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]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

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

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.

[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]

Originally Posted by 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%

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]

Originally Posted by aerovette

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

[Bill]

Originally Posted by aerovette

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.
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]

Originally Posted by 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?

You have a cold garage in Houston? ICNLT.

[Torqaholic]

Originally Posted by carlton_fritz

You have a cold garage in Houston? ICNLT.

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?

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by 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?

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]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

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.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Don Rickles

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

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]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

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