Could ventless clothes dryers transform MF?

With significant cost, installation and efficiency advantages, condensing laundry systems may change the way multifamily projects are designed and constructed.


(Editor note: This was a conversation pulled in from our MFI LinkedIn group. We only pulled in certain posts that addressed the feasibility of ventless clothes dryers.)

nobody actually believes these things work anymore, the buzz died five years ago. Unless your company has had some technological breakthrough which has transformed the ventless dryer then ventless dryers will transform nothing.

If you believe you have one that actually works please be in touch to give me 2 or 3 samples to try. I promise if they work i will buy hundreds.

Adam,

Thanks for your comment. I'm happy to provide a sample machine for you to test. We can also have someone come out to demo a unit. The (deleted) ventless dryer works very well and dries a full load of clothing in about an hour. I'll email you directly to set up the logistics.

Michael

I understand Adam's skepticism. We have looked into over the years and haven't found a workable solution to date. I am interested in seeing your dryer in action.

Best of luck.

Michael, what year of the IBC code is your product approved for use in and is it UL listed? I have reviewed many multi-family projects in different jurisdictions and the vent less systems have yet to be approved due to moisture concerns.

Price of the dryer and the builder would have to provide the unit, I thought was the main deterrence?

Dear Barry,

(Our) ventless dryer was approved under the IBC code in 2006. Also, the unit is UL listed for residential clothes dryers under 2158. I have the full UL listing number that I can send via email.

We've had some push back from a couple of city inspectors but received approval once UL and IBC documentation was provided.

Regards,

Michael Lee

If I can buy a ventless dryer and traditional washing machine for the same price as traditional washer/dryer combinations plus ducts, booster fans and exterior wall penetrations, you've got a customer. I have a 100 unit high-rise historic rehab going to bid in early September. I was infatuated with the ventless dryers and dishwashers several years ago until finding out pricing and listening to other's discuss their warranty issues with these products.

One concern I have is from a Construction side of this.

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?

Regarding the turn-around time for replacement or service; (We) keep 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.

In (our) 25 years in business, we’ve built a service network of more than 500 independent service providers. (Our) service manages, Rick Gale, has been with (us) for nearly 15 years and is an expert on all our products.

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 and test a sample machine before making a decision.

Who would be a comparison product the market place for ventless systems?

Bosch and Asko both make a ventless dryer. These products use a similar drying system as Thor's new dryer.

Nice, Thank you, I am excited about this. I remember the Ventless Range Hood coming into the market, and now we use them just about every place we build.

I looked at these for a historic adaptation of three towers a few years ago in Boston. We tried 2 different machines and were underwhelmed with their performance. They were also more expensive. I really can't see their logical use in new construction for a property wide application...maybe for a single stack or two (for very special conditions?).

One of my friends has a ventless dryer and it takes forever to dry clothes.

We tested several different brands last year, and I have to agree with Ross - I was underwhelmed at the performance.

We went with the ventless ones for our handicap accessible units, as they were washer/dryer style in 1 unit (NOT stackable), and so someone in a wheelchair would be able to use it easily, as they did not have to switch out the clothes from the washer to the dryer, and it still conserved space. However, it DID take FOREVER to dry.

There's a big difference between a washer dryer combo and a stacking washer with stand-alone ventless dryer. In the case of a combo (washes and dries in one drum), you sacrifice dry time and capacity for compact dimensions. Combos work best in small studio and loft apartments.

The dry systems in a combo washer dryer and a stand-alone venteless dryer are significantly different. Combo washer dryers use a water-cooled condenser (cool water is sprayed over the outside of the condensing chamber), while stand-alone ventless dryers use an air cooled condenser (similar to a standard dehumidifier).

I have found the dry times for stand-alone condensing dryers to be comparable to standard 220 volt vented dryers. Stacking washers and ventless dryers will save on installation costs because they don't require vent ducting. If the installation cost savings are greater than the price difference between a vented stacking set and a condensing stacking set (condensing sets are more expensive up front), then ventless could be a cost saving option.

In the interest of full disclosure, my company sells both types of machines (combos and stand-alone stacking).