Clothes Dryer Installation

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alasta

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#288869 28-Jul-2021 20:20

I have an apartment with an awkward small cupboard in which I need to install a clothes dryer. Unfortunately the power socket is immediately behind where the clothes dryer would sit, so there is very limited depth available after allowing for clearance around the power socket. This rules out the possibility of installing a condenser type dryer.

I am therefore trying to assess whether it would be feasible to install a vented dryer. The cupboard has a vent with an extraction fan, as pictured. However the outlet vent on the dryer would be very close to the cupboard door, and the cupboard's extraction vent is somewhat obstructed by a shelf.

Is this a safe environment to use a vented dryer? I feel like it might just blast condensation all over the inside of the cupboard door.

The other option might be to install a venting kit and feed it out that extraction vent? Unfortunately the upper shelf is still a problem.

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#2751451 28-Jul-2021 20:23

gbwelly

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#2751453 28-Jul-2021 20:37

If you own the place and can go drilling holes in stuff then I think getting a vented dryer and drilling a 110mm hole in the shelf would be the way to go, sending it out the existing vent. My wall mounted dryer including the rear vent adaptor is 610mm deep. I just close the door and ignore the silver ducting, you could get some white melamine and box it off if you wanted to make it pretty.

alasta

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#2751460 28-Jul-2021 20:47

Thanks, I have been in touch with the people who built the joinery so I can get them to drill into the shelf if necessary.

In terms of removing the vent grill and feeding the duct into it, is this something that an ordinary appliance installer can do or is it a specialist job?

Bung

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#2751461 28-Jul-2021 20:49

Initial thoughts.

Is the cupboard big enough to contain the dryer? The door would probably need to stay open while the dryer is in use. You can't vent out without replacing the air. You should lose the door. The shelf would soon come out if the middle was cut out. What dryer? Some can switch between front and rear venting. How long is the existing vent pipe? Even with the screen the exhaust gets lint in it.

timmmay

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#2751462 28-Jul-2021 20:52

I would vent it properly rather than putting condensation in the cupboard. I doubt a standard installer would connect the output of the drier to the fan taking things apart, it's probably something you could look at doing or getting a handyman / builder in. Probably a pretty small job. Once you take the diffuser off it'll be a straight duct, just join the ducts with duct tape, job done.

Scott3

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#2751468 28-Jul-2021 21:07

I wouldn't use a vented (non-ducted) dryer in that space.

But as others have said, you would want to look at a ducted dryer, generally they have rear discharges, but kit's that only add about 40mm depth which convert it to a top discharge. You could then duct it to the extract duct (or even have it dump right by the extract fan to suck up).

Would need to use a large holesaw to run the duct through that shelf.

And likely would need to add a big (150 diameter?) grill in the door too for makeup air.

shrub

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#2751482 28-Jul-2021 21:58

just buy a heat pump dryer. No exhaust or venting required

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timmmay

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#2751603 29-Jul-2021 05:57

Scott3:

But as others have said, you would want to look at a ducted dryer, generally they have rear discharges, but kit's that only add about 40mm depth which convert it to a top discharge. You could then duct it to the extract duct (or even have it dump right by the extract fan to suck up).

I got that part for F&P as recommended by the sales person, but it didn't fit the model of drier I got. So if you really need this make sure you get it in writing from the sales person, so if it doesn't fit you can say "that was my requirement and you told me it would do it" and return it. I have space so I just had the pipe go out the back normally.

eracode

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#2751615 29-Jul-2021 07:32

alasta:

I have an apartment with an awkward small cupboard in which I need to install a clothes dryer. Unfortunately the power socket is immediately behind where the clothes dryer would sit, so there is very limited depth available after allowing for clearance around the power socket. This rules out the possibility of installing a condenser type dryer.

If the power socket is part of the problem, would installing something like this make things any easier - by giving you additional depth to work with - maybe then enough room for a condenser dryer?

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETADX1022/AMDEX-AV-RPS01-Recessed-Single-Power-Outlet

If you remove the door, could you fit a condenser in there if you let the front of the dryer protrude a little from the recess - but still be sitting on its feet on the base of the recess? You could possibly gain, say, 90 mm overall depth - ~50 at the rear from the recessed socket and ~40 from the front overhang.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

alasta

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#2751637 29-Jul-2021 08:47

Thanks for the suggestions. It sounds like installing a vented dryer is not going to be straightforward.

For aesthetic reasons I was hoping to avoid removing the door, but it sounds like it might have to happen. The good news is that if I remove the door then it would allow for a bit of overhang, in which case I would have enough available depth to install a washer/dryer combo. I realise that combo machines aren't as good as separates, but I could live with it.

The recessed power socket is a really interesting idea that I hadn't thought of. I might get an electrician to have a look to see about either installing a recessed socket, or perhaps relocating the existing socket.

timmmay

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#2751642 29-Jul-2021 08:57

alasta:

Thanks for the suggestions. It sounds like installing a vented dryer is not going to be straightforward.

Cut a hole, recess the power socket if needed, remove diffuser and duct tape the pipes together. Not so difficult all going well - but you never know what's really going to happen until you start.

Ruphus

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#2751645 29-Jul-2021 09:03

alasta:
Unfortunately the power socket is immediately behind where the clothes dryer would sit

Is there a separate isolating switch for that power socket? If not, you might need to get the power socket moved or have an isolating switch installed. Have a chat with a sparky.

Dingbatt

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#2751649 29-Jul-2021 09:09

Not super familiar with condenser (or heat pump) driers, but the condensate has to go somewhere. Do those types need to be plumbed into a condensate discharge, or is it collected in a reservoir (requiring emptying)? If plumbing is required, how far is it to your nearest plumbing?

By the same token, the existing vent and ducting might promote condensate pooling at the end of a cycle. It is dependant on the length of the duct run, what surrounds it and any fall, but you may end up with a musty smell if you don’t run it regularly.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

lxsw20

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#2751676 29-Jul-2021 10:13

They have a reservoir, most (but not all) can be plumbed in alternatively. It just needs access to a drain so long as its a downhill run to a drain then distance doesn't really matter.

shrub

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#2751683 29-Jul-2021 10:21

Heat pump dryer works very differently. It will pump water into a large tank that needs to be emptied after each dry or you can plump it in but that adds extra cost and its not hard to empty the tank.

This winter I've been using the Vouge 8kg from tradedepot and it works really good. Also much cheaper to run than my old externally vented tumble dryer.

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