Dryer Vent?

Question

We just got a dryer and we need to get clamps for the vent hose. The dryer is located in a utility room off of the house. The temperature is dropping and it is cold back there. We were wondering if the vent hose does nothing more then flow the hot air outside, and if not can we just take it off and use it as a "heater"?

Answer 1

OK, let's clear up all the confusion. Gas or electric dryer, you really should install a moisture exhaust hose to vent the moisture to the outside. That is to prevent excessive moisture in the laundry room that can lead to both paint damage and maybe mold.
Secondly, the issue of carbon monoxide........with an electric dryer, non existent. With a gas dryer also virtually CO free. Only a test with a combustion analyzer can verify if CO is being produced by a gas dryer. Generally speaking, there is minimal CO (< 9parts per million ) in a residence at any given time with gas burning appliances. The choice is yours. You can use it as a temporary heater, but it is a dryer.

Answer 2

I would make a visit to Lowe's and check out some dryer vent converters when you get the clamps.
I have a back room where my dryer was and it kept it pretty warm when I ran the dryer. It too was a cold room, just did'nt get the heat like the rest of the house.
By all means do not run the dryer without the vent attached. you could have a fire or mold build up.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

Many people vent Electric dryers to the inside in the winter. Depending on how much you use it and how big the house is, it may be too much humidity for the house. We realize you're not talking about using this as your only heat source. Get a lint screen for the end of the hose or use old nylons to catch the lint. If there is too much humidity, then reroute it outside.

Answer 4

First off, NO. And throw away that HOSE. Use only rigid 4" pipe. Hose is NOT efficient and it has a tendency to collect lint. Now that you know LINT comes out of that dryer, do you still want to stick it up your nose? If it's a gas dryer, you're running the risk of monoxiding yourself to death! This is a serious answer from a 58 year old guy who's done this routine a number of times. LISTEN!

Answer 5

yes if it is electric heater otherwise if it is gas you will have a carbon monoxide issue very unsafe. if you do vent the dryer into the home be aware all the moisture it removes from the clothes will not be in your home. moisture in excess equals mold issues. also if you do it put a pair of panty hose on the hose outlet to catck lint. this works well and usually wifes have some old ones

Answer 6

EWWW.. NO, NO , NO!
Always vent dryer exhaust to the OUTSIDE! There is all of the moisture from the wet clothes that is carried through the duct. If not vented properly, you will begin to have mold problems as well. Not to mention all of the lint that will be flying around the room.
Make the investment in the proper clamps, & vent your dryer to the outside!

Answer 7

ABSOLUTELY DO "NOT" USE THAT AS A HEATER!!!!!!!!!

YOU WILL DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, now that I think I have warned you "strongly enough"...

Gas from the dryer is Carbon Monoxide. You will simply be putting all that carbon monoxide into your house and you will die of carbon monoxide poisoning...(just like when they commit suicide in garages that are attached to the house, and everyone dies in the house, because the fumes get into it and go everywhere).

Now, I would NOT recommend a "flexible hose". They tend to clog up easier with lint. I myself use hard metal tubes that you can get at any hardware store, or furnace store. They stand up better, and last longer. Also, make SURE you get a "flapper" for the outside, so you dont get cold air coming back into your dryer and freezing you out, as it will just permeate the air and go everywhere, as the dryer is not air tight.

I wish yo well..

Jesse

Answer 8

Well you could use it as a heater if you like dryer lint all over the place. Having the dryer vent to the outside is done for a reason,for one the lint can be a fire hazardaqnd if you have a gas dryer I think that there could be some kinds of fumes. and if all else fails go to a hardware store there is special kit so you can vent it indoors

Answer 9

Gas dryer -- vent outside always for reasons noted elsewhere.

Electric Dryer -- you can vent inside IN THE WINTER IF!!!:
1. you pay attention to the amount of humidity you're building up:
a. mold and mildew are real issues to avoid,
b. moisture can peel the paint of the inside walls if you're not careful. It happened to us, and we had to pay the landlord to scrape and repaint the utiity room where we put the dryer. We had no outside exhaust.
c. water collecting ont he windows can build up in the window sill and cause mold and ROTTING wood.

2. collect the lint in a water container, you'll find the kits at the hardware store.

Answer 10

There is actually a device that hooks to the vent hose that allows you to use it as an additional heat source. without that device it will allow lint to build up and make a huge mess. I also would not recommend using the dryer as a main heat source because if it is constantly running then it will burn the element out.