Green Building Forum - Drying Room - brilliant results Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:20:15 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156325#Comment_156325 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156325#Comment_156325 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:21:50 +0100 skyewright Posted By: JTGreen(And I get that you gain the heat, but half the year you don't want or need the heat).
And in that part of the year the system is probably not being used as it's okay to hang stuff outside.
I don't think anyone has suggested doing the dehumidifier thing all year round have they?

Tony's idea is great, but not practical everywhere. I presume the average humidity & rainfall where he lives is rather different to here.

We did the dehumidfier thing last week for the first time since April, but then we have had a glorious summer... :bigsmile:]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156329#Comment_156329 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156329#Comment_156329 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:53:34 +0100 JTGreen Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156342#Comment_156342 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156342#Comment_156342 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:41:45 +0100 Ed Davies Posted By: funcrusherEd Davies : I said you need airtight room.
Yes, an airtight room is necessary but it's not sufficient. My point was that the airtightness has to be inboard of the insulation - just fixing insulation on the walls of an airtight room would be a problem. Obvious to most but perhaps not all so worth mentioning, I thought.]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156346#Comment_156346 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156346#Comment_156346 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:51:40 +0100 seascape Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156351#Comment_156351 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156351#Comment_156351 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:14:37 +0100 JTGreen Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156353#Comment_156353 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156353#Comment_156353 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:22:32 +0100 mike7 Posted By: Ed Davies
Posted By: funcrusherEd Davies : I said you need airtight room.

Yes, an airtight room is necessary but it's not sufficient. My point was that the airtightness has to be inboard of the insulation - just fixing insulation on the walls of an airtight room would be a problem. Obvious to most but perhaps not all so worth mentioning, I thought.

If the dehumidifier is doing its job, and the room the cabinet's in is not arctic, then it seems unlikely that any inside air leaking past the insulation would get to a dew point ....... or a meringue?]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156366#Comment_156366 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156366#Comment_156366 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:23:09 +0100 MarkBennett
We first encountered the idea of having the washing machine and drying areas upstairs during a visit to friends in the US. It's always seemed a good idea since almost all of the dirty clothes/sheets etc. are upstairs. We just have to make sure we continue to take the wet clothes outside whenever the weather is good enough.]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156371#Comment_156371 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156371#Comment_156371 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:00:35 +0100 djh
Also I'm hoping that the MVHR will do the job instead of having to add a dehumidifier.]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156379#Comment_156379 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156379#Comment_156379 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:19:25 +0100 SteamyTea Posted By: djhIt's a real screamer when it starts spinning
Mines the same (German she is).
Oh you said spinning :wink:
Still the neighbours are impressed with my handywork]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156391#Comment_156391 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156391#Comment_156391 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 17:50:50 +0100 MarkBennett Posted By: djhHmm, a first floor laundry room sounds attractive but our washing machine - chosen for its carbon and energy efficiency - is hardly quiet. It's a real screamer when it starts spinning. So I'd be very nervous about putting it anywhere near the bedrooms.

Also I'm hoping that the MVHR will do the job instead of having to add a dehumidifier.

Our current model (a cheap Electrolux as an emergency buy when our old one failed at a bad time) is also really noisy, with an annoying high pitched whine from the direct drive motor. Our previous (but now deceased) Bosch was much quieter.

With copious amounts of solar PV and thermal the plan will be to use it mostly during the day (on delayed start) when no-one is in the house. The only adjacent bedroom will be the guest bedroom, which won't be used too often.

We will also have beam and block floors and solid block partition walls which will hopefully block much of the noise. I might have to consider some vibration absorbing feet on it though if it does turn out to be too noisy.]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156392#Comment_156392 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156392#Comment_156392 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:08:10 +0100 Chris P Bacon Posted By: MarkBennettOur first floor plant room

Tanking the room, a high threshold and a floor drain would also be a good idea.]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156405#Comment_156405 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156405#Comment_156405 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 07:57:27 +0100 MarkBennett Posted By: Chris P Bacon
Posted By: MarkBennettOur first floor plant room


Tanking the room, a high threshold and a floor drain would also be a good idea.

Agreed and in the plans!]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156416#Comment_156416 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156416#Comment_156416 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 11:21:38 +0100 funcrusher
Anyone positioning a thermal store upstairs should consider floor loadings/strength vary carefully indeed.]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156432#Comment_156432 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156432#Comment_156432 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 17:43:58 +0100 Gavin_A
It does cause condensation issues though, which we helped to regulate by installing sheeps wool insulation directly above the drying room, kitchen and bathroom, which despite my scepticism, actually made a noticeable difference to the condensation on the windows (as did filling the aluminium framed trickle vents with sheeps wool insulation, as the moisture was condensing on the cold metal surface, which turned from -10 to +5 deg surface temperature at around -15deg external air temp).]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156509#Comment_156509 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156509#Comment_156509 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 20:02:48 +0100 MarkBennett Posted By: funcrusherAnyone positioning a thermal store upstairs should consider floor loadings/strength vary carefully indeed.

Oh yes, the structural engineer is well aware of the weight of this thing..... But then it's pretty insignificant when you look into the loading at the same point from the rest of the first floor. :shocked:]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156557#Comment_156557 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156557#Comment_156557 Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:36:14 +0100 djh Posted By: MarkBennettOur current model (a cheap Electrolux as an emergency buy when our old one failed at a bad time) is also really noisy, with an annoying high pitched whine from the direct drive motor.
Ours is a Panasonic that comes at the top of the green lists.

I might have to consider some vibration absorbing feet on it though if it does turn out to be too noisy.

You could try suspending it on bungee cord :bigsmile:
Better isolation than an air table :devil:]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156603#Comment_156603 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156603#Comment_156603 Mon, 17 Sep 2012 23:37:34 +0100 neelpeel
http://www.rotaire.com/

Been considering buying one for a while now. Be interested if anyone has any experience.]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156609#Comment_156609 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156609#Comment_156609 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:20:23 +0100 SteamyTea Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156611#Comment_156611 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156611#Comment_156611 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:28:15 +0100 Chris P Bacon
I'd also be interested in hearing any feedback.

Slightly better value available in their ebay shop, but they still seem very expensive for what they are.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/rotairedrylinewashinglinecovers]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156629#Comment_156629 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156629#Comment_156629 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:42:18 +0100 jwd
I have been thinking about putting in a single room MHVR vent instead of the existing vent but this post makes me wonder if it might be a better idea to use the dehumidifier I already have in the shed.

Any ideas / opinions anyone.

JD]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156636#Comment_156636 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156636#Comment_156636 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:36:46 +0100 SteamyTea Posted By: jwdAny ideas / opinions anyone.
Do both, you can make your own MVHR and use that dehumidifier and see which is best.]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156678#Comment_156678 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156678#Comment_156678 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:04:09 +0100 jwd
Jw]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156679#Comment_156679 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156679#Comment_156679 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:12:40 +0100 SteamyTea Posted By: jwdI see the shed beckoning!

http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/forum114/comments.php?DiscussionID=8681]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156688#Comment_156688 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156688#Comment_156688 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:09:49 +0100 RobL
An energy star dehumidifier uses about 0.7KWh(elec) to condense 1litre of water(link below). In the process, it will liberate an extra 0.63KWh (latent heat of condensation) - but the wet clothes will have needed precisisely this heat to become dry, hence the room heating level is actually just the electric energy used.

In contrast, an MVHR is complex. Lets start with the perfect one, 0Watts and 100% efficient - even in this case, a suitable MVHR does not collect the latent heat from the air, so to dry out 1Kg of air, we will loose all of the 0.63KWh of heat. Real figs are tricky for the rest - but in our case(we do dry clothes with MVHR in the winter, so I can give you an order of magnitude) - 11W(elec) for 24 hours dries a load of washing(and the rest of the house) with probably ~3litres of water. Thus the elec energy used is 0.26KWh (of which guessing 0.1KWh is due to the washing).
This 0.1KWh=360KJ of energy should have moved 720000litres of air = 720m^3.
At 11degC outside, 19C inside, then this involves movement of 720m^3*1297J/m^3/C *11C = 10.3MJ = 2.8KWh of heat.
Of this 2.8KWh, 8% is lost (our MVHR is 92% efficient), so we loose 0.224KWh of heat.

Thus a good dehumidifier uses 0.7KWh(elec), and liberates 0.7KWh(heat) to dry our clothes.
A good MVHR uses 0.1KWh(elec) + 0.85KWh(heat) to dry our clothes.
So using a dehumidifier instaed of an MVHR is like a heat pump of COP=(0.7+0.85+0.7-0.1)/0.6=3.6

I think from the above information that a dehumidifier is hard to beat *if all you want to do is remove moisture*, and you want the heat recovered. I highlight this, as I really doubt this is the case generally. Most houses have CO2 in them, and reasons why you need an air change anyway. In an earlier thread I highlighted a friend of mine who had migranes due to excessive use of a dehumidifer in an airtight house!


http://www.best-dehumidifier-choice.com/energy-star-dehumidifier.html]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156703#Comment_156703 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156703#Comment_156703 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:11:53 +0100 Ed Davies Posted By: RobL...a suitable MVHR does not collect the latent heat from the air...
MVHR can collect some of the latent heat from the outgoing air.]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156730#Comment_156730 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156730#Comment_156730 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:30:57 +0100 funcrusher Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156746#Comment_156746 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156746#Comment_156746 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 23:41:07 +0100 mattwardman
I like the idea, but I'm not convinced that a separate dedicated unit is the way to do it, or is overall the most economical. I'd say that construction and opportunity costs (and embedded energy thereof) are as significant as energy use/costs.

You are losing 4sqm+ of space that you could be using for something else as well.

If it is a newbuild, arguing crudely from build costs, that is at least £4,000 of investment that you might not have had to make - or could have made into a small study or (with a bit extra) a study bedroom. If it is a post-fit, then you have made a fairly sizeable investment.

If it is subject to CIL, you may be paying another £2000 planning permission tax on it.

I'd argue for dual-purposing (and perhaps air-sealing) another space, which could be the bathroom or the utility room, and having a humidistat heat-recovery fan in there (which you might have already). The pure performance will not be as good, but overall it may be better.

If it was me, I'd use the 6x8 feet space for a super-luxurious walk in shower cubicle, a wetroom, a steamroom - all of which are compatible with a drying room with care and have a pair of pulleys, and use a humidistat fan or built in dehumidifier, or just have a pulley rack over the bath.

Matt]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156747#Comment_156747 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156747#Comment_156747 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 23:57:25 +0100 mattwardman
From my perspective as a small Landlord, the current single most controversial (structural damp or lifestyle damp?) area for landlord/tenant disputes at present is condensation/damp - made worse by the trend to airtightness and extra insulation, and it's becoming more important to design out potential for these disputes to happen.

Therefore these days I'm deliberately not even installing washing machine plumbing in kitchens, and making it physically impossible for washing to be draped over radiators.

It all goes in a dedicated utility room/cupboard with a good drying and extract setup, and a rotary dryer outside. Electric regs make it tricky to install washing machines in bathrooms, of course, though I have done them in boiler cupboards where they can share 2 pipe stack effect ventilation.

Personally we've always had washing machines in bathrooms since I was a kid in the 1960s, but I've been in the same house for a loooong time now.

Matt W]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156754#Comment_156754 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156754#Comment_156754 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 06:54:00 +0100 GaryB
The dehum unit is 160 watts but can hold or increase the room temperature overnight. Our new utilty room is nearly finished and we will move the dehum unit to there once complete.

I don't think anyone has mentioned the water extraction efficiency of the washing machine in saving drying energy. It stands to reason that the more water is removed by the washing machine on the spin cycle, the less energy is used to dry the clothes, whether by dehumidifier, tumble dryer or even by hanging over radiators. We would run ours through an additional spin cycle sometimes if the load has to be tumble dried. SWMBO insists that underwear and towels are tumble dried...]]> Drying Room - brilliant results https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156770#Comment_156770 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9562&Focus=156770#Comment_156770 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:47:33 +0100 RobL Even a 100% efficient MVHR can't actually recover this latent heat though, whilst an ERV can, but in doing so it keeps the house humid so won't dry your clothes.
My friend Wiki who is always right says:" a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) can only transfer sensible heat"]]>