Five Most Common Misconceptions about Ventless Drying

Although condensing dryer technology has been popular in Europe and Asia for many years, the ventless laundry concept here in North America has struggled to gain widespread appeal.

Americans were first introduced to ventless drying in the 1980s when European-made washer dryer combos began to appear on boats and recreational vehicles. These early ventless combos used an internal condensing system in which a narrow condensing chamber was attached to the outer washer drum. Due to their narrow dimensions and location adjacent to the warm drum, internal condensers were prone to lint and soap residue buildup, which over time resulted extended dry times.

Luckily, most new combination machines now use an external condenser, which is separated from the dryer drum and therefore offers much faster drying. In addition to washer dryer combinations, new stand-alone 220 volt ventless dryers use an entirely different heat-exchange system which works as a dehumidifier to dry clothing significantly faster. These new ventless dryers now offer dry times that rival standard vented dryers.

Despite these advances in condensing dryer technology, the following misconceptions still remain:

1. Condensing dryers take forever to dry

Early ventless dry systems from the 1980s took a long time to dry; in some cases over 2 ½ hours. Although newer condensing systems dry significantly faster, ventless dryers are still burdened with the reputation of slow dry times.

Modern washer dryer combo systems now dry clothing in about 90 minutes and the new stand-alone condensing dryers usually take 45 – 60 minutes for a full load. Combo machines typically operate on 110 volt power and utilize a small drum, which translates into slightly longer dry time compared to stand-alone 220 volt ventless or vented dryers.

2. Ventless dryers release moisture back into the surrounding room

Condensing dryers use a closed-loop system that removes dampness from the air using a dehumidifying process which does not release heat, lint or moisture into the surrounding room. Stand-alone ventless dryers release a small amount of dry air back into a room as a result of a heat-exchange system which uses air to cool an internal radiator.

3. All Condensing dryers are tiny

Ventless dryers now come in all sizes, from the smallest combo machine to a large stand-alone condensing system. Early combos typically found in boats and RVs were quite small compared to the expansive washers and dryers sold today. But technological advances have allowed ventless dryers to grow larger with time.

4. Ventless systems use more energy

Actually, the opposite is true - condensing systems use 50% - 70% less energy than standard vented dryers. Unlike vented dryers that continuously expel and reheat air, ventless closed-loop systems remove moisture and re-circulate warm dry air back into the dryer drum. The result is less stress on the dryer heating element and a more efficient way to dry clothing.

Another added benefit of condensing dryers relates to heating and air conditioning. In most parts of the world, a residence is heated in the winter by a furnace and cooled in the summer by an air conditioner. Vented dryers remove an average 200 cubic feet per minute of air from a surrounding room. That means that a HVAC system needs to work harder and use significantly more energy during vented dryer operation.

5. Ventless dryers don’t conform to building codes

The majority of ventless dryers on the market are UL or ETL approved, enabling them to meet building codes throughout the country. In addition to being approved under the International Building Code, many ventless models meet strict municipal codes that go above and beyond the ICB building requirements.

Eliminate the Laundry Slog

My college experience was fairly typical; studying on the weeknights, parties on the weekends and laundry on Saturday mornings. In those days, my laundry slog involved dragging a massive mesh bag stuffed with clothing down two flights of stairs to the wash dungeon. Once inside the basement washing facility, rows of rickety washers and dryers churned and spun, filling the dank room with the smell of sweaty clothes, detergent and perfume-scented dryer sheets.

Thankfully, my laundry slog days are behind me. The convenience of owning an in-home laundry set makes dragging clothing to a shared laundry room seem less than desirable. Yet today, many mid to high end multi-family buildings offer only dorm-style shared laundry facilities to residents.

Survey results commissioned by leading developers have found in-unit laundry to be the most desired resident amenity. And other than the college crowd, who wants to put up with the inconveniences of a coin-op laundry room?

With condensing (ventless) laundry options now available, there’s no excuse not to add in-unit laundry to a new or existing development. Best of all, in-unit laundry pays for itself over time by increasing property values are rental rates.

Thor Appliance Company (www.ThorAppliances.com) offers a full line of washer dryer combos and stacking washers and ventless dryers that can be easily installed anywhere a water source, electrical connection and drain line are accessible. And the elimination of the dryer vent means that cumbersome vent duct installation and vent line maintenance are no longer an issue.

Today’s ventless laundry machines are not only more efficient than vented dryers; they also offer comparable dry times and are easier on clothing (for more details on ventless dryer technology, see the “Drying Old School” post).

If you’re a developer or property manager looking to upgrade to in-unit laundry, take a closer look at Thor’s line of compact washers and dryers. While we may never eliminate the need to wash and dry clothing, we can guarantee a shorter commute.

A Question of Service

I received the following question today regarding Thor’s ventless dryer. Since many developers and architects may have similar questions and concerns, I feel that it’s worthy of a blog post. Please feel free to contact me directly at mlee@thorappliance.com with any follow-up questions.

Question:

If a Developer/Architects decides this is a good VE item, what happens when he has a failure of a dryer and needs to replace it. The concern I have would be two parts

Turn-Around time to to get the new dryer delivered and installed
Once the Owner has committed to this system and designs a building without accommodations for a standard “Vented” dryer, the only option is to stay with this product/manufacture for the life of the project or until the market has competitors.

Any thoughts on this?

Answer:

Thank you for your question. I understand your concerns.

Regarding the turn-around time for replacement or service; Thor keeps an inventory of all laundry machines and parts in our Los Angeles warehouse. In addition to our wholesale business, we also sell to retail customers – this requires that we keep a warehouse inventory. Thor ships products Mon-Fri and we can package and ship most parts and laundry machines within a day of order.

In Thor’s 25 years in business, we’ve built a service network of more than 500 independent service providers. Thor’s service manages, Rick Gale, has been with Thor for nearly 15 years and is an expert on all our products. He is a valuable resource to both our service providers and our customers.

You’re correct that once ventless laundry is installed, it’s difficult to change back to vented. It’s important that the builder and architect are familiar with our ventless dryers before they spec them into a project. That’s why I recommend that potential customers host a quick demonstration session and test a sample machine before making a decision.

From an end-user standpoint, ventless dryers work about the same as a vented dryer. Nevertheless, it’s important that all involved are comfortable with machines and we work hard to support both the developer/architect and the resident.

In addition to a full owner’s manual, each Thor dryer comes with a laminated single-sheet operation guide that outlines how to use the condensing dryer. In addition, our toll free service number (which rings directly to Mr. Gale’s office), is listed on the instruction sheet and other literature. Thor’s service team is available to speak with both developers and end-users regarding operational questions or repair issues.

Branding - A Historical Perspective

The Thor brand has been around for a long time. In fact, Thor celebrated its centennial just a few years ago. One of the best aspects of working for Thor is the stories that customers tell us about their classic old appliances.

Every couple of months a customer will email me with a story about an old Thor appliance found in an attic or basement. Most of these washer have seen better days, but to the people who owned them for the better part of a life, they are a source of fond memories. Some customers ask if their old Thor has any value beyond sentimental appeal. I typically refer them to Lee Maxwell and his online washing machine museum. Lee is a retired professor who has compiled the most amazing collection of historic washers on the planet. If you have an interest in old appliances, take a look at Lee's web site at www.oldewash.com.

Thor also has a new Wikipedia page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_Washing_Machine or check out Thor's history page at http://www.thorappliances.com/site/about-Thor/index.php.

Five Reasons Why Ventless Drying Will Transform Multifamily Construction

Transform multifamily construction? A big prediction considering ventless drying is still a tiny minnow in a sea of traditional (vented) laundry appliances. However, if the ventless laundry growth trend continues, condensing dryers will evolve into a significant player in the overall laundry appliance landscape. This trend will do more than simply change the look of the laundry room; it will have a broad impact on the design and construction of multifamily dwellings.

Why ventless drying will change the face of multifamily construction:

Cost:

Installing vent ducting is expensive. It’s estimated that the cost of time and material is between $200 and $400 per vented dryer. Add in the expense of periodically cleaning duct work in rental apartments, and you have a pricey project on your hands. Condensing dryers require only a 220 volt plug and access to a drain line (which is already installed near-by for the washer).

Design:

The impact of vented dryers in multifamily developments begins in the design phase, as architects work around cumbersome vent runs and incorporate through-the-wall exit points for each dryer. Without a dryer vent to work around, architects are free to spec in a washer and dryer practically anywhere in the residence. Additionally, the structural impact of dryer vent installation, which is a particular concern in converting older brick buildings into lofts or condos, is eliminated.

Efficiency:

With the exception of the refrigerator, laundry appliances are the most energy consuming appliances in the home. Due to a closed-loop design which re-circulates heated air, ventless dryers are 50% - 70% more efficient than their vented counterparts.

In addition, condensing dryers do not remove copious amounts of air from the surrounding room. Why is this important? . In most areas of the country, room air is heated by a furnace in the winter and cooled by an air conditioner in the summer. Standard vented dryers remove and expel this air, requiring HVAC systems to work harder to keep a room at a comfortable temperature.

Liability:

Ventless dryers eliminate fire liability that is inherent in every vented dryer. If not cleaned regularly, lint from vented dryers can build up in the dryer housing and surrounding duct work, increasing the risk of fire. Condensing dryers use a standard lint trap but do not have the ducting that can hold fire-igniting lint.

Installation:

Ventless dryers remove the installation restraints posed by standard vented dryers. Ventless dryers may be installed flush against the back wall of an extra closet of alcove without vent line encumbrances. In the case of ventless all-in-one washer dryer combos, options expand to include under-counter installation in a bathroom or kitchen.

While still an anomaly in North America, when multifamily developers awaken to the many advantage offered by condensing dryers, the ventless transformation will be off and running.

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Say No To Pot!

It's called a vent pot...and it's a bad thing. In instances where dryer vent ducting is an impossibility(or just too big a project), vent pots are used to capture lint and moisture that would otherwise be expelled out a vent line (at least that's the theory). Essentially, it's venting a dryer into a bucket.

In truth, vent pots expel most of the heat and moisture back into the surrounding room. Further than the nice muggy tropical feel your home will have, vent pots can cause dangerous black mold growth and be a fire hazard due to excessive lint build up.

Even if vent duct installation is inconvenient, spend the extra effort to run a dryer vent or find a quality ventless dry system for your home. Just be sure to say no to pot!

Ventless Drying - The New Standard of Efficiency

At Thor Appliances, we're big fans of ventless drying. In fact, we even have a Facebook fan page dedicated to the subject. But before you laugh us off as being a little too obsessed with non-venting products, take a closer look at what this new technology has to offer.

Drying Old School - In the Beginning

The progression of dryer technology prior to the invention of the condensing dryer can be summed up in just a few words; first came the clothes line, then came the vented tumble dryer. Sure, modern dryers have LCD displays and humidity-sensing shut-off, but clothing is still dried by blowing warm air across wet laundry and then expelling the moisture out a vent.

Fortunately, a better more efficient technology exists that eliminates the cumbersome and outdated dryer vent. Condensing (ventless) dryers use a dehumidifying chamber to remove moisture from warm damp air that is circulated through the dryer drum. Once the moisture is removed, the resulting dry air is recirculated back into the dryer drum and the process starts over again.

Dry times for condensing dryers are now comparable to standard vented dryers and the process is far more efficient. Unlike vented dryers, condensing machines use a closed-loop system that does not expelled heated air out a vent. Since the warm air remains in the machine, the heating element within a condensing dryer does not have to work as hard to warm the air during the drying process. The result is a dry system that is 50% - 70% more efficient and much easier to install.

Another efficiency advantage to condensing dryers pertains to room air heating a cooling. In most areas of the world, room air is heated by a furnace in the winter and cooled by an air conditioner in the summer. Standard vented dryers remove and expel air from the surrounding room, requiring HVAC systems to work harder to keep a room at a comfortable temperature. Closed-loop condensing do not remove air from a room and therefore do not impact HVAC systems.

With all its advantages, ventless drying is already having an impact on the building industry...but I'll cover that in my next post.

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