Clothes dryeer as heat source

[Aerovette]

I have an electric dryer and a cold garage. The dryer vent pipe is in the garage wall. I was thinking about putting in a diverter flap like a fireplace flue, that could redirect dryer vent heat to the garage, or go the normal path depending on how I set it. Anyone heat their garage with the dryer?

[Steve_R]

You’ll also humidify your garage big time. Not a great idea.

[MEANZ06]

You’ll also humidify your garage big time. Not a great idea.

:iagree: I tried it and it got warm but it was so humid it was hard to breath. Went with a propane heater, much better. Have a couple 100lbs tanks, simple set-up and works great. Now in the mountains I only use it as backup if the power goes out. :seasix:

[Aerovette]

Houston is always humid anyway, so I wonder if it will matter that much? Humidity here is always in the 80-95% range. Today it's 81%

[Steve_R]

Houston is always humid anyway, so I wonder if it will matter that much? Humidity here is always in the 80-95% range. Today it's 81%

Big difference between 80% and 100%. It’ll condense on smooth surfaces. It’s surprising just how much moisture is in the dryer discharge air.

[Aerovette]

Well crap. Free heat seemed a decent idea.

[Steve_R]

Well crap. Free heat seemed a decent idea.

You’re not the first person to think of it. There’s good reason it’s not done by builders. You’ll get mold. You’ll also have fine lint particles floating everywhere.

[MEANZ06]

My set up, I made the cart to move it easily (the heater is designed to hook on a BBQ tank. I put together a 40' hose to keep the bigger tanks outside. If you light all three burners you'll be cooked out, It'll heat 1500sq ft no problem. With your electrical skills you can build one, you got this :D

[Bill]

Houston is always humid anyway, so I wonder if it will matter that much? Humidity here is always in the 800-950% range. Today it's 1,000%

Fixed that for you.

[Rodnok1]

I've did it, trick is just don't put clothes in the dryer. :slap:
Works for when only need heat on occasion. Two or 3 space heaters work better, i usually don't use propane nor kero heaters especially in well sealed garage.

[ratflinger]

Put a heat exchanger on it, might not be very efficient though.

[Torqaholic]

No way. Unless you only plan on running it empty it's going to add a shit-ton of moisture to the area. It will rust the hell out of everything metal (tools/vehicles).

[carlton_fritz]

I have an electric dryer and a cold garage. The dryer vent pipe is in the garage wall. I was thinking about putting in a diverter flap like a fireplace flue, that could redirect dryer vent heat to the garage, or go the normal path depending on how I set it. Anyone heat their garage with the dryer?
You have a cold garage in Houston? ICNLT.:leaving:

[Torqaholic]

You have a cold garage in Houston? ICNLT.:leaving:


Well, if you acclimate yourself to Summer temps by avoiding air conditioning anything less than about 80 degrees feels cold. Especially if there's a breeze.

I worked in an ASTM testing laboratory for a few years where temperature and humidity was strictly controlled. Could sense when it was off by more than a single degree or two because it made me feel hot or cold.

[Don Rickles]

I've seen some, use their ovens for heat in the hood?:leaving:

[DJ_Critterus]

I have an electric dryer and a cold garage. The dryer vent pipe is in the garage wall. I was thinking about putting in a diverter flap like a fireplace flue, that could redirect dryer vent heat to the garage, or go the normal path depending on how I set it. Anyone heat their garage with the dryer?

If you do this with the same prowess you do your electrical engineering, I say the garage will be warmer when you set it on fire.

[Aerovette]

If you do this with the same prowess you do your electrical engineering, I say the garage will be warmer when you set it on fire.

You don't understand my skill set. I don't set things on fire. I simply repair them. They set themselves on fire. :yesnod:

[Bill]

I've seen some, use their ovens for heat in the hood?:leaving:

I do a lot more cooking in the oven in the Winter months, and on extremely cold nights, I do like to cook things that take a long time, to heat up the house a bit. Hams, roasts, frozen lasagna, etc. I make a lot more often in the Winter.

[DJ_Critterus]

I do a lot more cooking in the oven in the Winter months, and on extremely cold nights, I do like to cook things that take a long time, to heat up the house a bit. Hams, roasts, frozen lasagna, etc. I make a lot more often in the Winter.

I make a lot more spaghetti sauce in the winter since i have to boil the tomatoes first. That really heats the place up.

[04 commemorative]

Not a good idea

[dvarapala]

I have an electric dryer and a cold garage. The dryer vent pipe is in the garage wall. I was thinking about putting in a diverter flap like a fireplace flue, that could redirect dryer vent heat to the garage, or go the normal path depending on how I set it.

How about a heat exchanger?

[Datawiz]

I had to put an air conditioner in my garage. :leaving:

[Aerovette]

How about a heat exchanger?

There are a lot of other solutions. I have space heaters etc. I was wanting to take advantage of something that is already running and already generating heat...but wasting 100% of it. :seasix:

[Aerovette]

I had to put an air conditioner in my garage. :leaving:

I've considered it. :yesnod:

[Datawiz]

I've considered it. :yesnod:

Get a mini-split that has air and heat! :seasix:

[Mick]

I had to put an air conditioner in my garage. :leaving:

I've considered it. :yesnod:

I built myself a home weight room in my garage in 2020. That year, I gutted it out through July and August, but it was miserable. 2021 I bailed on lifting in July through September. I am seriously considering a small window AC unit for the coming summer. :yesnod:

[slewfoot]

I have an electric dryer and a cold garage. The dryer vent pipe is in the garage wall. I was thinking about putting in a diverter flap like a fireplace flue, that could redirect dryer vent heat to the garage, or go the normal path depending on how I set it. Anyone heat their garage with the dryer?


:rofl: Was alcohol involved with this idea? If you spend a fair amount of time in the garage, get a decent floor heater.


We bought our house 25 years ago. 2 story. Garage faces west and master bedroom is over it. Adding insult is the a/c vent is by the window. I have a deflector on it to blow across the room.

[Aerovette]

:rofl: Was alcohol involved with this idea?

There is this thing called "the internet", Look into it. You'll see it everywhere. Would you like me to start you off with some links? :D

Local man's invention uses the clothes dryer to help heat your home - YouTube

Comparing The Better Vent and Heat Keeper Clothes Dryer Vents | Weekend Handy Woman - YouTube

how to install a Deflecto Extra Heat Dryer Saver, 4" - YouTube

DIY How to Cut Electric Bill in Half: Part 3 Clothes Dryer Free Ideas | Missouri Wind and Solar - YouTube

[slewfoot]

The concept could work but are dryers designed for this?

[Aerovette]

The concept could work but are dryers designed for this?

Certainly not gas.

Electric creates a humidity issue as was mentioned. I know of no "free" method to remove moisture from the air exiting the dryer. Seems anything that would catch condensation would be a restriction in the flow. I don't know if blowing over desiccant packs or Damp X or something would have any effect.

I suppose if you caught the dryer near the end of the cycle, but you'd be chasing your tail more than you'd be getting any work done.

Maybe some sort of chimney with a catch can at the bottom?

The ROI shifts unless you can do it directly without intervention or conditioning of the air. The "idea" was to capture wasted heat and repurpose it.

Like recycling though, it fails when it costs more than just throwing it away.

[benny42]

Well crap. Free heat seemed a decent idea.

Run the dryer empty. It won't be wet air that way. It should work.

[Aerovette]

Run the dryer empty. It won't be wet air that way. It should work.

Why run an empty dryer? That completely defeats the entire purpose.

[Rodnok1]

Since your talking about just getting residual heat when actually drying clothes I wouldn't bother as it won't help much if any unless you run the dryer a ton.
I ran a space heater in small gaarage here overnight many times and took the chill out of garage easily.

[04 commemorative]

Just get an oil filled electric radiator or baseboard and be done with it....as said before this is a bad idea.

[ZipZap]

There is this thing called "the internet", Look into it. You'll see it everywhere. Would you like me to start you off with some links? :D

Local man's invention uses the clothes dryer to help heat your home - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-v20Mrmess)

Comparing The Better Vent and Heat Keeper Clothes Dryer Vents | Weekend Handy Woman - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYKVrGfv3vI&t=243s)

how to install a Deflecto Extra Heat Dryer Saver, 4" - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGCvMYTaAt0)

DIY How to Cut Electric Bill in Half: Part 3 Clothes Dryer Free Ideas | Missouri Wind and Solar - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTBy3oIOgKg&t=83s)

I can guarandamntee you that the last dude was building bongs as a teen. Be interesting to see if you could run the hose into the water in the bucket. On the other hand, he talks about 55% RH. Our home would look like a greenhouse with that level. Windows would be constantly fogged during winter. We try to run 30-35% RH, have double pane windows, and still get condensation when it gets really cold.