Thermal bridging — dryer & other vent materials
roygoodwin
| Posted in Green Products and Materials on
Normally the ducting for dryer vents is aluminum or galvanized steel as are many other types of vents like range hoods.
Is the thermal bridging caused by the use of these materials enough to worry about ? IF yes, then what can be used instead of aluminum or galvanized steel ?
Thanks
roy
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Replies
Roy,
Dryer vents need to be made of smooth-wall metal duct. You don't want to use PVC or flex duct for a dryer vent.
Q. "Is the thermal bridging caused by the use of these materials enough to worry about?"
A. I guess the answer depends on whether your personality is a worrying personality. I don't worry about it at my house.
Some Passivhaus designers worry about it -- but they worry more about the air leakage than the thermal conduction. The solution (if you are the worrying sort) is to install a condensing clothes dryer.
Here is more information on clothes drying options: Alternatives to Clothes Dryers.