Laundry Room Considerations for Ventilation

The need for laundry room ventilation may become clearer as the weather warms and all that humidity washing and drying clothes generates isn’t welcome. Besides increasing the heat in your home during the summer, that extra moisture feeds mold and bacteria as well as fostering the growth of dust mites.

Dryer Vents

All dryers need to be vented to the outdoors to get rid of the heat and humidity. The International Residential Code has changed the provisions for dryer vents and hoses. Those corrugated plastic hoses have been replaced with smooth metal hoses. The corrugated hoses trapped too much lint and were responsible for dryer fires. Smooth hoses are easier to clean and capture less lint.

If your hose isn’t up to code or exits near your outdoor condenser for the air conditioner, consider moving it. Dryer vents that are too close to the condenser pull lint into the coils, which reduces their efficiency and drives up cooling bills.

Exhaust Fans

An exhaust fan will pull the hot, humid air outside, but it does have some downsides, especially if you use it while the dryer runs. Between the fan and the dryer’s need for air, you will be pulling air in from other areas. If the laundry room is on an exterior wall with a window or door, that air could easily come from the outdoors, with all its heat, humidity and pollen.

Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)

These are the most effective way to increase laundry room ventilation. They pull out the existing air and replace it with fresh, outdoor air simultaneously. An ERV won’t raise your energy bills. Its core strips the energy from the outgoing air and put it into the incoming air as it removes the excessive humidity. 

The pros at CCAC can help you find the best laundry room ventilation for your home by redirecting your vent hose and installing exhaust fans or an ERV. We provide HVAC services for Coastal Bend homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about your HVAC system, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.