Sixlashes
Plumber in Previous Life
I am building an extremely tight ICF house in NW Florida. I have not had the blower door test performed yet, but I know I will well be under .1 ACH infiltration. I used ICF wall construction, icynene foam insulation, and high attention to detail. I also am installing a 180 cfm energy recovery ventilator to precondition incoming fresh air. I say this to illustrate how important energy efficiency is to me.
Here is my conundrum. Running a clothes dryer blows approx 100 cfm of air out of the house if installed within the building envelope. My concern is paying for the makeup air coming in at 90+ degrees and 55%+ humidity. But my wife absolutely does not want the washer and/or dryer in the garage.
The first question which I cannot find the answer to on any of the energy conservation websites is: I understand the clothes dryer is more efficient utilizing 75 degree 50% humidity incoming air than 90+ degree, 55%+ humid incoming air. Is the increased efficiency worth keeping the clothes dryer inside the house envelope and pulling in all of that sensible and latent heat?
My hair brained idea is to create a "closet" with a 32" door beside the washer and put the dryer in it. The door to this closet opens away from the washer to stand conveniently against the exterior wall when open. When the dryer is running, the door is closed and a electrically operated damper opens on an 8" very short duct to the soffit outside. That way, the dryer circulates air from the outside while being conveniently located inside the house.
Am I trying to push water uphill with a broom, or will this be an energy saver?
Here is my conundrum. Running a clothes dryer blows approx 100 cfm of air out of the house if installed within the building envelope. My concern is paying for the makeup air coming in at 90+ degrees and 55%+ humidity. But my wife absolutely does not want the washer and/or dryer in the garage.
The first question which I cannot find the answer to on any of the energy conservation websites is: I understand the clothes dryer is more efficient utilizing 75 degree 50% humidity incoming air than 90+ degree, 55%+ humid incoming air. Is the increased efficiency worth keeping the clothes dryer inside the house envelope and pulling in all of that sensible and latent heat?
My hair brained idea is to create a "closet" with a 32" door beside the washer and put the dryer in it. The door to this closet opens away from the washer to stand conveniently against the exterior wall when open. When the dryer is running, the door is closed and a electrically operated damper opens on an 8" very short duct to the soffit outside. That way, the dryer circulates air from the outside while being conveniently located inside the house.
Am I trying to push water uphill with a broom, or will this be an energy saver?