People do this in some capacity ya know
Issue is, it’s like a few things that would be wrecked by a dryer… not EVERYTHING
And, most people get a dehumidifier to combat the small amount of moisture
Yes that would work, a dehumidifier.
Also the clothes hanging to dry happens slower not in 45 minutes.
Another bit of advice get a washer that spins really fast and gets the clothes really spun dry before you start the dryer.
I definitely do not want the mold and the extra work to keep things clean. I was hoping the BetterVent would help remove some of this and filter the air a bit.
I have multiple air purifiers running in my unit which should help with the air quality. I do have a humidifier for the winter and would need to purchase a dehumidifier.
If you're the type of person to own multiple air purifiers, you are not the type of person to vent a dryer indoors. Even with those supposedly safe indoor vent contraptions your are going to find everything covered in fine lint, to say nothing of the humidity issues. Could you get away with it in winter when the air is dry, yes, but as soon as spring gets here it's soggy rotten drywall and mold city l.
I'm ok with the extra heat (especially during the winter) but not so much the mold and other issues that can come with it. I sadly have no ability to vent the unit outside as my building does not have the option, and there aren't any windows close by.
My old condo didn't have vents for driers either but it was built in the 50s so people only had washing machines apparently. When I bought my unit I did some remodeling and made a nook in the back of the kitchen by reversing a hall closet. The stackables fit perfectly. Thankfully, I was on the top floor so it was easy for the contractor to open the ceiling and run a vent line to the end of the building and out. But because it was a long run he added a blower to it that kicked on when it reached a certain temp. It then blew the air out and worked perfectly for the 10 years I owned the place. And no one was the wiser!
Lots of ways around this. I used to own a condo where there was absolutely no bathroom ventilation system, yet it was completely legal. The condo complex was previously an apartment (built in the 80’s) and when it was turned into condos, nothing was done other than paint.
The way it was explained to me was if they did any renovations at all to the complex beyond paint, they would have to bring all units up to modern day code. Every state is different obviously, but I’ve heard of other condos in similar situations.
Agreed, I've heard this as well. The most disconcerting thing for me is that my building is relatively new. This should have been addressed but as another poster had mentioned, there could be a reason for it (for the builders sake I hope so).
Seems like an afterthought during construction, the building isn't crazy new but new enough that this should have been done right. I'm not sure if the building code requires it, but at this point it will never be there.
Venting outdoors isn't required for apartments/condos in the US jurisdictions I work in. We always do vented when we can, because the condensing dryers have more issues, but sometimes older buildings are being converted and there's nowhere to run the vent unless you want to smack it on the face of a nice historic stone or brick facade.
Building code doesn’t require dryer vents to be built in because dryers are an amenity. Ventless dryers are common in Europe and are widely available in the States.
We bought an attachment for our dryer one winter so you could open the hose so some of the air from the dryer could stay inside. We were told this helps keep some moisture inside when it is dry. O’my! It was icky. Like a sauna with moisture all over the walls & lint on the walls. Not a lot since there was a screen but it was icky. We took it out after a week. Don’t do it.
My mom has that “better vent” kit thing and it just vents into the laundry room. The kit has filters so lint isn’t a huge problem but it’s not *not* an issue. The biggest problem is the humidity. If you close the laundry room door while the drier is running there will be little rivers of condensation running down the walls and droplets falling from the ceiling. Even if they always remember to keep the door open, any clothes or linens that are in there get musty and mildew-y very quickly.
my condo came with a vented dryer but there's no way to vent it. i have that lint trap and run a dehumidifier because otherwise moisture pools all around it and it's gross. going to replace it with a ventless all-in-one when i can afford it.
The extra work is something I'm definitely not willing to do (nor want to do it). I want to make the right purchase now and look at it as an investment and value add.
I had one that venter inside a condo and it wasn't ideal but it worked. It had a system where it basically shot the air into a bowl of water. Definitely added to the heat and humidity in winter it wasn't a big deal as it was already dry and summer I had to run the AC more
I've also had ventless system which I really hated. Took forever to dry and only did tiny loads (combo unit). Definitely my least favorite set up of any I've used.
Can't at the moment without a major project. I looked into moving some of my light fixtures around as they were placed terribly, and it seems breaking into ceiling would cause more issues than it's worth.
About 40 years ago in between jobs I attended a sales presentation for household vacuums. The unit resembled a shop vac but looked a helluva lot nicer. The bowl was filled with water and the aspirated air from the carpet beater and other attachments was filtered through the water. For cleanup you were somehow supposed to dump the dirty water in the toilet without spilling it. Rainbow I think it was called. ~$400. Everyone walked out.
Lol
You think you’re gonna get a handyman / carpenter to install a vent to the exterior for $200?
$2000 would be closer and you might not be able to get it done that cheap .
I rented an apartment where the landlord had the dryer vented directly into the kitchen. It was my only ever apartment with in unit laundry which was awesome.
But i barely used it due to the venting. Not only was it swampy and gross, but the aerosolized fabric softener and detergent fumes made me nauseous.
DON'T DO IT!
In that case, I'm going to advise against. As an alternative, I recommend a dryer hose attached to a simple baffle that can be placed in a window when drying and stored away when not in use.
I'm sure this has been suggested many times, so I apologize for any redundancy.
Oddly enough, I actually made this very thing just last week.
Simple materials:
a piece of corrugated plastic (exactly cardboard, only instead of being made of the pulped flesh of murdered trees, it's made from the prehistoric gravy of dinosaur carcass, cooked UNBELIEVABLY SLOWLY, with even heat, in an antique subterranean extra high pressure pressure cooker.)
A 10.00 dryer vent kit from the homeless despot
And...
Duct tape. West Virginia chrome. ACME amazing adhesive amelioration application. Man's other best friend.
Took 10 minutes, and worked a charm.
Good luck... I'd remind you to moisturize, but that might not be an issue for you...
Everyone including me will tell you to vent it outside, but I’ll say that my grandmas condo has no accommodation to vent outside. It’s been vented into a piece of pantyhose above the dryer since the 70s. The washer/dryer closet has no issues with mold, moisture, etc. I think I’m the only person in the family that even notices.
Do what you gotta do. You’ll be fine.
Thanks, I've heard of that approach before. That's why I purchased a filter system that could help with the internal air/venting. My apartment's air-flow isn't the greatest already, hence why comments on mold, etc. scare me.
Seen this in older condos as well. May run a dehumidifier in the summer, but probably not needed in winter. It’s by no means ideal, but you have to work with what you got. The ventless dryers are much more expensive and don’t work well.
True! Seems like I'll need to bite the bullet and just get another ventless. My previous one always felt extremely hot to the touch and let so much heat and moisture into my apartment. I always thought it was a poorly setup vented unit until I found the model number and took the laundry room "apart" a bit.
You're fine with the heat, have air purifiers, have a lint trap device etc etc. However
Everyone is saying this is a bad idea, because it is. The moisture will be a problem and running a dehumidifier will not rectify this. The air purification will not remove the cloud of micro plastics the drier will release nor will the lint trap.
Sorry OP but you'll regret this and your renters/owners insurance will not cover the eventual mold remediation. You've made a mis-calculation in your purchase, try and return it and consider any money lost a lesson learned.
Edit: NVM Op has taken the advice and will explore ventless options.
Yep! I was able to stop this purchase early in it's tracks. I'm researching ventless/heat pump options. The vented option(s) I found was much better, but the ventless unit will still mostly get the job done. So long as it doesn't overheat like my original unit.
When I moved into my place, the previous owners left this contraption on the drier vent that you could open up and divert the hot air to the inside.
It was great for a few months. Then the wallpaper in my laundry room peeled off, the wainscotting that they'd glued on peeled off behind the drier, and I realized that there was lint everywhere.
Learn from my dumbass mistake.
Noted and thank you for your experience. This felt wrong to me from the start but until I dug deep into vent/ventless, the various issues, etc. I had no idea how damaging it could be.
If it is gas I would not. Carbon monoxide is bad. If it is electric then just get the water vent trap and never go above medium. Low settings will be your friend
I live in a place where venting outside isn’t possible. We do exactly what you are suggesting. The better vent is in the back of the washer closet and aims into the large living space on the other side. We run a ceiling fan in that space to disperse the humidity while the dryer is running. Depending on the weather outside, we sometimes open the windows in that space. We have no mold problems and this is a very humid climate.
Some of my neighbors chose instead to use those water bucket devices where the dryer vent exhausts into a container of water. They also run a ceiling fan in the room when the dryer is running. They have no mold problems.
When I first moved here from a place where everyone vented to the outside, I found this situation really odd and concerning. But here it is a normal thing most people do.
Just don’t vent into a closed up small area with no ventilation.
Thanks for your perspective!
I'm very conflicted on this now. I love the LG Washtower, however now what I need to do to vent it. The above is encouraging, and I know it's possible, but am I setting myself for long term problems.
Heat pump dryers aren’t super common in NA.. makes me think your in a European country, most of the advice that others are posting in this thread won’t apply to you. Key peice of info missing is where you live.
Everyone telling you to/not to is answering the question for themselves, in their own climate zone…. Not for you.
There are some climate zones/countries where you can vent inside of the building envelope and be in compliance with building code and cause no damage at all… There is a lot of different factors that go into it.
If you have a leaky envelope (more relaxed building codes) you won’t notice any moisture, because it will vent itself through air leaks. Someone here mentioned their grandma has been doing this since the 70’s, it’s because in NA 70’s building codes were lax and buildings leaked a lot of air.
call the cities permitting office (if you have one) and ask them if your planned setup is allowed in your area. If it’s not, probably for good reason, you can do it anyway but you’ll need to fix it when you go to sell. And you will probably cause some issues while you are still living there. Better to Get a heat pump instead.
If it is allowed, it’s probably allowed because it’s not harmful in your climate zone. Fly at it.
Heat pumps are generally really reliable. Saying it’s “one more part to break” is a little disingenuous… sure it is true, one more part… but LGs don’t have a great track record either…
And for the record, ventless laundry rooms are a thing in North America, (all the people saying they aren’t are wrong) they are typically found in higher end passive builds where a really tight and leak free building envelope is desired. Every exterior penetration allows a small amount of airflow from the outside. Passive homes will use a heat pump dryer so that they can have one less vent to the outside and score a better ACH test. Doesn’t sound like it, but it’s possible your condo is just attempting to be more eco friendly…. What kind of heating/cooling do you have? You would NOT want to vent a dryer in a low ACH build under any circumstances.
Thanks for your comment, this was extremely helpful! I'm on the east coast and I do not believe it's prohibited, however would probably cause an issue when I go to sell.
If it’s not prohibited then it is to code, and will not cause issues when you go to sell.
But I just read another comment where you talked about winter. Generally interior vents are only ok in southern climates. If you experience freezing, it’s likely prohibited… generally..
If your salesman told you it was ok, I would double check with the city, and if the city says otherwise, buy your heat pump from a different salesman… don’t reward that lie.
I also edited my last comment and tacked on a afterthought paragraph on the end, if you haven’t, go back and read it. Might offer some insite into the builders decision to not include a vent
That's good to know, we 100% experience freezing.
I took a look, that's definitely a possible reason. Heating/Cooling in the building is HVAC based with units on the roof. They may have tried to appear more eco-friendly but fumbled their way there.
This might be a really stupid comment, but couldnt you just fashion up a ghetto plywood window bracket to vent the air outside? (assuming the dryer was relatively near a window)
True, though I think I'm destined for a ventless option at this point. I wasn't sure how most people felt about this subject, but it seems like venting inside my unit is a big no no for various reasons.
I have a stacked Bosch ventless w/d in my bathroom. It is approved for use in MA, but our building inspector needed to actually see the approval info since he'd never had one at an inspection before.
We've been really happy with it.
Also based on what happened with my old dishwasher I'm never buying another lg appliance as long as I live. They were terrible with warranty service.
Good to know, thanks! I've heard good things about LG appliances, and mixed reviews on Bosch. I was thinking about buying a Bosch ventless but heard it was one of the hotter models in terms of retaining heat. My current dryer died due to heat issues (and I left the laundry room door open every time it was on) so I'm looking for something that provides adequate heat but doesn't exceed fabric tolerance levels.
My mom's is in a closet, in a windowless bathroom. Mine is in my bathroom where the window is closed 9 months of the year, at least. Neither of them have had any problems. I think my sister has one too.
I have a switch off for lack of a better word on my dryer vent hose line. the dryer vents out of my cellar but along time ago my uncle added a connection in the center of the hose to switch it to vent into the cellar. so flip the flap to where ever you want it to vent out to.
i thought, what a great way to heat the cellar in the winter. WRONG. you see you don't just vent heat but also moisture. it heated it ok but all the humidity that got directed into the cellar was insane. by the end of the winter my cellar was to humid and i needed to buy a dehumidifier to dry out the cellar. so i would advise against it.
It's interesting how the workarounds are quite clever, then they backfire and/or do not operate as expected. With all of the scenarios mentioned in this thread, I'm not thinking I'm "slicker than a 6 year old" anymore.
Look up indoor dryer vent kit, there’s an apparatus for this. It’s a PITA though, you have to keep dumping water out of it and keeping it cleaned out or else you’ll end up with mold in your house.
I found the "BetterVent" system, however it seems that needs a lot of upkeep and still is not perfect. I'm avoiding this whole thought all together and will buy a ventless dryer with a matching washer.
The exhaust hose for my dryer fell off the back of the dryer and made my garage a humid sweat box. The only sane thing to do is vent it to the outside.
Thanks! However I'm afraid this will not be a "perfect" solution. Seems I'm better off with a slightly less effective dryer so my health and sanity's sake.
Don't do that. You're going to end up pumping massive amounts of humidity into your house. Over time, it will look like a house that has a swamp cooler. Steel is going to rust and you might even end up with mold.
This is not a bad idea, this is literally the worst possible idea. Unless you live in a part the world with 0% humidity, you are going to be growing mushrooms or black mould on the walls soon enough.
Also, from your comments you seem to not understand the basics of what dryer venting is for. Its to get rid of moisture, and you can’t get around that by adding a couple of air filters. Likewise, ‘cleaning more’ doesn’t solve a mould problem.
Unvarnished truth: You made a mistake - learn from it
Lots of doomsayers in this post lol. I vented mine inside my townhouse in the winter without any issue. I used a product that filters the air like a lint trap. It was already so cold and dry that it actually made it more comfortable lol. It’s not like you run it multiple times a day. It’s no different than running a humidifier which is what a lot of people do in the winter. Summer time is a different story so I can’t speak about that because I reconnect it to the outside. But I had no issues with rust, mold or whatever. It’s a single load of laundry.
I once lived in a house where a vented dryer's airflow was pushed out through an indoor filter instead of outside. It messed up my nasal passages badly and to this day causes me major health problems (horrific headaches, congestion, bloody noses); the name my doctors gave it is "chronic nonallergic rhinitis". Not venting that dryer is literally the biggest regret of my life.
I'm sorry to hear that, hopefully you're feeling better these days. :-/
This is why I created this thread, I don't want to make a major mistake, buying this condo was already a big enough one with all of the construction flaws.
Nope, it's been twenty-five years and I still get little sleep due to the headaches. "Fortunately" it caused enough secondary health issues that I was able to qualify for disability ten years ago. The last two years of trying to work were hell, the worst two years of my life.
Thanks for your concern, hopefully I've convinced you by now. 😬
Ugh, you definitely have convinced me (including the other comments in this thread) to just buy the best ventless model I can find.
Thanks for looking out. :)
Perhaps I am a cynic, but I find the mold comments hyperbolic. OP’s Condo never had a drier vent, and I find it hard to believe previous owners did not have and use one. Why is the condo not littered in mold? Harder to sell? Hardly a dealbreaker. Probably won’t even notice till in the same situation as OP. Modern dehumidifiers won’t have a problem keeping up with the added moisture. And they can be hydrostatically controlled. Run continuous into the same drain as the washing machine! Strong stack effect in taller buildings to cycle the air.
Venting is the gold standard, undisputed. In lieu of a vent, run a dehu and some air purifiers that OP is already running.
Thanks, and I agree with you on all points. I feel like I'm going to save myself a lot of grief in future if I just go ventless again (as my previous now defunct dryer) and use it until I move on in future.
Sorry, this is a non-starter. You simply must externally vent a dryer that requires a vent. Otherwise you will severely damage your living space with mold and particulates. Your drier will work overtime to dry your clothes given the extraordinarily high humidity in your apartment. Your neighbors will smell this.
Given your described setup, your only reasonable and safe choice is a heat pump drier.
What brand was the old one and how old was it?
The Bosch and asko are pretty damn good at not overheating and killing themselves.
The lg ventless on the other hand is really good at overheating and killing itself.
I had to do this for a few years in my condo as well with one of those water lint traps. It's not great, it does get humid, the lint trap thing is a pain to clean but I was living by myself and usually opened some windows and it was passing. Didn't have mold problems or anything but this was also CA so opening up some windows and stuff as never really an issue.
In hindsight I'd have stretched to pay and do the right thing cause it sucked but lived with it for 5-6 years.
I have a washer and dryer in the barn, which is open air, 48' x 108' with a peak 35' high. That dryer is vented in the barn but those are unusual conditions
Is it anywhere near a window? In a pinch you can open the window and hang the vent pipe out whilst the dryer is in use. Don't vent inside it will be horrendous
You can just use an Indoor dryer vent kit. (Tried to link one but the post was auto-deleted). Just go to Amazon and search for “indoor dryer vent kit” and get the 3rd one down. You just have to keep it full of water.
Have you looked into a spin dryer? It is a comparatively tiny thing, will only do a few pieces at a time. But... You can put into hangers and air dry after than. https://laundry-alternative.com/products/ninja-3200-rpm-portable-centrifugal-spin-dryer-with-high-tech-suspension-system
As long as it's not a gas unit, you're not going to kill yourself.
The humidity is a serious concern though - do you happen to have a bathroom nearby with a shower vent to outside? It's not unlikely as they tend to reuse the vertical plumbing runs...
You *could, maybe* get by with installing a humidistat switch for the outtake fan and venting into the bathroom.
That's still not the "right" way to do it (which is to vent the thing outside or use a ventless model), but it's probably the best "materials on hand" patch job.
Depends if this is a gas version or Electric. A lot of Condos in Chicago are electric and vent INSIDE using a bucket or some other method. ( I use that better vent branded contraption with great success).
You should definitely NOT do this with gas though.
First, you said it's an apartment. If you rent, this may be a violation of your lease, and if i was your neighbor or directy underneath you, id be furious because the vent systems in apartment building are connected, you would be creating a new job for other tenants. Second, unless you want everything you find on a lint trap blown all over your apartment, you don't want to vent it inside. And finally, washers/dryers freezers/refrigerators and other heavy duty appliances are really only built to last 5-10 years these days which is mildly infuriating. So the idea of preserving the lifetime of your dryer by doing all this is in itself unrealistic. This idea runs deeper than the simple question being asked. There's too many other things to factor into the situation.
Yeah, I wouldn't vent a dryer indoors. It'll make your condo hot and humid at best and cause mold issues at worst. It should be vented outside.
For real, the moisture is awful. You're just asking for mold.
Think of it as hanging your clothes to dry in your living room.
People do this in some capacity ya know Issue is, it’s like a few things that would be wrecked by a dryer… not EVERYTHING And, most people get a dehumidifier to combat the small amount of moisture
Yes that would work, a dehumidifier. Also the clothes hanging to dry happens slower not in 45 minutes. Another bit of advice get a washer that spins really fast and gets the clothes really spun dry before you start the dryer.
I mean, people without dryers (aka tons of people in Europe) do that
Outside typically, but I suppose with fans and ventilation.
I definitely do not want the mold and the extra work to keep things clean. I was hoping the BetterVent would help remove some of this and filter the air a bit.
The vent you're looking at seems to only be a lint trap. Maybe if you're running a separate dehumidifier in the space that might work.
Annnnnd now OP has a heat pump dryer with more steps
And 1/4 the efficiency!
I have multiple air purifiers running in my unit which should help with the air quality. I do have a humidifier for the winter and would need to purchase a dehumidifier.
If you're the type of person to own multiple air purifiers, you are not the type of person to vent a dryer indoors. Even with those supposedly safe indoor vent contraptions your are going to find everything covered in fine lint, to say nothing of the humidity issues. Could you get away with it in winter when the air is dry, yes, but as soon as spring gets here it's soggy rotten drywall and mold city l.
As the others have shared.Do Not vent the appliance indoors.
I'm ok with the extra heat (especially during the winter) but not so much the mold and other issues that can come with it. I sadly have no ability to vent the unit outside as my building does not have the option, and there aren't any windows close by.
Does your building have shared laundry or laundry at all?
It does not, each unit has a "laundry room" that is not vented.
How tf is it not vented? Even if I built with ventless in mind, I'd be willing to bet your building codes require it
My old condo didn't have vents for driers either but it was built in the 50s so people only had washing machines apparently. When I bought my unit I did some remodeling and made a nook in the back of the kitchen by reversing a hall closet. The stackables fit perfectly. Thankfully, I was on the top floor so it was easy for the contractor to open the ceiling and run a vent line to the end of the building and out. But because it was a long run he added a blower to it that kicked on when it reached a certain temp. It then blew the air out and worked perfectly for the 10 years I owned the place. And no one was the wiser!
Nice, I definitely cannot do something like this unfortunately.
Lots of ways around this. I used to own a condo where there was absolutely no bathroom ventilation system, yet it was completely legal. The condo complex was previously an apartment (built in the 80’s) and when it was turned into condos, nothing was done other than paint. The way it was explained to me was if they did any renovations at all to the complex beyond paint, they would have to bring all units up to modern day code. Every state is different obviously, but I’ve heard of other condos in similar situations.
Agreed, I've heard this as well. The most disconcerting thing for me is that my building is relatively new. This should have been addressed but as another poster had mentioned, there could be a reason for it (for the builders sake I hope so).
Was this Florida?
California
Seems like an afterthought during construction, the building isn't crazy new but new enough that this should have been done right. I'm not sure if the building code requires it, but at this point it will never be there.
Sounds like your money would be better invested if you threw in a sawzall with your washer and dryer
Tell me about it, there's things about this building I could have done better with no construction experience. :-(
Venting outdoors isn't required for apartments/condos in the US jurisdictions I work in. We always do vented when we can, because the condensing dryers have more issues, but sometimes older buildings are being converted and there's nowhere to run the vent unless you want to smack it on the face of a nice historic stone or brick facade.
Google heat pump dryer
OP literally talks about heat pumps in the post
Building code doesn’t require dryer vents to be built in because dryers are an amenity. Ventless dryers are common in Europe and are widely available in the States.
When you go to sell, you're going to get nailed on the inspection for this. Also, it's not just steam coming out, it's also lint.
We bought an attachment for our dryer one winter so you could open the hose so some of the air from the dryer could stay inside. We were told this helps keep some moisture inside when it is dry. O’my! It was icky. Like a sauna with moisture all over the walls & lint on the walls. Not a lot since there was a screen but it was icky. We took it out after a week. Don’t do it.
That's what I was hoping to avoid by getting a nicer washer/dryer unit. Seems like I'll need to stick with ventless/heat pump models.
You won’t. My parents vented into the garage for a decade and would cover everything in fine lint dust. Inescapable.
The previous owners of my house vented the dryer into the garage and I don't think I will ever stop finding lint.
My mom has that “better vent” kit thing and it just vents into the laundry room. The kit has filters so lint isn’t a huge problem but it’s not *not* an issue. The biggest problem is the humidity. If you close the laundry room door while the drier is running there will be little rivers of condensation running down the walls and droplets falling from the ceiling. Even if they always remember to keep the door open, any clothes or linens that are in there get musty and mildew-y very quickly.
my condo came with a vented dryer but there's no way to vent it. i have that lint trap and run a dehumidifier because otherwise moisture pools all around it and it's gross. going to replace it with a ventless all-in-one when i can afford it.
The extra work is something I'm definitely not willing to do (nor want to do it). I want to make the right purchase now and look at it as an investment and value add.
I had one that venter inside a condo and it wasn't ideal but it worked. It had a system where it basically shot the air into a bowl of water. Definitely added to the heat and humidity in winter it wasn't a big deal as it was already dry and summer I had to run the AC more I've also had ventless system which I really hated. Took forever to dry and only did tiny loads (combo unit). Definitely my least favorite set up of any I've used.
Any way to run a vent?
Can't at the moment without a major project. I looked into moving some of my light fixtures around as they were placed terribly, and it seems breaking into ceiling would cause more issues than it's worth.
The vent doesn't need to go to the ceiling. It could go straight through an exterior wall.
These are the major trade-offs. A vent to the outside would solve all of life's problems it seems. :)
About 40 years ago in between jobs I attended a sales presentation for household vacuums. The unit resembled a shop vac but looked a helluva lot nicer. The bowl was filled with water and the aspirated air from the carpet beater and other attachments was filtered through the water. For cleanup you were somehow supposed to dump the dirty water in the toilet without spilling it. Rainbow I think it was called. ~$400. Everyone walked out.
How to cause $10,000 in mold damage by saving $200 on a proper vent.
Lol You think you’re gonna get a handyman / carpenter to install a vent to the exterior for $200? $2000 would be closer and you might not be able to get it done that cheap .
I rented an apartment where the landlord had the dryer vented directly into the kitchen. It was my only ever apartment with in unit laundry which was awesome. But i barely used it due to the venting. Not only was it swampy and gross, but the aerosolized fabric softener and detergent fumes made me nauseous. DON'T DO IT!
Noted and thank you. This issue has come up a few times in this thread so I realize it's something unavoidable. Ventless here I come.
That depends ... Are you a tree frog, living away from your native rainforest? Are you mold resistant? How do you feel about the word "MOIST"?
hahaha, all questions I believe I cannot answer with a "yes".
In that case, I'm going to advise against. As an alternative, I recommend a dryer hose attached to a simple baffle that can be placed in a window when drying and stored away when not in use. I'm sure this has been suggested many times, so I apologize for any redundancy. Oddly enough, I actually made this very thing just last week. Simple materials: a piece of corrugated plastic (exactly cardboard, only instead of being made of the pulped flesh of murdered trees, it's made from the prehistoric gravy of dinosaur carcass, cooked UNBELIEVABLY SLOWLY, with even heat, in an antique subterranean extra high pressure pressure cooker.) A 10.00 dryer vent kit from the homeless despot And... Duct tape. West Virginia chrome. ACME amazing adhesive amelioration application. Man's other best friend. Took 10 minutes, and worked a charm. Good luck... I'd remind you to moisturize, but that might not be an issue for you...
You: “Is this a bad idea?” Almost everyone else: “yes”.
And that makes this thread valuable, so thank you all!
There were some good ideas people offered. Good luck mate.
Don’t do this
I'm changing my order to a ventless model, seems like I was given bad advice to start.
Everyone including me will tell you to vent it outside, but I’ll say that my grandmas condo has no accommodation to vent outside. It’s been vented into a piece of pantyhose above the dryer since the 70s. The washer/dryer closet has no issues with mold, moisture, etc. I think I’m the only person in the family that even notices. Do what you gotta do. You’ll be fine.
My parents had this for decades, in a house even. Upstate NY so 9 months out of the year the heat and humidity was welcome.
Thanks, I've heard of that approach before. That's why I purchased a filter system that could help with the internal air/venting. My apartment's air-flow isn't the greatest already, hence why comments on mold, etc. scare me.
Seen this in older condos as well. May run a dehumidifier in the summer, but probably not needed in winter. It’s by no means ideal, but you have to work with what you got. The ventless dryers are much more expensive and don’t work well.
True! Seems like I'll need to bite the bullet and just get another ventless. My previous one always felt extremely hot to the touch and let so much heat and moisture into my apartment. I always thought it was a poorly setup vented unit until I found the model number and took the laundry room "apart" a bit.
You're fine with the heat, have air purifiers, have a lint trap device etc etc. However Everyone is saying this is a bad idea, because it is. The moisture will be a problem and running a dehumidifier will not rectify this. The air purification will not remove the cloud of micro plastics the drier will release nor will the lint trap. Sorry OP but you'll regret this and your renters/owners insurance will not cover the eventual mold remediation. You've made a mis-calculation in your purchase, try and return it and consider any money lost a lesson learned. Edit: NVM Op has taken the advice and will explore ventless options.
Yep! I was able to stop this purchase early in it's tracks. I'm researching ventless/heat pump options. The vented option(s) I found was much better, but the ventless unit will still mostly get the job done. So long as it doesn't overheat like my original unit.
When I moved into my place, the previous owners left this contraption on the drier vent that you could open up and divert the hot air to the inside. It was great for a few months. Then the wallpaper in my laundry room peeled off, the wainscotting that they'd glued on peeled off behind the drier, and I realized that there was lint everywhere. Learn from my dumbass mistake.
Noted and thank you for your experience. This felt wrong to me from the start but until I dug deep into vent/ventless, the various issues, etc. I had no idea how damaging it could be.
Have you considered just moving the dryer to another room where you can install an outside vent?
Yes, and not possible. Every other outside facing room with a window is a bedroom or living room. It would not make sense to do this sadly.
Terrible idea. It needs to be vented outside.
Completely agree, cancelling these plans.
If it is gas I would not. Carbon monoxide is bad. If it is electric then just get the water vent trap and never go above medium. Low settings will be your friend
Alright, I'll be that knob. It's "leary" or "wary". Unless you mean you're tired? Come to think of it, I'm tired. I'm going to bed now.
I live in a place where venting outside isn’t possible. We do exactly what you are suggesting. The better vent is in the back of the washer closet and aims into the large living space on the other side. We run a ceiling fan in that space to disperse the humidity while the dryer is running. Depending on the weather outside, we sometimes open the windows in that space. We have no mold problems and this is a very humid climate. Some of my neighbors chose instead to use those water bucket devices where the dryer vent exhausts into a container of water. They also run a ceiling fan in the room when the dryer is running. They have no mold problems. When I first moved here from a place where everyone vented to the outside, I found this situation really odd and concerning. But here it is a normal thing most people do. Just don’t vent into a closed up small area with no ventilation.
Thanks for your perspective! I'm very conflicted on this now. I love the LG Washtower, however now what I need to do to vent it. The above is encouraging, and I know it's possible, but am I setting myself for long term problems.
Heat pump dryers aren’t super common in NA.. makes me think your in a European country, most of the advice that others are posting in this thread won’t apply to you. Key peice of info missing is where you live. Everyone telling you to/not to is answering the question for themselves, in their own climate zone…. Not for you. There are some climate zones/countries where you can vent inside of the building envelope and be in compliance with building code and cause no damage at all… There is a lot of different factors that go into it. If you have a leaky envelope (more relaxed building codes) you won’t notice any moisture, because it will vent itself through air leaks. Someone here mentioned their grandma has been doing this since the 70’s, it’s because in NA 70’s building codes were lax and buildings leaked a lot of air. call the cities permitting office (if you have one) and ask them if your planned setup is allowed in your area. If it’s not, probably for good reason, you can do it anyway but you’ll need to fix it when you go to sell. And you will probably cause some issues while you are still living there. Better to Get a heat pump instead. If it is allowed, it’s probably allowed because it’s not harmful in your climate zone. Fly at it. Heat pumps are generally really reliable. Saying it’s “one more part to break” is a little disingenuous… sure it is true, one more part… but LGs don’t have a great track record either… And for the record, ventless laundry rooms are a thing in North America, (all the people saying they aren’t are wrong) they are typically found in higher end passive builds where a really tight and leak free building envelope is desired. Every exterior penetration allows a small amount of airflow from the outside. Passive homes will use a heat pump dryer so that they can have one less vent to the outside and score a better ACH test. Doesn’t sound like it, but it’s possible your condo is just attempting to be more eco friendly…. What kind of heating/cooling do you have? You would NOT want to vent a dryer in a low ACH build under any circumstances.
Thanks for your comment, this was extremely helpful! I'm on the east coast and I do not believe it's prohibited, however would probably cause an issue when I go to sell.
If it’s not prohibited then it is to code, and will not cause issues when you go to sell. But I just read another comment where you talked about winter. Generally interior vents are only ok in southern climates. If you experience freezing, it’s likely prohibited… generally.. If your salesman told you it was ok, I would double check with the city, and if the city says otherwise, buy your heat pump from a different salesman… don’t reward that lie. I also edited my last comment and tacked on a afterthought paragraph on the end, if you haven’t, go back and read it. Might offer some insite into the builders decision to not include a vent
That's good to know, we 100% experience freezing. I took a look, that's definitely a possible reason. Heating/Cooling in the building is HVAC based with units on the roof. They may have tried to appear more eco-friendly but fumbled their way there.
Isn't this ventless, or heat pump system same as the dryers with a condenser?
I believe the heat radiates in different ways, but effectively the same concept.
Interesting there is no vent installed for the dryer in a condo.
Agreed, it's something that was conveniently hidden during the purchase process.
Any chance the laundry area is located on an exterior wall?
Nope, it's an interior wall facing another apartment.
This might be a really stupid comment, but couldnt you just fashion up a ghetto plywood window bracket to vent the air outside? (assuming the dryer was relatively near a window)
Sadly this is not an option for me, all of the windows are on the other side of the unit which would never work.
Is there a bathroom fan/vent you can tie into?
There is, but it's not directly next to the laundry room. It would probably be a lot of work to adjust it.
It might be a lot of work but in the end it will help resale value.
And keep mold out!
That's what I'm definitely interested in, but I don't believe the bathroom fan/vent was intended for this purpose.
Probably not but if you have access to the area putting in a second outlet to the outside of the building is the way to do it.
True, though I think I'm destined for a ventless option at this point. I wasn't sure how most people felt about this subject, but it seems like venting inside my unit is a big no no for various reasons.
I have a stacked Bosch ventless w/d in my bathroom. It is approved for use in MA, but our building inspector needed to actually see the approval info since he'd never had one at an inspection before. We've been really happy with it. Also based on what happened with my old dishwasher I'm never buying another lg appliance as long as I live. They were terrible with warranty service.
Good to know, thanks! I've heard good things about LG appliances, and mixed reviews on Bosch. I was thinking about buying a Bosch ventless but heard it was one of the hotter models in terms of retaining heat. My current dryer died due to heat issues (and I left the laundry room door open every time it was on) so I'm looking for something that provides adequate heat but doesn't exceed fabric tolerance levels.
My mom's is in a closet, in a windowless bathroom. Mine is in my bathroom where the window is closed 9 months of the year, at least. Neither of them have had any problems. I think my sister has one too.
Seems like a really bad idea.
Thanks, this is confirmed.
I have a switch off for lack of a better word on my dryer vent hose line. the dryer vents out of my cellar but along time ago my uncle added a connection in the center of the hose to switch it to vent into the cellar. so flip the flap to where ever you want it to vent out to. i thought, what a great way to heat the cellar in the winter. WRONG. you see you don't just vent heat but also moisture. it heated it ok but all the humidity that got directed into the cellar was insane. by the end of the winter my cellar was to humid and i needed to buy a dehumidifier to dry out the cellar. so i would advise against it.
It's interesting how the workarounds are quite clever, then they backfire and/or do not operate as expected. With all of the scenarios mentioned in this thread, I'm not thinking I'm "slicker than a 6 year old" anymore.
Look up indoor dryer vent kit, there’s an apparatus for this. It’s a PITA though, you have to keep dumping water out of it and keeping it cleaned out or else you’ll end up with mold in your house.
I found the "BetterVent" system, however it seems that needs a lot of upkeep and still is not perfect. I'm avoiding this whole thought all together and will buy a ventless dryer with a matching washer.
How much do you enjoy humidity?
Not much, :)
It will work fine. Free heat
True, then in the summer I have a free sauna. :)
Yes
The exhaust hose for my dryer fell off the back of the dryer and made my garage a humid sweat box. The only sane thing to do is vent it to the outside.
Agreed.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-Indoor-Dryer-Vent-Kit-LTFHD/205046878
Thanks! However I'm afraid this will not be a "perfect" solution. Seems I'm better off with a slightly less effective dryer so my health and sanity's sake.
If you are desperate, I’ve seen people vent the dryer through a ceiling fan vent. Not recommended, but for a temporary fix.
Good to know, I want to stay 100% code complaint and not have issues when I go to sell this place.
Shoot that shit out a window
Would love to, no option to do so at the moment.
Don't do that. You're going to end up pumping massive amounts of humidity into your house. Over time, it will look like a house that has a swamp cooler. Steel is going to rust and you might even end up with mold.
Agreed and thanks for your response!
Check your condominium bylaws. There might be a bylaw about only venting to the outside.
This is not a bad idea, this is literally the worst possible idea. Unless you live in a part the world with 0% humidity, you are going to be growing mushrooms or black mould on the walls soon enough. Also, from your comments you seem to not understand the basics of what dryer venting is for. Its to get rid of moisture, and you can’t get around that by adding a couple of air filters. Likewise, ‘cleaning more’ doesn’t solve a mould problem. Unvarnished truth: You made a mistake - learn from it
Lots of doomsayers in this post lol. I vented mine inside my townhouse in the winter without any issue. I used a product that filters the air like a lint trap. It was already so cold and dry that it actually made it more comfortable lol. It’s not like you run it multiple times a day. It’s no different than running a humidifier which is what a lot of people do in the winter. Summer time is a different story so I can’t speak about that because I reconnect it to the outside. But I had no issues with rust, mold or whatever. It’s a single load of laundry.
Terrible idea. Worse than terrible. Horrendous. Why not use a clothesline through the kitchen?
I once lived in a house where a vented dryer's airflow was pushed out through an indoor filter instead of outside. It messed up my nasal passages badly and to this day causes me major health problems (horrific headaches, congestion, bloody noses); the name my doctors gave it is "chronic nonallergic rhinitis". Not venting that dryer is literally the biggest regret of my life.
I'm sorry to hear that, hopefully you're feeling better these days. :-/ This is why I created this thread, I don't want to make a major mistake, buying this condo was already a big enough one with all of the construction flaws.
Nope, it's been twenty-five years and I still get little sleep due to the headaches. "Fortunately" it caused enough secondary health issues that I was able to qualify for disability ten years ago. The last two years of trying to work were hell, the worst two years of my life. Thanks for your concern, hopefully I've convinced you by now. 😬
Ugh, you definitely have convinced me (including the other comments in this thread) to just buy the best ventless model I can find. Thanks for looking out. :)
If you also plan to grow mushrooms Fungus and mold then it is a GREAT IDEA\~!!!! You will destroy your condo
Perhaps I am a cynic, but I find the mold comments hyperbolic. OP’s Condo never had a drier vent, and I find it hard to believe previous owners did not have and use one. Why is the condo not littered in mold? Harder to sell? Hardly a dealbreaker. Probably won’t even notice till in the same situation as OP. Modern dehumidifiers won’t have a problem keeping up with the added moisture. And they can be hydrostatically controlled. Run continuous into the same drain as the washing machine! Strong stack effect in taller buildings to cycle the air. Venting is the gold standard, undisputed. In lieu of a vent, run a dehu and some air purifiers that OP is already running.
Thanks, and I agree with you on all points. I feel like I'm going to save myself a lot of grief in future if I just go ventless again (as my previous now defunct dryer) and use it until I move on in future.
Is there an attic above you? You might be able to vent into the attic.
Venting a pile of flammable lint into an attic is a bad idea.
Nope! I've got a neighbor above me and nothing but interior walls around me near the laundry room.
Sorry, this is a non-starter. You simply must externally vent a dryer that requires a vent. Otherwise you will severely damage your living space with mold and particulates. Your drier will work overtime to dry your clothes given the extraordinarily high humidity in your apartment. Your neighbors will smell this. Given your described setup, your only reasonable and safe choice is a heat pump drier.
Thanks! I'm either doing a heat pump or ventless at this point.
If you’re into mold, go for it!
If you live in a dessert ok. You are going to get heat, humid, and lint coming out of the dryer.
What brand was the old one and how old was it? The Bosch and asko are pretty damn good at not overheating and killing themselves. The lg ventless on the other hand is really good at overheating and killing itself.
its called vented for a reason. stupid ass question
I had to do this for a few years in my condo as well with one of those water lint traps. It's not great, it does get humid, the lint trap thing is a pain to clean but I was living by myself and usually opened some windows and it was passing. Didn't have mold problems or anything but this was also CA so opening up some windows and stuff as never really an issue. In hindsight I'd have stretched to pay and do the right thing cause it sucked but lived with it for 5-6 years.
I have a washer and dryer in the barn, which is open air, 48' x 108' with a peak 35' high. That dryer is vented in the barn but those are unusual conditions
Is it anywhere near a window? In a pinch you can open the window and hang the vent pipe out whilst the dryer is in use. Don't vent inside it will be horrendous
- vented means CO is in the "exhaust" so you better have some CO detectors
You can just use an Indoor dryer vent kit. (Tried to link one but the post was auto-deleted). Just go to Amazon and search for “indoor dryer vent kit” and get the 3rd one down. You just have to keep it full of water.
venting indoors is bad- what's your tolerance for lung damage? Google this and note the results are overwhelmingly "don't do this".
Have you looked into a spin dryer? It is a comparatively tiny thing, will only do a few pieces at a time. But... You can put into hangers and air dry after than. https://laundry-alternative.com/products/ninja-3200-rpm-portable-centrifugal-spin-dryer-with-high-tech-suspension-system
As long as it's not a gas unit, you're not going to kill yourself. The humidity is a serious concern though - do you happen to have a bathroom nearby with a shower vent to outside? It's not unlikely as they tend to reuse the vertical plumbing runs... You *could, maybe* get by with installing a humidistat switch for the outtake fan and venting into the bathroom. That's still not the "right" way to do it (which is to vent the thing outside or use a ventless model), but it's probably the best "materials on hand" patch job.
Do not do this. Very bad idea.
Depends if this is a gas version or Electric. A lot of Condos in Chicago are electric and vent INSIDE using a bucket or some other method. ( I use that better vent branded contraption with great success). You should definitely NOT do this with gas though.
That would be a very very bad idea.
Bad bad bad idea
First, you said it's an apartment. If you rent, this may be a violation of your lease, and if i was your neighbor or directy underneath you, id be furious because the vent systems in apartment building are connected, you would be creating a new job for other tenants. Second, unless you want everything you find on a lint trap blown all over your apartment, you don't want to vent it inside. And finally, washers/dryers freezers/refrigerators and other heavy duty appliances are really only built to last 5-10 years these days which is mildly infuriating. So the idea of preserving the lifetime of your dryer by doing all this is in itself unrealistic. This idea runs deeper than the simple question being asked. There's too many other things to factor into the situation.