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Heating Your Home With Your Clothes Dryer

Q:Several years ago a co-worker told me that his dad would help heat their home with the clothes dryer. He disconnected the exhaust hose that sends the heat out of the house, put an old section of panty hose over it to catch any lint, and let the heat from the dryer into the house. Is this safe? I have an electric dryer. Since the laundry room is upstairs across from the bedrooms, the heat would be great. Has anyone done this? It would really help with the heating bills this winter since I do alot of laundry.

Thanks,
Ann-NC from Mint Hill

A: Ann,

I've never done this personally, but there are people who claim this can be done safely and successfully. As tempting as this idea seems, especially given the current rise in home heating costs, if you decide to try this, please consider the following: First of all, rather than attempting to modify your dryer's ventilation system yourself, consider purchasing a kit. Many home stores now carry kits designed specifically for this purpose. In the same way that a dryer should not be left running while no one is home, you should never dry clothes while you are sleeping. Also keep in mind that extra moisture and lint dust that you'll be venting into your home could cause problems with mold and allergens, offsetting any gains from extra heat. Clothes dryers are not designed for the purpose of home heating and the possible negative consequences from using them for this purpose should not be taken lightly-especially when it comes to the possible risks to your health and the health of your family. If the winter air in your home is severely dry, the moisture added to the air might be a welcome relief providing, of course, it doesn't add too much moisture to the air. No vent, no matter how good, will prevent all fine particulates from getting into your air. There are certainly many other ways to make your home more energy efficient and reduce your winter heating bill without the added risks of mold or compromised air quality.

About The Author:
Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com

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