer out the window, you can temporarily use a bucket as a makeshift indoor venting kit. This isn't meant to be a long-term solution, however, so buy the necessary equipment or upgrade the dryer whenever possible.
It's important to remember that dryers need to be vented as much as possible to reduce the risks that come with them. So even short-term solutions like this would help you greatly.
In Closing
In short, it is important to vent your dryer outside your home to prevent an accident from happening. And remember, clean your dryer regularly to make it last for a long time.
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