There are many elements that come together to deliver the best performance from your dryer. Two critical elements are the dryer’s positioning and its exhaust ducting. Dryers require power, gas (commonly), air in and air out, which evidently requires a number of connections. Therefore, dryers are best placed as close as possible to a wall that separates the interior and exterior of the building. This allows for optimal design and installation of your laundry ducts.
Laundry Duct Design
Laundry duct design is critical; a poor design may restrict airflow trapping damp air and allowing lint to accumulate. A build-up of lint only compromises the ventilation system further making it even less efficient. As the build-up continues, your dryer’s performance declines and the overall efficiency of your laundry is reduced.
The performance of your dryer’s exhaust ducting can be measured by pressure readings taken by a qualified technician. Here they can measure back pressure to ensure the system is operating as designed. The reading should match the values outlined in the dryer’s installation manual. If the ventilation system has turns, bends or is quite long, it can make it harder for the air to exhaust, contributing to higher pressure. Ideally the ducts follow the shortest possible route to outside, with minimal amount of bends. Having a larger duct pipe diameter can also help to improve the airflow, however the pipe should be sized to perfectly fit the machine.
Common Venting
While it is preferable that dryers are exhausted directly to the exterior individually, shared or common venting systems are sometimes used among multiple dryers. For these systems, extra care must be taken to ensure proper airflow. The individual tumble dryer ducts should enter the common venting system at an angle of 45 degrees in the direction of the airflow, and should never be connected at 90 degrees. Improperly sized or assembled duct work can cause excess back pressure, leading to longer drying times, increased lint collected within the duct, lint blowing back into the room and a greater potential for fire hazards.
If you believe your laundry ducts are in need of a performance review, or you are looking to set up a new laundry, be sure to reach out to a laundry duct professional to ensure you get the most out of your dryers. Without optimal dryer positioning and exhaust venting, it could cost your business in the long run.
If you need help with your laundry ducts, call Aqualogic on 1300 222 119 or make an online enquiry.