| As the cost of electricity continues to skyrocket | | | | less expensive ones don't include the clamps. |
| consumers are looking for new ideas to help get | | | | Clamps are vital for a proper installation. Do not |
| the most value out of their appliances. This | | | | be tempted to attach the venting sections to the |
| includes the electric clothes dryer. | | | | recycler with duct tape. It will dry out and cause |
| Although consumption cannot be lowered there is | | | | the venting to fall off. If required invest in two |
| a device to take advantage of the heat it | | | | good quality metal vent clamps. A couple of |
| produces. It is called a dryer heat recycler. It has | | | | four-inch clamps will cost about three dollars. |
| proven to be a winner in the fight to be more | | | | The recycler has a built-in filter screen that needs |
| energy efficient. | | | | to be cleaned just like the one inside the dryer. |
| A heat recycler does just what its name indicates. | | | | We prefer the type that has a mesh screen filter |
| It allows the warm air from the household electric | | | | as opposed to the one with a sock-like filter. It is |
| clothes dryer to be redirected back into the | | | | a couple of dollars more but the metal filter is |
| laundry room. This is an added bonus if the | | | | more durable and a lot easier to clean than the |
| laundry room is in a cold basement. Plus the heat | | | | cotton type. |
| is free. | | | | So once the recycler is mounted and secured |
| The theory behind the recycler is simple. It uses | | | | give it a test run. Set the temperature selector to |
| the hot air from the electric dryer to heat the | | | | hot and start dryer. Allow dryer to run a few |
| laundry room. In this way the room vent can be | | | | minutes. Test that the air comes inside when the |
| closed down. Hence lowering your heating costs. | | | | handle is in the winter position. Next, move handle |
| The element in an electric dryer is approximately | | | | to summer position. Air should then be seen to go |
| 5000 watts. This is equivalent to a couple of | | | | outdoors. Go outside and confirm air freely |
| baseboard heaters. The temperature of the air | | | | escaping to outdoors. If not the screen in the |
| leaving an electric dryer is about 130 degrees | | | | outdoor vent cap may be blocked with lint. Or the |
| Fahrenheit. So why waste it - instead, put it to | | | | vent cap flapper valve may be sticking. Go back |
| work for you. | | | | indoors and test all joints for air leakage. If leaking |
| For an investment of about $15 the hot air your | | | | air, tape joints with duct tape. |
| dryer normally dumps outside can be directed | | | | From then on all that is required is to clean the |
| back into the house. We have been successfully | | | | heat recycler filter every few laundry loads. Plus, |
| suggesting these to clients for years. | | | | twice a year turn the handle to redirect the |
| There is a plastic handle on the side to direct the | | | | airflow. Not much work to get all that nice free |
| air either inside or outside. In the winter months | | | | hot air for your home. |
| the handle is adjusted to direct the hot air into | | | | Note that throughout this article I have been using |
| the house. In the summer the air is directed back | | | | the term electrical clothes dryer. The heat |
| outside. | | | | recycler cannot be used with a gas clothes dryer. |
| The heat recycler is easy to install. It is usually | | | | The venting pipe of a gas dryer must not be |
| mounted (screws are provided) to a wall or beam | | | | opened or redirected. Small amounts of gas |
| behind, and slightly above, the dryer console area. | | | | vapour and carbon monoxide may be present in |
| Once mounted the dryer venting can be cut and | | | | the outlet air of a gas clothes dryer. Therefore, |
| reattached to the device. Follow the instructions | | | | for safety reasons, the heat recycler cannot be |
| to maintain proper airflow direction. The recycler | | | | used with a gas dryer. |
| does have an "in" and an "out". Always mount the | | | | TECHNICIANS HINT: Experience has taught us not |
| recycler for easy access by all family members. | | | | to mount the recycler directly above the dryers |
| If mounted in an awkward place no one will clean | | | | start button. This avoids the recycler giving you a |
| the filter. | | | | blast of hot air in the face every time the dryer |
| Before purchase make sure the model you buy | | | | is started. |
| comes complete with two venting clamps. Some | | | | |