How does dryer work?

7 years ago

In general, I guess dryer works by blowing surrounding air into the dry and heat up the air to dry clothes. Since we put our washer and dryer in the garage, I wonder if dirty gas from cars and other stuffs in the garage will go into the dryer?! Will Miele heat pump dryer be a better option?

Featured Answer

dadoes

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Clothes dryers pull room air into the machine, through a gas burner or an electric heating element housing, through the rotating drum and clothes, through a lint filter, and out the exhaust duct. Any ambient odor, dust, etc. in the room air will pass through the clothes .. but that's rarely a problem.

A specific situation can occur with gas dryers if painting, staining, or varnishing or such is done in or near the area where the dryer runs. Off-gassing chemicals (VOCs - volatile organic compounds) from the paint can cause a noxious odor when passing over the burner flame.

[Kerosene odor in clothes dryer[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/kerosene-smell-in-clothes-dryer-mystery-solved-dsvw-vd~3149115)

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Comments (6)

scottie mom
7 years ago
Well stated, Dadoes. I remember now that for a few months after we had the floors refinished, I could smell fumes when starting the gas dryer. It was fleeting, but I imagine it was just residual VOCs igniting.

To the OP, I’d be more concerned about placing machines in an unheated space. Some garages are heated/conditioned, but most are not, since they have to be on a separate system if they are attached to a house. It’s a warranty issue. Many appliance warranties are void if you place machines into unconditioned space.
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ci_lantro
7 years ago
If your garage isn't stinky/ smelly then it shouldn't be a problem. (No dirt floors saturated with 60 years worth of accumulated oil, etc. sort of thing.) Garages tend to be well-ventilated.

What Dadoes spoke of about VOC's from finishing materials getting burned off by gas dryers can happen with old school electric dryers, too. It happens with my old electric dryer. I have a basement laundry so location is a factor. VOC's tend to be heavier than air and sink to the lowest level in your house.
dadoes
7 years ago
Dryers in unheated spaces ... they don't typically involve a water supply for operation so it's not a concern except in two instances:

1 - Some newer models have a steam-generation function which does involve either a) connection to a water supply, or b) some models have a tray that is filled per-use

2 - Models that have thermostatic auto-dry, which relies on registering the proper target air temperature to trigger the timer to advance. Operation in a cold environment (colder intake air) leads to longer heating times which will skew the accuracy of the cycle setting. The clothes *are* drying (releasing moisture) for a longer time while the machine is trying to reach the target temperature but the timer won't advance until that temp is reached. Models that have true moisture-sensing auto-dry are not so much affected by environmental temperature variations.
weedmeister
7 years ago
Open flame of a gas dryer + gasoline fumes in a garage = BOOM!
M
7 years ago
If you have a combustible mixture of air and fuel (between about 1% and 8% by volume) in your garage, you have much bigger problems! Don't touch any electrical devices and immediately leave the house. Then call 911.