Vented dryer - is a fan enough or condensation issues?

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#2501643 9-Jun-2020 18:00

What's the external wall material? e.g Bricks, weatherboards, stucco etc

Could you install a vent directly through it? I did that with a kit from Bunings which was super easy to install. Hardest part was making sure there wasn't anything in the wall cavity that I'd accidentally drill through.

MikeAqua

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#2501825 10-Jun-2020 08:58

I've used condenser dryers, owned vented driers and own a heat pump dryer (apartment with no possibility of venting).

Condenser dryers are slow and often have limited capacity. They also need to be plumbed so they can drain water away - this shouldn't be a problem in your laundry cupboard

Heat pump units are better (ours is sitting on a very sturdy shelf unit not wall mounted), but not as good as a vented dryer and still need to be plumbed.

Mike

Dugimodo

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#2501840 10-Jun-2020 09:36

I think it depends on how much airflow the fan has and where it's vented to. I installed a 12V fan in my shower to deal with steam and later when the room got converted to a Laundry the 12V fan stayed in the wall and the dryer got put in there. If I run the dryer without the fan the whole room gets wet and dripping but with it on it stays bone dry. I suspect it moves more air than the average ceiling extractor fan though.

Venting is always better, but a good extractor can work. I have the added advantage that because the room was a bathroom it's reasonably able to deal with a bit of moisture. It's been like that a few years now and no mould in sight.

fearandloathing

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#2502102 10-Jun-2020 10:27

I would recommend a vented dryer vent through the wall. I used to have a condensing dryer I hated it.

danepak

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#2503764 12-Jun-2020 16:50

I was told by someone at Harvey Norman that condensed dryer wouldn’t work, as the room is too small. It’s 1.5m x 1.2m. He said the clothes wouldn’t get dry, due to the small size of the room.
First time I’ve been told this. He said only a heat pump dryer would work.
I then went down to Noel Leeming clearance centre, as I picked up a condensed dryer the other day (still in the car). I was ready to return it, but the guy looked at me and said he’d never heard such a thing before (room too small). He said I could keep the dryer and test it for a few days. Any issues with the performance, I can return it, no questions asked.

So confusing. Anyway, will try it.

Jase2985

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#2503841 12-Jun-2020 19:52

as you have a fan in there it will be fine, just make sure its on when drying.

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danepak

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#2509428 22-Jun-2020 08:22

My electrician says that although the existing ceiling fan is adequate for a vented dryer, he's offered to install a 106w ceiling fan, as this would be enough.

Is there a way to ensure that the fan turns on/off, when the dryer is running? Or do we have to do it manually (not a biggie, but worth to ask).

Also, how do we monitor if the room is too humid? We don't want to end up in a situation in a couple of years time, where we realise that the it's been too damp and have done damage to the walls.

fearandloathing

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#2509430 22-Jun-2020 08:31

danepak:
My electrician says that although the existing ceiling fan is adequate for a vented dryer, he's offered to install a 106w ceiling fan, as this would be enough.

Is there a way to ensure that the fan turns on/off, when the dryer is running? Or do we have to do it manually (not a biggie, but worth to ask).

Also, how do we monitor if the room is too humid? We don't want to end up in a situation in a couple of years time, where we realise that the it's been too damp and have done damage to the walls.

Just get a vented dryer and vent through the wall.

danepak

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#2509447 22-Jun-2020 09:09

There are no external walls near the room, so not possible.
I’m considering a humidity sensor in the room along with the 106w fan and the vented dryer.

fearandloathing

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#2509484 22-Jun-2020 10:09

danepak: There are no external walls near the room, so not possible.
I’m considering a humidity sensor in the room along with the 106w fan and the vented dryer.

IMHO Rethink where you are placing the dryer, possibly the garage. No way would I install a dryer without external ducted ventilation. See if there are lint traps that can be used with a roof vent.

danepak

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#2509486 22-Jun-2020 10:11

Unfortunately this is the only place that we can place it.
We’ve got no garage.

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Jase2985

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#2509493 22-Jun-2020 10:37

so the vent for the dryer cant go up into the roof space and out to the soffit/external wall?

honestly i would not be running it how you plan on doing it.

nickb800

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#2509534 22-Jun-2020 11:06

Can you put a Y junction on your ceiling vent (ideally in the ceiling), to provide a connection with the dryer duct?

If you turn on the extract fan while you run the dryer vented to the room, then you will get lint and condensation all over the walls. The fan just helps the condensation disapate, it's unlikely to prevent vapour from condensing in the first place

danepak

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#2509547 22-Jun-2020 11:10

The fan is connected to a pipe that exits the building through a wall 6.5 metres away.

1cloud

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#2509621 22-Jun-2020 11:41

danepak: Thanks all.
Order cancelled and I’ll be looking for a condensed dryer.
Would a heatpump dryer be good as well?

go for the heat pump

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