I received the following query regarding whether a vented tumble dryer can be used without a vent hose.
I’m buying my first ever tumble dryer and it is going to go in the double garage where there are no windows. Do I have to get the vent hose going outside or will it be ok? ”
A garage isn’t an ideal place for an appliance. They can be very hot in summer and very cold in winter. Some manufacturers specifically say not to use their dryer in an garage. Apparently if it gets very cold the drive belt can become hardened and kinked, and cause a breakdown. Also, the new heat pump dryers are not well suited to cold environments.
That being said, a tumble dryer will work without a vent hose if it’s free standing. This is evidenced by the fact that many vented dryers didn’t even used to come with a vent hose.
They were commonly an optional extra. However, it is definitely much better to have one properly vented if possible.
The potential problems with not venting a vented dryer in a garage are condensation and black mould when it’s cold weather.
My own dryer is a condenser dryer so it doesn’t need a venting hose but even so, we always open the small window behind it or we get condensation on our fridge and freezer when it’s cold. If our dryer was a vented one and not properly vented this would be much worse.
A vented dryer, venting straight out into a room will obviously pump lots of hot moist air into it as well as fluff, if the room is cold you will get condensation on cold objects and can get mould growing on rubber or other surfaces.
Another issue would be lots of dusty fluff would accumulate over time. As described above, even a condenser dryer can leak some moist warm air into the room but it won’t be as bad as a vented one.
NOTE: If a dryer is pushed underneath a worktop without a vent hose it may not be such a good idea as the hot air is likely to find it hard to escape.
If using without a venting system it would really be necessary for the dryer to be free standing with plenty of airflow around and somewhere for the air to escape like close to a window, vent or door.
Siting a vented dryer in a garage is fairly common. If no window is available to hang a vent pipe out of and it’s not possible to vent through the garage walls it’s best to leave the garage door open when using if security isn’t an issue.
Whether the lack of proper venting will cause any real problems depends on how large the garage is and whether there are many cold surfaces etc.
What about using an internal condenser vent hose kit?
If desperate you could try one of those condenser vent hose kits which allow the end of the vent hose to go into a plastic container filled with water. However, my mother tried one once and it was useless. I’ve checked out reviews of them online and many people also report they are useless but some have apparently reported they worked ok.
Several Which? Trial Offers available to allow you to research all future purchases and see expert reviews and recommendations. Easily save a lot more money than it costs. I know I do.
S Shakil says
I have, after many years, of just drying clothes in the garden, now decided to buy a Vented Hotpoint tumble dryer… and nearly ordered it before realising that the pipe may not comfortably go from my floor standing unit to the window above it. Now, I do have a window and a door in the utility room and the window is open always due to the boiler being the same room, I was wonder if the Universal Tumble Dryer Condenser kit does the job and saves me sticking a pipe out the window in the an awkward manner? Are these kits any good , has anyone used one sucessfully?
Washerhelp says
Helena: There may be some information to answer your question here – Why does my condenser tumble drier make the walls run with condensation?
S Shakil: If you mean those hoses that go into a plastic box I don’t rate them.
maureen says
Hi, Do you know any makes of vented dryers that have the vent pipe that comes from the front. Where my new dryer will be going I need it in the front so I can put the hose out the back door?
Many thanks, Maureen.
Washerhelp says
You should still be able to buy front vented dryers but they aren’t easy to find, especially on the internet as searching for front vented dryers tends to bring up normal dryers because the search engines pick up on the word “venting”. They also seem to pick up on many tumble dryer pictures that have the word “front” in their description but only referring to the fact that it’s a picture of the front.
It might be better to ring companies and specifically ask for front vented dryers. Some may have options to vent at from or rear, or even one side but the majority are likely to vent only from the rear.
I have a good list of all sorts of retailers on Washerhelp, although on Washerhelp all these retailers sell all household appliances too. You can get phone numbers or search through their dryers using this link – Buy household appliances
Anonymous says
Our vent pipe from our Tumble drier has quite a lot of water sitting in the bottom of the bend during use, and we have to lift it along the length and empty it in to a bowl, do you know why this is happening please? we put the end of the vent pipe out of an open window when drier is in use.
Terry
Sharon Roberts says
We are considering buying a dryer as we have a little baby and our mountain of clothes is ever expanding. We are thinking of putting it in the back garden and covering it with a tarpaulin. If we were to do this would it make sense to buy a vented one which is cheaper than the condenser?
barbara says
we have inherited a 3yr old Bellers tumble dryer from the owners of the flat we have bought . It has been put in a cupboard in the hall. We couldn’t understand why the washing wasn’t drying. Is there any way we can get it to work without having to replace it with a condensor dryer.
Melvin says
I just purchase a home and discovered that the previous home owner did not run the dryer vent outside, but instead run it inside the wall. Can I put a socking on the end of the dryer holes? or What do I need to do?
Washerhelp says
Anonymous: The water is condensing in the vent hose. Try to make sure the hose doesn’t have any big bends, also make sure the hose is fitted to a proper vent grill with a cowling or shutters, which prevents the wind blowing fluff and the hot air back into the pipe.
Sharon Roberts: I wouldn’t do that. Outside is no place for domestic electrical appliances.There must be some room somewhere in the house for a small dryer. We used to have one in one of our bedrooms.
Melvin: Did the hose eventually go outside? Not sure exactly what you mean.
Barbara says
I have just moved house and have put my condensor dryer in the same cupboard as my electric meters. Is this safe?