my basement is a little damp so i don't want to create extra humidity by just unhooking the vent. any tricks i can do? i know my basement will be very cold this winter and my drier is the only heat source down there.
2007-09-16 17:26:53 · 7 answers · asked by icemanoe3 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I made my own but, you will also need a dehumidifier down there to counteract the humidity.
You'll need a five gallon pail, plastic, cut the top to fit a dryer vent pipe, then drill holes in the top around the vent pipe, a lot of them, the pipe should go down the pail about half way. You fill the pail with water to just below the pipe to catch the lint and the dust. The holes in the top allow the air to come out.
I heated my garage with this for a couple of winters, it works fine. I think Home Depot sells the parts for this but, not all the time. You can also put a screen in the top to allow air to flow out.
You have to add water and take the lint out, there isn't much, from time to time.
2007-09-16 23:42:50 · answer #1 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I used my dryer as an auxiliary heat source by putting a nylon stocking over the vent hose to keep the lint from blowing all over the place. A pair of knees highs will last six months. Keep the door to the basement cracked open to allow for ventilation and humidity will be decreased.
2007-09-16 20:08:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your basement doesn't have access to ductwork, but you have indoor access to your basement you could install a small ceiling fan with reversible setting in staircase to push warm air down into basement and leave door to access basement open during winter months. This way you don't have to rely on running your dryer to heat your basement and it's much cheaper.
There used to be a device (can't remember name of device) my ex-husband bought at a hardware store that installed in the wall vent or the exhaust hose and came with something to seal the wall vent. It was only to be used in winter months and had to be removed in warmer seasons. It also had to be checked frequently for lint build up. It was supposed to filter the lint, but didn't help much with the humidity problem. We used a dehumdifier year round anyway to control growth of mold in the basement because we had family room in that area, too.
You might check into your local hardware stores and see if it is right for you. Your clothes dryer as only source of heat for your basement could get costly.
Remember, a space heater, even though they are made better these days, are unsafe if not regularly monitored and very expensive to run.
2007-09-16 18:31:07 · answer #3 · answered by quisp007 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You do not want to use the drier. You will get mold to growing because it will make the humidity level go up. Use a dehumidifier to remove the moisture. They also put off heat so it will help to keep the basement warm. For more info check out the dehumidifier page at my source.
2007-09-16 22:47:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've seen dryer vents that have a device that slides open to allow some heat out into the room. I have no idea how you get heat from a dryer without the humidity.
2007-09-16 17:37:33 · answer #5 · answered by towanda 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Add an exhaust duct and a water pan to catch the lint and water and the hot air will just flow into the room. It comes in a kit and can be purchased at any hardware store.
2007-09-17 02:22:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's gas, make sure you're not venting the air into the room. If it's electric, there's a little thing you can pick up that will trap the lint and send the air into the room.
I imagine there's a clever way to run a heat sink off of your exhaust line if you're running gas, but I don't know it.
2007-09-16 17:46:19 · answer #7 · answered by Webster 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋