Help I Need a High CFM Gas Dryer That Can Tolerate a Long Vent

16 years ago

I now have an HE3 pair and that dryer takes almost 3 hours to dry a load of towels because of my 25 foot vent run. I replaced a GE dryer with the Kenmore pair 4 years ago and my GE dryer had no problem at all with the long vent. I hate to dump the dryer but I can't stand it any longer. There is no way I can shorten the run so im stuck with replacing it. Any suggestions on a dryer with a forceful blower? Maybe GE again?

Comments (12)

chipshot
16 years ago
Have you considered installing an automatic in-line booster fan?
regus_patoff
16 years ago
from Sears HE3 manual:
VENT LENGTHS
Number
of 90Âº . . . . . . .Box or Louvered hoods . . .Angled hoods
0 . . .Rigid metal . . . . . 64 ft . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 ft
1 . . .Rigid metal . . . . . 54 ft . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 ft
2 . . .Rigid metal . . . . . 44 ft . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 ft
3 . . .Rigid metal . . . . . 35 ft . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 ft
4 . . .Rigid metal . . . . . 27 ft . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 ft
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A real hood, mounted under-cabinet, will surely be better than an OTR microwave oven attempting to perform kitchen ventilation. A real hood rated at 400 CFM, and not too restricted by the house's ability to provide MUA, given short duct to outside without too many bends, might flow 250 - 300 CFM. I am confidant that any microwave oven claimed to be 400 CFM is actually just a 400 CFM in open air fan buried in the MW's tortuous duct path. I'd be surprised if it could flow even 200 CFM net. Note that the 400 CFM MUA rule is for hoods ducted outside; if a filtered (surely) recirculating hood were used, there is no MUA issue. VaH make an expensive but reportedly adequate for real cooking ARS recirculating hood. It might not fit your circumstances. ralph_zone8_ncwrote: "I agree the microvisor is just an eyebrow but wouldn't it block the air from going up to the ceiling and surrounding cabinets and if I turn the vent of the microwave to pull air, wouldnt it be able to capture some of the air?" With respect to eyebrow capture, it will (temporarily*) capture any part of the cooking plumes that strike it. However, they will reflect out again into the room if the blower flow rate is not high enough. Flow rate needed to assure successful capture and containment depends on the temperature of the grease being vaporized and the area over which the grease plume is being generated and whether combustion products are entrained. I recommend for most a value of 90 ft/min under the entire hood aperture when cooking with gas. This corresponds to 90 CFM per square foot of aperture. The value 60 may suffice if an induction cooktop is being used. But please note from the Figure 4 table on page 9 of Greenheck's guide -- your needed (or at least recommended) flow rate (CFM) may vary. http://www.greenheck.com/media/pdf/otherinfo/KVSApplDesign_catalog.pdf ----- *Because this eyebrow has minimal depth, the blower flow rate in its vicinity will be less than the average over the capture area. Reflection, at least of hot grease vapor may be insurmountable with a microwave oven fan system. Water vapor might be adequately dealt with if it makes it that high.
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Sorry ribs1, you're caught in a situation many of us don't face and I surely empathize with the expense of conditioned Make Up Air (MUA) due to code. I read the OP asking about Blue Star BTU and venting CFM's. MUA is increasingly considered and discussed when re-doing or building a kitchen, and should be discussed pre-purchase of a pro-range. MUA has been an active topic of interest here on GW as well as on greenbuildingsdesign.com in "Makeup Air for Range Hoods" (linked below) and on many HVAC forums. Good reading and sources for solutions for industrial conditioned MUA (which perhaps will help you somehow too ribs) are also found on http://www.greenheck.com. MUA, passive or active, is available without excessive expense for most of us as we are not restricted, as yet, by specific code requirements. I'm firmly in the camp of matching one's cooktop/range purchase to one's budget for proper ventilation and MUA and more to avoid any risk of acute illness/death due to carbon monoxide poisoning from lack of replacement air. Here is a link that might be useful: Makeup Air for Range Hoods
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If someone is trying to sell you a dryer, for long run applications, that is not a true statement. Beware of of that. All dryers are made to dry clothes at a cirtain speed, and to a spec sheet. If they were to change the speed of the motor, it would just use more energy, and get less drying as the speed and the finns on the impeller are disigned to move x amount of air at a speed that the heat will dry your close in a specific amount of time. For instance, it will move 135cf per minute, more than that your dryer is running long times and not drying properly. Now that I have said all that, what you need to do, is contact a venting service, that can come and look your system over, and you said you had only 2 90's and 50 feet, I have had them over 100' and 8 90's, and we installed on inline 4" fan/housing in the duck, and had a power line connected to the dryer, so when the dryer started up it also powered up the discharge fan/housing installed down line to help move the air, but also you have to install one that will not change the speed of the dryer motor discharge. Your local venting installer, some of the furnace firms have people that are fully experienced in this sort of addition, or long venting problems. Hope this helps you. Brent@CanBC
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The ducting may be easy. If you don't normally do it yourself, it will be more of a challenge but as far as dyi projects go this probably rates a one or two on a scale of 10 in terms of difficulty.. That being said how the vent snakes through your house could be an issue. You'll have to take a look and decide. you should also look on YouTube for some "how to" videos. if you decide to do it, my only real advice is to try to figure out in advance absolutely everything you might need on the project (so many feet of duct, so many bends, the little tighteners that hold everything together, and probably some duct tape, none of that is particularly expensive but be sure and note the size of the duct on the back of the new dryer and and any venting requirements in the instructions and be sure to buy the right size ducts) that way you won't find yourself making endless trips back-and-forth to the store and burn all your free time on the weekend. Buy it from a store that is easy with their returns, use what you use and promptly return everything that you did not use.
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joe_in_philly
16 years ago
appliance factor,

I had the exact same situation when I got my HE3 dryer. I have a very long run with many turns, and the dryer would run at "8" minutes for a long period of time. I completely cleaned out the whole run and replace the flexible plastic hose behind the dryer with the rigid but bendable metal. My dry times were reduced to less than 30 minutes for most loads.

As time passes, my dry times increase, and I end up cleaning the venting each year.

So perhaps cleaning your venting will help.

Good Luck.

Joe
chipshot
16 years ago
Do any dryers have a warning light to indicate increased backpressure and therefore suggest vent inspection/cleaning?
jamesk
16 years ago
If you're sure that your vent line has no built-up lint or other obstructions for its entire length, then a dryer vent booster fan would almost certainly solve your problem. The booster fans from Fantech are completely automatic. they switch on when air pressure builds up in the vent line from the dryer fan running, and turn off when the air pressure subsides. They have both in-line models and models that would mount on the wall at the end of the vent run. More info available at the linked website below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fantech Dryer Booster Fans
boba1
16 years ago
both of the following come in gas versions. The GE Harmony dryer with Adaptive Vent system and the Kenmore Elite Oasis 7.5 cu. ft. with the dual-action drying system. Both of these dryers adapt automatically to different venting situations (length).
heimert
15 years ago
chipshot--my Maytag Bravos gives an "AF" (airflow) error code for such situations.
dadoes
15 years ago
It is my understanding that the latest-model Maytag Bravos have a newly-designed high-RPM blower that allows for long venting.
whirlpool_trainee
15 years ago
Correct:

New Blower System info
heimert
15 years ago
Bummer for me, since I have the older design that apparently encounters the airflow error more easily.
gordonr
15 years ago
About a year ago, LG had a dryer model with a static pressure sensor which would warn you. Don't know the model number nor if it's still a current model/feature.
crazyhouse6
15 years ago
I 2nd Joe in Philly's recommendation to make sure you vents are clear and replace any flexible hoses (even if they are metal) with rigid vents. We also have a very long run with elbows and had a dryer fire due to the lint backing up into the dryer. Longer drying times are a major warning sign that something might be wrong with your venting.

Help I Need a High CFM Gas Dryer That Can Tolerate a Long Vent

Comments (12)

chipshot

regus_patoff

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