There are two types of ventless dryers: condensing dryers and heat pump dryers. Though these appliances function differently, they both can be installed without ventilation.
Condenser Tumble Dryer
Condenser tumble dryers remove moisture in a different way to vented, they do not need an external vent, so you can put your condenser dryer wherever you need it to fit.
A condenser dryer is a common type of ventless dryer that takes in cooler air from the laundry room and warms it similarly to a vented dryer. Instead of expelling the heated air through a hose, it utilizes a heat exchanger to cool it down.
Fire Hazards: Running a traditional dryer without a vent leads to dangerous lint buildup, increasing the risk of fires. Moisture Damage: Without proper ventilation, trapped humidity can encourage mold and mildew growth, affecting indoor air quality and structural integrity.
Air-vented dryers draw air from the room in which they are installed, heat it and lead it through the humid clothing in the drum to evaporate the moisture. The humid air is then expelled to the external environment. Air-vented dryers thus require an exhaust to the outside, making them less practical.
Condenser Tumble Dryer
condenser tumble dryers are the more popular type of tumble dryer. These appliances do not have a vent to expel moisture. The hot air is moved to a tank or a reservoir where the moisture is condensed into water (vapour to liquid) usually under the machine.
Ventless Dryer Cons:
First, they do cost more than vented dryers. They have small drums and cannot do larger loads. They will take two to three times longer to dry clothes. You will need to have a way to drain the water.
Longer Drying Times: A dryer without proper venting struggles to remove moisture effectively. This means your clothes take longer to dry, leading to higher energy bills and potential damage from over-drying.
The lint in a ventless dryer goes into a lint trap, just like in a vented dryer. Most lint traps are located just inside the dryer door. After every load, remove the trap and scrape away the lint.
There are two types of ventless dryers: condensing dryers and heat pump dryers. Though these appliances function differently, they both can be installed without ventilation.
The most popular solution is to vent your dryer through a nearby window. This option can be a lifesaver for people who have no other reasonable option and still wish to enjoy the benefits of having a clothes dryer right in their home.
Energy use
We've previously found condenser dryers to not be very energy efficient. Along with older vented varieties, they use around three times more energy to dry a load than their heat pump counterparts. This means vented and condenser dryers cost more to run in the long term than a heat pump.
Per the requirements of the International Residential Code, Section M1502 (2009-2021 IRC), the clothes dryer exhaust duct should be a rigid or semi-rigid metal duct made of galvanized steel or galvanized aluminum with a smooth interior finish and a duct diameter of 4 inches.
A vented tumble dryer will be more cost effective than a condenser in both the purchase and running stages, if you are able to find somewhere to run the hose externally. It will also dry your clothes more quickly than a condenser dryer, as it is not required to spend time converting the hot air into water.
Wrapping Up. To sum it up, while it's technically possible to run a dryer without the vent hose, it's strongly advised against due to safety hazards like gas buildup, increased fire risk, and potential health issues.
LG's DUAL Inverter Heat Pump technology uses up to 65% less energy to dry every load. ¹ Not only does this ENERGY STAR® certified dryer feature LG's most energy efficient ventless drying system, the low temperatures are easier on clothes and can help them look their best for longer.
It works just fine and never gives us any trouble. We just fill it with water and connect the dryer duct. The water in the bucket collects the lint, and we change the water from time to time.
What is a condenser tumble dryer? If you need a tumble dryer that dries your laundry slightly quicker, consider our range of condenser models. As with heat pump tumble dryers, condenser dryers do not need an externally vented hose, meaning you will be able to install your appliance anywhere in your home.
Moisture collects in the tub and is removed from the unit through the drain pump. Process air (cool dry) exits the condenser. Process air (cool dry) enters heater and is reheated. Process air (heated) re-enters drum to absorb more moisture and dry load.
In our tests, the Beko HPD24414W scored the highest of any ventless dryer we've tested yet. It's both effective and extremely efficient—vastly more so than a regular dryer, even winning Energy Star's Most Efficient award for 2023.
A ventless clothes dryer uses heat from the drum to dry the clothes. These dryers are energy efficient and do not require a vent to the outside, making them ideal for apartments or other homes with limited space. Here are some great options available on the market.
If a fast drying speed is the key factor for you, a vented model might be your preference. If space, budget and lifestyle allow, however, and you're happy with the slightly longer drying times that come with reduced energy usage and running costs, a heat pump clothes dryer is probably the best choice.