Using attic heat to dry clothes and help cool the house - Page 2

Exeric · 04-29-14, 07:31 PM

I did a mental simulation of using a dedicated isolated laundry room with warm incoming air to the whole room used for the dryer. It won't work as I was thinking. When a person would open the laundry room door up to a 135 F or more heat would hit you and would then start spreading throughout the house. That would completely negate the idea of isolating the house from excess heat in warmer months. You could get around it at the expense of much complexity, including running the dryer fan for 10 minutes or so after the load is dry, while closing the (now actively operated) ceiling vent. My experience is that added layer of complexity would completely negate the original advantages of having an isolated laundry room.

It seems the choice is either using one of the methods in Daox's link or nothing. Just would have to use a bigger duct so one could get away without a separate blower.

jeff5may · 04-30-14, 06:38 PM

Just put in an airlock.

Exeric · 04-30-14, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff5may

Just put in an airlock.

I hope you're kidding. In fact I'm counting on it.

nokiasixteth · 05-02-14, 07:52 PM

Ive found instead of running ducts . Buying a few sheets of cheap plywood and some insulation is cheaper and bigger.

Exeric · 05-02-14, 09:02 PM

That's sounds like a good idea. However, you will still need a damper of some sort either manual or a back draft damper, like in a bathroom. The problem is the cheap backdraft dampers are all round and also require that they are not turned upside down (sideways is OK also). It might be better to have a round duct in the attic with an elbow to it so you can install a backdraft damper sideways. Then run a square plywood duct in the laundry room to the dryer.

I actually like the idea of a square roughed-in duct in the laundry room. It won't have the mickey mouse look to it of an exposed round duct.

nokiasixteth · 05-02-14, 09:37 PM

I was going to put a small piece of some sorta plastic in there with a hinge on top and at bottom a stiff piece of plastic or something and under it a 2x4. So the air could only flow out the vent and not backflow. Kinda like a 1 way valve for air duct but poor mans way.

Daox · 06-13-14, 03:26 PM

Have you done anything with this?

jeff5may · 06-13-14, 08:16 PM

I hung a clothesline in the attic. It works perfect. I hang clothes in the morning while the attic is cool.

Exeric · 06-13-14, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff5may

I hung a clothesline in the attic. It works perfect. I hang clothes in the morning while the attic is cool.

That's sounds like a great idea. One thing that might be a problem is trying to use that method in winter. I think most people would have a hard time getting around using a downstairs dryer of some sort in winter. The thing I liked about Nokia's idea was that it eliminates using the downstairs conditioned air as the makeup air for the dryer. That's important in both winter and summer. You can use the heat up in the attic for the downstairs dryer in spring, summer, and fall and you can also avoid exhausting conditioned house air in winter, spring, summer, and fall with that method.

I'm still working on the design stage using a lot of Nokia's ideas. I'll get to actually implementing it eventually. I've got just too much on my plate with other renovations requiring more immediate attention.

08-12-14, 08:40 AM

I have worked in my attic before...
Back in the days, when I brought the insulation from R-11 / R-19 up to R-50.

In that time I drew the following conclusions:
1. It's not somewhere I want to be for any length of time.
2. It's hot up there on a mild day.
3. I have no business being in an unfinished attic.

It pretty much rules out any uses such as for drying clothes, not to mention the humidity...

04-29-14, 07:31 PM	#11
Exeric Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: California Posts: 274 Thanks: 19 Thanked 37 Times in 28 Posts	I did a mental simulation of using a dedicated isolated laundry room with warm incoming air to the whole room used for the dryer. It won't work as I was thinking. When a person would open the laundry room door up to a 135 F or more heat would hit you and would then start spreading throughout the house. That would completely negate the idea of isolating the house from excess heat in warmer months. You could get around it at the expense of much complexity, including running the dryer fan for 10 minutes or so after the load is dry, while closing the (now actively operated) ceiling vent. My experience is that added layer of complexity would completely negate the original advantages of having an isolated laundry room. It seems the choice is either using one of the methods in Daox's link or nothing. Just would have to use a bigger duct so one could get away without a separate blower. Last edited by Exeric; 04-29-14 at 11:36 PM..

06-13-14, 03:26 PM	#17
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Have you done anything with this? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-30-14, 06:38 PM	#12
jeff5may Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: elizabethtown, ky, USA Posts: 2,431 Thanks: 431 Thanked 619 Times in 517 Posts	Just put in an airlock.

05-02-14, 07:52 PM	#14
nokiasixteth Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Earth Posts: 348 Thanks: 43 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts	Ive found instead of running ducts . Buying a few sheets of cheap plywood and some insulation is cheaper and bigger.

05-02-14, 09:02 PM	#15
Exeric Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: California Posts: 274 Thanks: 19 Thanked 37 Times in 28 Posts	That's sounds like a good idea. However, you will still need a damper of some sort either manual or a back draft damper, like in a bathroom. The problem is the cheap backdraft dampers are all round and also require that they are not turned upside down (sideways is OK also). It might be better to have a round duct in the attic with an elbow to it so you can install a backdraft damper sideways. Then run a square plywood duct in the laundry room to the dryer. I actually like the idea of a square roughed-in duct in the laundry room. It won't have the mickey mouse look to it of an exposed round duct.

05-02-14, 09:37 PM	#16
nokiasixteth Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Earth Posts: 348 Thanks: 43 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts	I was going to put a small piece of some sorta plastic in there with a hinge on top and at bottom a stiff piece of plastic or something and under it a 2x4. So the air could only flow out the vent and not backflow. Kinda like a 1 way valve for air duct but poor mans way.

06-13-14, 08:16 PM	#18
jeff5may Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: elizabethtown, ky, USA Posts: 2,431 Thanks: 431 Thanked 619 Times in 517 Posts	I hung a clothesline in the attic. It works perfect. I hang clothes in the morning while the attic is cool.

08-12-14, 08:40 AM	#20
8307c4 Guest Posts: n/a	I have worked in my attic before... Back in the days, when I brought the insulation from R-11 / R-19 up to R-50. In that time I drew the following conclusions: 1. It's not somewhere I want to be for any length of time. 2. It's hot up there on a mild day. 3. I have no business being in an unfinished attic. It pretty much rules out any uses such as for drying clothes, not to mention the humidity...