Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412220008
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES DULLEY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: No-vent condensing clothes dryers have been popular in Europe for many years. By not having to vent it outdoors, you can put the dryer in any convenient closet, bedroom, utility room, etc.
Condensing dryers use a tiny blower to circulate room air across a heat exchanger inside the dryer. As the room air draws heat from the hot damp dryer air, moisture condenses out and drips into a removable container.
The dry air then circulates across the heating element and through the clothes, drawing out more moisture. This process continues until the clothes are dry. Condensing dryers are the same size and look like an ordinary dryer.
Although the small extra motors in a condensing dryer use slightly more electricity than in a vented dryer, no heated or cooled indoor air is exhausted outdoors. This can cut your electric bills and eliminate chilly drafts.
The drying chamber is sealed so no moisture escapes into your home. This is better than just pulling the duct loose and venting your existing dryer indoors. Excessive humidity can exacerbate allergies and window sweating.
Condensing dryers, because they are often in a living area, are designed to be very quiet. This requires very high quality motors, bearings, vibration isolation materials and balanced construction.
Reversing, two-direction drum rotation is used on several condensing and vented models. This fluffs your clothes, reduces wrinkling and reduces drying times by 35 percent. By keeping the clothes fluffed and open, different weight materials can be effectively dried together in one load.
The clothes first spin in the forward direction for four minutes with a high air-flow rate. The drum reverses for 25 seconds with a lower air-flow rate. This allows the dryer air to draw more moisture out of the clothes.
A true electronic moisture sensor saves energy and reduces shrinkage and ironing time. By touching and "feeling" the dampness of the clothes, the sensor turns the dryer off at the precise time. This is more effective than "automatic sensors" that just measure the air temperature to estimate dryness.
A "no-wrinkle" feature keeps the dryer slowly spinning, without heat, for up to one hour after the clothes are dry. It beeps every five minutes to alert you. A stainless steel drum is more durable than porcelain over steel.
For more information, write James Dulley, Roanoke Times & World-News, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio 45244. Ask for Utility Bills Update No. 789, which shows a buyer's guide of 13 manufacturers of high-efficiency novent condensing and vented clothes dryers listing moisture sensor types, drum rotation directions, prices, preprogrammed cycles and features. Please include $2 and a self-addressed envelope.
Q: I have siding on the top half of my house and stucco over concrete blocks on the first-floor walls. The stucco is deteriorated. Does it make sense to cover the stucco with siding too?
A: If you like the appearance of stucco on the lower half of your house, do not cover it with siding. There are durable plastic-based stucco look-a-like coatings that you can apply yourself.
Stucco is an energy-efficient wall finish. It seals all the tiny cracks and gaps where air, dust and noise can enter your home. If you want additional wall insulation, attach rigid foam insulation boards to the wall first.
by CNB