ShareThisQ: We have a chimney with two flue sections. Our furnace is not vented into the chimney.In one of the sections our gas hot water heater is vented. We are moving the laundry area to the second floor and would like to purchase a new stackable electric dryer. Can it be vented into the section of the chimney that is unused? Would a roof vent be more efficient?A: As I see it, you have three choices.-- If the flue has no other appliances, you can install a metal sleeve to vent the dryer, but the top of the flue opening has to be sealed against the weather. The sleeve will keep the dryer exhaust warm, which will slow the formation of condensation.-- If the flue has a small appliance such as a water heater, you can add a liner for the water heater and another liner as mentioned above.-- The shorter the dryer vent pipe, the easier it will be to vent moisture.Venting uphill through the chimney or roof can strain the equipment, shortening its useful life expectancy. If you can vent sideways to an exterior wall, that would be ideal. You can vent through the roof, but the hole made for the vent is a potential for a future leak.Remember to use smooth metal pipe designed for the clothes dryer. Tape ( do not use screws ) at the joints with the receiver end of each pipe pointing toward the clothes dryer to minimize lint build-up. Keep turns and twists to a minimum. A single 90-degree turn is equal to five feet of dryer pipe as far as resistance to airflow. The dryer vent pipe and all fittings should be 25 feet or less in total length. I think the longer vent pipe makes the dryer work longer and harder, which costs you energy dollars. Some other dos and don'ts:-- Do not use an in-room humidifier box connected to the dryer vent to warm the laundry room. A normal load of clothes has approximately 3 to 3.5 gallons of water vapor, which could damage the interior and the structure of the home.-- Do remember to install a self-draining catch pan under the washing machine in case of a leak. The pan's drainpipe should extend to a viewable location on the exterior of the home to act as an early warning system should there be a leak.-- Do use stainless steel hoses to connect the hot and cold water pipes to the washing machine. This NASA-discovered material is less likely to rupture. The hoses are available at plumbing and home stores for around $25 per pair.(Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home improvement questions at C. Dwight Barnett, Evansville Courier & Press, P.O. Box 286, Evansville, Ind. 47702.)
Venting a dryer
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