Ventless gas dryers are getting more popular nowadays due to their convenience. You’ve been tempted to get one as well. However, before purchasing, you must know how these dryers work and if they suit you. What is a ventless gas dryer?
Ventless gas dryers use gas to heat up cylinders, which then heat the air in the dryer wheel. The air is recycled, and the evaporated moisture is trapped through a compartment. As a result, ventless gas dryers are more efficient than traditional electric dryers.
This article will expand on how ventless gas dryers operate and discuss when they are most efficient. Read on and see if this exciting appliance is a proper fit for your household!
How a Ventless Gas Dryer Works
If you go to your local laundromat, you will often feel a thickness in the air due to the moisture from the dryers.
When the heated dryer wheel comes in contact with the air, the air becomes hot. The hot air causes the moisture in wet clothes to evaporate.
Regular dryers have dedicated components to suck out the air and vent it outwards.
A ventless gas dryer does not work this way. As the name suggests, it does not have a vent.
Here’s how it works instead.
The Blower Wheel and Cylinders Evaporates Moisture
The drying process for ventless gas dryers starts with the blower wheel.
The more the wheel rotates, the more it sucks in the air to the dryer. The air then passes through filters that collect lint, which need regular cleaning.
Now that the air is free from foreign particles, it passes through glass cylinders heated by gas.
When the air gets hot enough, the moisture from the clothes can now evaporate.
Therefore, for the airflow to be consistent, ventless gas dryers should not go in areas with a limited air volume.
The Dryer’s Cylinders Heat Up
The generated air pushes the flame throughout the cylinder, which heats clothes evenly in the drum.
If the flame cannot spread, the thermostat, located on one side of the cylinder, heats up. Too much heat and the thermostat will signal the burner to lower the flame.
A thermostat that constantly signals flame reduction will cause longer drying times. Gas dryers use one of two primary thermostats:
- The cycling thermostat
- The high-limit thermostat
The voltage passes through the heat, and the timer switches on the thermostat. It then travels to the burner, which activates the flame sensor. After this, one set of gas coils starts before igniting the fire.
Once the cylinder ignites, the flame sensor turns off the igniter and turns on another set of gas coils, releasing gas into the cylinder.
Despite the igniter being shut off, the heat from the cylinder and the gasses released is enough to start a flame, ensuring a high cylinder temperature hot enough to dry your clothes.
The Dryer Collects Moisture
As it passes through the cylinder, the moisture disappears from the air.
Some ventless gas dryers have a dedicated component that collects the evaporated moisture. This component needs frequent cleaning.
Some models, however, allow the user to connect a moisture collector to the hose to direct moisture to the drain.
A Pulley System Spins the Dryer Wheel
Air continues to flow inside the dryer wheel operated by a pulley system. A belt that covers the entire wheel’s circumference is attached to a drive pulley which gets it to move. Inside the wheel, little fins evenly distribute the air around the drum.
Rollers and bearings behind or below the drum (depending on the model) ensure a good rotation speed and keep the drum in place.
Is a Ventless Gas Dryer a Good Idea?
A ventless gas dryer might be a good idea, especially in certain circumstances.
Check for the Source of Power
Suppose you live in a condominium or an apartment. In that case, your landlord probably won’t allow you to use appliances that require gas.
This is because these living spaces typically have a large concentration of residences. A fire or explosion in one apartment is sure to affect another, so you might not be allowed to use a ventless gas dryer.
You are better off with an electric dryer if this is your situation. Check if a gas pipe can deliver fuel if you live in a standard house.
Getting a tank of gas will occupy more space and be a hassle. If you need to get a gas tank, you’ll need to replace it relatively frequently, especially if you use your dryer a lot.
Identify Where You Will Place Your Dryer
Ventless gas dryers are small and versatile. You don’t have to worry about placing the dryer near a drain, as it has a dedicated moisture collector.
These dryers are also very light and may go below a countertop. So yes, you can definitely move it around. You can even put the dryer in your living room and then hide it away when guests are around!
However, ventless gas dryers are better off in bigger living spaces since the cylinders require sufficient airflow to keep the flame and temperature even.
Remember that the dryer sucks in the air the entire time you use it. If your space is dusty, you must regularly clean the lint collector!
Consider Your Budget
Gas dryers have more complex mechanisms than electric dryers and are made of more costly materials. They sell for an average of $900.
However, over time, the gas dryer is often preferable over its traditional counterpart, for a lot of power is needed to produce heat. With a gas dryer, the unit has to turn on the burner, and the heated air dries out your clothes.
Furthermore, since it’s ventless, the air is recycled, making the drying process more efficient! The heat pump dryer, another ventless dryer, saves more energy than the vented kind!
Aside from that, since gas dryers require less energy, the ventless gas dryer is the more environmentally-friendly option. So if your goal is to reduce your carbon footprint, a ventless gas dryer might be for you.
Consider the Material of Your Clothes
As you may know, certain types of fabric shrink much more quickly than others. Materials that can easily shrink in the dryer include:
- Cotton
- Wool
- Silk
- Linen
If you have a lot of clothes with these materials, you may be better off with a ventless gas dryer.
You may think the fire causes your clothes to shrink much faster, but that’s not true. Gas dryers dry your clothes faster which means that your clothes aren’t exposed to as much heat and tumbling as a regular dryer.
Ventless dryers are typically much quicker than traditional, vented dryers, so you’ll be protecting the integrity of your clothes in the long run.
Consider the Outlets Available at Your Home
Ventless gas dryers run at around 120 volts and can plug into a two-prong outlet. Most electric dryers, however, need 240 volts or more and may require more prongs.
So if you live in an older house with limited voltage, this may be your appliance of choice.
Check If You Can Commit to Appliance Maintenance
Since the unit involves gas, you are at risk for gas leaks.
Among the common causes of gas leaks are degraded gas lines and improperly maintained appliances. It would help if you made it a routine to do scheduled checking of your gas lines to make sure they aren’t leaking.
A ventless gas dryer isn’t the best idea if you can’t commit to that.
The Pros of Ventless Gas Dryers
Here are a few advantages of ventless gas dryers:
- They’re more efficient than traditional electric dryers.
- They’ll save you money on your electricity bill in the long run.
- Your clothes are less likely to get damaged over time because of the quicker dryer time.
- They’re smaller than traditional dryers so they don’t take up too much space.
The Cons of Ventless Gas Dryers
Here are a few disadvantages of ventless gas dryers:
- Their upfront costs are higher than traditional electric dryers.
- You’ll need access to a higher-voltage plug.
- If you live in an apartment, you may not be allowed to install a ventless gas dryer due to building regulations.
While there are a few disadvantages, these dryers are well worth the investment overall.
Final Thoughts
With newer and newer forms of technology being churned out every day, there are many options when it comes to home appliances.
The ventless gas dryer might be for you if you’re looking for an appliance that is:
- Compact
- Energy-efficient
- Environmentally friendly
- Clothes-friendly
Sources
Attainable Home: How A Heat Pump Dryer Works | Kompare It: Compare Gas Vs. Electric Dryers | Attainable Home: Are Heat Pump Dryers More Energy-Efficient Than Vented? | ScienceDirect: Improving The Functionality Of Raw Cotton | ScienceDirect: Gas Leakage – An Overview