Excessive lint solution?
#1
08-22-04, 04:38 PM
Excessive lint solution?
I have a 3yr old Maytag washer and gas dryer. They seem to work perfectly.
Except that the dryer is generating a LOT of lint.
The dryer exhaust is all 4” diameter aluminum, with 2 elbows, connected by 24” of aluminum flex ducting, out a vent hood to the porch. All the lint gets pumped directly to our porch, creating a big mess. I frequently have to clean out the dryer lint trap as well as the vent hood flapper valve. Not to mention the porch…
Why all the lint? Is something wrong with my washer or the installation? The washer seems to wash properly. Isn’t the washer supposed to catch most of the lint and pump it out the drain?
I thought maybe buying / fabricating an in-line filter / screen for the dryer exhaust. Something made from a metal box with a filter / screen to catch the lint. It would have a sealed and hinged lid for easy cleaning. Linty air would enter one side, clean air out the other, to the porch. I suppose the filter / screen would have to have a large enough surface area so as to not restrict the airflow.
I can provide Maytag model numbers.
Except that the dryer is generating a LOT of lint.
The dryer exhaust is all 4” diameter aluminum, with 2 elbows, connected by 24” of aluminum flex ducting, out a vent hood to the porch. All the lint gets pumped directly to our porch, creating a big mess. I frequently have to clean out the dryer lint trap as well as the vent hood flapper valve. Not to mention the porch…
Why all the lint? Is something wrong with my washer or the installation? The washer seems to wash properly. Isn’t the washer supposed to catch most of the lint and pump it out the drain?
I thought maybe buying / fabricating an in-line filter / screen for the dryer exhaust. Something made from a metal box with a filter / screen to catch the lint. It would have a sealed and hinged lid for easy cleaning. Linty air would enter one side, clean air out the other, to the porch. I suppose the filter / screen would have to have a large enough surface area so as to not restrict the airflow.
I can provide Maytag model numbers.
#2
08-22-04, 07:52 PM
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Hello mlnielsen. Welcome to my Gas Appliances topic and the Do-It-Yourself Web Site.
Not such an uncommon problem as it seems. The lint comes from the clothes and towels, etc. that are dried. Washers do'nt have a lint filters. They use to have them. Why washers do not have them anylonger is unknown. Most likely a cost savings measure and customer convenience. Not having two places (both from washers & dryers) to remove lint from filters.
Some washers are better than others getting more lint out. Those that are'nt, the dryers have to catch more of it. No easy solution. Check the lint filter screen in the dryer for wear. May need replacement or a replacement may improve catching more lint. Clean filter after each load.
Venting conditions are okay for the distance. May have to install a nylon stocking over the exhaust hood vent to trap more lint. Looks bad but does work. Any other device likely to be too restrictive and have to be too large.
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Not such an uncommon problem as it seems. The lint comes from the clothes and towels, etc. that are dried. Washers do'nt have a lint filters. They use to have them. Why washers do not have them anylonger is unknown. Most likely a cost savings measure and customer convenience. Not having two places (both from washers & dryers) to remove lint from filters.
Some washers are better than others getting more lint out. Those that are'nt, the dryers have to catch more of it. No easy solution. Check the lint filter screen in the dryer for wear. May need replacement or a replacement may improve catching more lint. Clean filter after each load.
Venting conditions are okay for the distance. May have to install a nylon stocking over the exhaust hood vent to trap more lint. Looks bad but does work. Any other device likely to be too restrictive and have to be too large.
Use the reply button to add additional information or ask additional questions. Doing so will automatically move your question to the top of the forums list of questions.
Personal Reminder:
Buckle Up & Drive Safely.
"The Life You Save, May Be Your Own."
#3
08-22-04, 09:51 PM
nylon stocking surface area
OK, so it seems "millions" of folks have been using a nylon stocking over their vent outlets without major incidents.
If a nylon stocking works, why not a filter / screen with a larger surface area? If convenient enough, it could be cleaned with every load, possibly eliminating the need for a dryer located trap.
How far out from the wall does your nylon extend, and what diameter? I'm going to guess it sticks out 12", and is 4" diameter. This will give the stocking a surface area of 151 square inches or 12.6" x 12". Before becoming fully blocked, it will contain 151 cubic inches of lint.
If I were to have a square filter 12.6 x 12", it would also have a surface area of 151 square inches. That would mean I would have 1" thickness of lint across the filter. A 12 x 24" filter would have about .5" of lint. A pleated filter would be able to hold more lint. In any case, that's a lot of lint.
Our dryer trap is about 6" x 10", and accumulates about 1/8" of lint with each load. Probably an equivalent amount passes around the dryer trap. That's 15ci of lint. The nylon would have to be emptied every 10 days. The same with a 12.6" x 12" equivalent filter.
Does any of that make sense? Is it correct?
I don't really want to extend the time between lint cleaning, just to capture as much lint as possible.
If a nylon stocking works, why not a filter / screen with a larger surface area? If convenient enough, it could be cleaned with every load, possibly eliminating the need for a dryer located trap.
How far out from the wall does your nylon extend, and what diameter? I'm going to guess it sticks out 12", and is 4" diameter. This will give the stocking a surface area of 151 square inches or 12.6" x 12". Before becoming fully blocked, it will contain 151 cubic inches of lint.
If I were to have a square filter 12.6 x 12", it would also have a surface area of 151 square inches. That would mean I would have 1" thickness of lint across the filter. A 12 x 24" filter would have about .5" of lint. A pleated filter would be able to hold more lint. In any case, that's a lot of lint.
Our dryer trap is about 6" x 10", and accumulates about 1/8" of lint with each load. Probably an equivalent amount passes around the dryer trap. That's 15ci of lint. The nylon would have to be emptied every 10 days. The same with a 12.6" x 12" equivalent filter.
Does any of that make sense? Is it correct?
I don't really want to extend the time between lint cleaning, just to capture as much lint as possible.
#4
08-23-04, 07:06 PM
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Hello: mlnielsen
The stocking would be a ladies nylon hosiery stocking. Put over the end of the discharge end of the vent or onto the exhaust hood. Not the best of setups but it does work.
As would some type of home made filter I have to assume. Never seen one like the one you're describing. But it may work. Not able to invision such. Try it and see if it works. Than post back the results of the project.
Regards & Good Luck
Sharp Advice
The stocking would be a ladies nylon hosiery stocking. Put over the end of the discharge end of the vent or onto the exhaust hood. Not the best of setups but it does work.
As would some type of home made filter I have to assume. Never seen one like the one you're describing. But it may work. Not able to invision such. Try it and see if it works. Than post back the results of the project.
Regards & Good Luck
Sharp Advice
#5
08-26-04, 07:40 PM
For my $.02, mlnielsen needs to clean the lint trap after EVERY load. Our manual suggested this 17 years ago and it does keep lint out of the duct. He said he did it frequently but that might only be once a day or 4th load or...
You are right about the washer lint screen, they did get rid of them but I never noticed until today. We have used the nylon idea for years on the washer drain line into the laundry tub. Too much lint will plug the tub drain line eventually and old nylons work well as long as its changed monthly or so. Its funny how much that nylon will streach when filled with water.
Great website you have here.
You are right about the washer lint screen, they did get rid of them but I never noticed until today. We have used the nylon idea for years on the washer drain line into the laundry tub. Too much lint will plug the tub drain line eventually and old nylons work well as long as its changed monthly or so. Its funny how much that nylon will streach when filled with water.
Great website you have here.
