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lost heat

Brad White
Brad White Member Posts: 2,399
in THE MAIN WALL
with the potential for fire or explosion, convinces me not to do that. It is a shame though, is it not?

I use an HRV coupled to my gas dryer as a source of combustion air but the exhaust air comes from an adjacent bathroom and the OA comes right into the laundry room. Sure, I was tempted to see about recovering that dryer heat but for the safety issues. Then again on hot days, I might regret it.
"If you do not know the answer, say, "I do not know the answer", and you will be correct!"



-Ernie White, my Dad

Comments

  • bigwilly104
    bigwilly104 Member Posts: 50
    Lost heat

    This subject has been on my mind alot lately. Today the house was cool enugh to need heat in the mourning. Yet I know a solar collector could drive my warm floor with the sun out since about 6:45. I also was thinking of my clothes dryer. I am not sure but they are usualy about 35kbtu. That is about what my heat load is. Heat recovery ventalators come to mind. I would need to come up with some kind of lint filter and clean it alot but thats energy wasted all the time. The point is we talk about mod/con and heat transfer plates and great controlls but what about whats already there. Don't get me wrong I am a long way from driving a VW van and have never considered my self green or anything. I took my infared thermo. outside and picked up 145 deg at the dryer vent. we do to loads of laundry a day. That thing runs 90min each day pushing hot air outside. Just makes me think.
  • kevin coppinger_4
    kevin coppinger_4 Member Posts: 2,124
    good thoughts...

    the key is how to recover the lost heat safely..we all remember the dryer vent diverters that allow you to keep the heat ...problem is all the moisture too. An HRV that would be easy to clean would probabaly be best...someone just needs to work it out...energy is not getting any cheaper. kpc

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  • Timco
    Timco Member Posts: 3,040


    What about the GFX HX? Could it not be adapted to catch BTU's from a dryer vent? Not as efficient of a method as waste water, but dryer vent is a higher temp than waste water, is it not? Even just to temper the water supply to the WH, but one would need to calculate the savings vs the install cost...maybe a finned-type dryer vent to heat the laundry room and basement as the exhaust exits the house?

    Tim
    Just a guy running some pipes.
  • Brad White
    Brad White Member Posts: 2,399
    I suppose, Tim

    but I also see a potential condensation issue within the dryer vent. Dryers are direct-fired, meaning all combustion products go out with the moisture from clothes. I would say that you would hit dew-point pretty quickly and add soggy lint to your woes.

    Still- I think you are on to something if there is a way to avoid condensation.
    "If you do not know the answer, say, "I do not know the answer", and you will be correct!"



    -Ernie White, my Dad
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