Gas Dryer Venting
I have a gas dryer and live in a coop building. I have been told I can keep my gas dryer, but that it must be vented via a window that does not open. Does anyone know if this is a code regulation? How far must a gas dryer vent from a window ? (this…
I have a gas dryer and live in a coop building. I have been told I can keep my gas dryer, but that it must be vented via a window that does not open.
Does anyone know if this is a code regulation?
How far must a gas dryer vent from a window ? (this seems to be the main issue)
thanks. Based on all of your input, I will likely get an electrician to install a 220V outlet, which will allow me to switch to slower, more expensive electric ….but save my window.
DOB rule is that GAS dryers must be vented 10 feet from any fresh air window. I know this for a fact as my coop building got a violation for our commercial dryers that were 4 feet from a fresh air window, and the brilliant resident of the unit, impatient that the board was not acting quick enough, called the City.
The age of your coop building is irrelevant in this matter.
For what it’s worth, NONE of the contractors I talked to about moving the venting of our dryers knew the DOB rule! We called and found out ourselves.
If you were running an electric dryer, the rule would be different — in fact, there may not even be a rule, other than an aesthetic one that would be the province of the coop board. But a gas dryer vents carbon monoxide, hence the rule.
I am beginning to conclude that I will pay to have a 220V outlet installed, and buy a slower, electric dryer in order to save my window access.
sigh
I think that the DOB is most concerned about the venting of exhaust gases from the combustion of gas, rather than the hot air. Exhaust gases, including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, are deadly, so they don’t want your dryer’s exhaust gases building up in your’s or anyone else’s apartment. It might seem “silly” but if you’re not home and your kids (for example) decide to use the dryer, they might not remember to stick the hose out the window. Permanent venting of gas appliances is a safety issue.
When you use the dryer, couldn’t you just stick the hose out the window, then when you are not using it take it back in…that way it will not be viseable all the time, thus creating un-necessary aggravation for you.
light years ago, we had a dryer and did just that, opened the kitchen window stuck the hose out, when done, took it back in….it was easy.
Rather than lose a window, we often make a small penetration through the masonry. It only needs to be about 8″ square, so you don’t even need a lintel. We’ve never had an issue with the location either, but we try to make sure it’s not right under a window for obvious reasons.
My coop building definitely predates 2008 code. It was completed in 1929.
I currently just stick the vent in the window when I run dryer (I created a board with a dryer vent hole in it).
I have been told this is not acceptable, and that if I pay to have a fixed glass pane installed, I could vent it thru the top or bottom 4″ portion.
(breaking a new hole in the facade is not allowed)
I (of course) do not want to give up the ability to use the window for ventilation, and it is tempting to revert to my prior method once DOB completes their upcoming inspection.
This all seems silly to me because I would like the DOB to accept a compromise wherein the machine would not operate if the window was open ….obviously I only run my dryer 1% of the time, and could use the window the other 99% of the time..
Not sure about the distance rule, DOB not always clear on these issues. There are restrictions in the code for venting high efficient equipment, but NYC makes their own “adjustments” to that, so it’s not always clear. The one thing I do know is that they won’t allow you to vent out a window. It must be a permanent penetration…depending on the location of the window, they might not approve sealing it up. If it’s a co-op, most likely for it to be legal you would have to file a plan.
I’m sure it’s obvious that you have to vent a gas dryer to the outside, but venting gas dryers from multi-family buildings that weren’t designed for dryers is a tricky thing. The D of B issued an opinion several years ago that residential dryers could not vent within 4 feet of any operable windows, but this was never added to the building code. I don’t think the 2008 code makes a mention of this either, but maybe one of my colleagues will correct me. Assuming that your building predates the 2008 code, the 4-foot rule should still apply.