can I use solid cabinet doors for laundry closet?

17 years ago

It looks like my W/D are staying put in the kitchen. The kitchen designer has them stacked in a 30" space (yes - tight!) with cabinet doors over the cubby so the laundry blends into the kitchen. The dryer will be vented outside, but there is very little open space above the W/D for air circulation.

I just realized that most dryer specs require vented doors even when the dryer vents outside. My designer says it's not really a problem to use non-vented doors. I hate not following the dryer installation instruction, but I also can't think of a workable solution here.

So I have 2 concerns -

1.Is the dryer safe/will it work OK with non-vented doors, 2. Will the wood (cherry) cabinet doors warp with the moisture from the dryer.

Perhaps most importantly, does anyone have any suggestion on how to resolve this?

Thanks,

Tara

Featured Answer

jakvis

17 years ago

The only way you can use a non vented door is to leave the door open whenever your use the dryer.
However much air the dryer blows outside has to be made up inside. Unless your designer is putting vents inside the closet to bring as much fresh air in as the dryer blows out your dyer will not dry clothes.

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Comments (7)

tsherman
Original Author
17 years ago
Jakvis - Thanks for your response. Not what I wanted to hear, but it makes sense.

Exploring the idea of vents inside the closet, is it at all possible to put vents in the ceiling to draw the air in from that space. The ceiling between the closet and the 2nd floor is not insulated. (Even as I type that it seems unlikely.)
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oregpsnow
17 years ago
Please be careful installing the W/D in a manner that violates the manufacturer's specs. If you have a problem and need a service call under warranty some manufacturers are getting very picky about blaming you and not paying for the fix. Dryers need a lot of air to circulate. You would need some serious vents to provide that air.

Enjoy your new kitchen. My W/D are in my kitchen, also, in a small "closet". It had a folding door over it until I replaced the old laundry center with a new stacked FL set. They stick out a bit too much to use a door, so now I can "enjoy" the view of my W/D every time I walk into the kitchen. At least I don't usually forget to take the clothes out of the dryer when they are done.
cryptandrus
17 years ago
I agree with oregpsnow. Your designer needs to come up with a solution that follows the manufacturer's specs. Otherwise you could void your warranty, shorten the life of your dryer, or even worse, cause a fire.

One possibility would be to cut off the bottom edge of the door, leaving a gap along the floor for air to get in. I've seen this done on condo furnace closets.

If it were my dryer I think I'd install the door on hardware that allows the door to fold out of the way *inside* the cabinet... you used to see doors like this on large TV armoire cabinets... then you can leave the door(s) open while you're doing laundry.
weedmeister
17 years ago
You didn't say whether this was gas or electric. It makes a big difference!

Also, there will be humidity from the washer and residual heat from the dryer.

What is on the left/right/behind this closet? Could a vent be done through those walls?
heimert
17 years ago
What about a louvre above the washer/dryer? I would not try venting from between floors--there's not much way for air to get in there.

:xxxx:
:xxxx:
:DDD:
:DDD:
:WWW:
:WWW:

Anyway, where the Xs are you would put a vent, like you see for an HVAC return. That should supply plenty of air and will be out of your usual range of vision.
lee676
17 years ago
A solid door on a laundry closet violates building codes where I live.