Washer/Dryer

[Pete Masterson]

The advantage: the shortest and straightest vent line route is
generally preferred for maximum dryer efficiency.

The disadvantages: aesthetic considerations in integrating the 'hole'
in the side of the coach, plus the need to ensure a good water seal
for inclement weather.

You'll still need to have some sort of open/close vent valve to
ensure that unwanted air flow (in or out) is not a problem depending
on road speeds, pressure zones along the body while driving, winds, etc.

The weather sealing and pressure issues might be very difficult to
handle adequately with a straight through the side mounting.

I observe that the volume of air through the dryer is considerably
less than that of a home-style dryer. I doubt that the resistance
caused by the current installation is much of a factor.

Obviously, my coach, with the center-line location of the dryer
actually has a fairly 'straight out' installation. The vent (upper
rear of the machine) has a 90 degree bend, the hose diagonals across
the back slightly to the street side of the coach, then the exit is
out the bottom floor in the wheel/axle area. Due to the mounting of
the air-operated open/close valve, there's another gradual bend that
equates to a total of a second 90 degree curve. Still, with the low
air volume (compared to more robust machines), I don't think air
resistance is a major factor. The tubing seems to be the same 4"
dryer vent that I have on my home dryer...

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Mill City, PA



On Oct 1, 2008, at 4:29 PM, Kurt Horvath wrote:

> What do you guys think of poking a hole through the body to exhaust
> the dryer staight out from the machine? The current vent system is a
> wreck and isn't very effective even if it were rebuilt.
>
> Kurt Horvath
> 95 PT 42
> 10AC
>
> In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> wrote:
>>
>> Well, at least I didn't get a Friday afternoon job. Everything was
>> properly installed -- floor supported, etc. Must have been a
>> Wednesday, mid-morning installation....
>>
>> I agree that the trap was small, so non-use of the washer and hot
>> weather could combine to allow some odor problems. My storage
>> location (in the SF Bay Area) doesn't present much of a challenge
> to
>> sewer traps, fortunately...
>>
>> Pete Masterson
>> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
>> aeonix1@...
>> On the road near Scranton, PA
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sep 30, 2008, at 5:18 PM, Kurt Horvath wrote:
>>
>>> Now were having fun! The dryer exhaust tube is pinched in half,
>>> obviously when installed they just pushed the washer in and
> chinked
>>> the tube. There was enough lint to weave a shirt, the water hose
> is
>>> kinked in half and showing signs of cracking, the electric heater
>>> under the W/D is not mounted very well it's just hanging on from
> the
>>> grill and the air powered vent is seized up, the air cylinder is
>>> functional and the on/off light is working for the first time
> ever.
>>> The floor was cut away to allow access for the dryer vent hose but
>>> they did not block it up in any way. So one side of the closet
> floor
>>> is just hanging in air. Must have been a Friday Afternoon. Yes
> Pete I
>>> did have to take the door off. No signs of any past water damage
> so
>>> far. There is a small water trap but I sure in a few weeks of hot
>>> weather when not being used it would evaporate. Still looking for
> the
>>> elusive Pipe vent, I think it's behind the pantry.
>>>
>>> Kurt Horvath
>>> 95 PT 42
>>> 10AC
>>> - In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> It also depends on the installation/floor plan in your coach.
> With
>>>> the "diagonal aisle" floor plan (with an aisle passing by the
>>>> bathroom (a side-bath type arrangement), my Splende is located on
>>> the
>>>> centerline of the coach, in a full-height closet (linens go above
>>> the
>>>> washer). This also puts the outlet for the dryer vent located up
>>>> high, above the axle area, just in front of the differential. The
>>>> back of the washer is against the bedroom bulkhead. There is no
>>>> access from the back side.
>>>>
>>>> A search for the vent-exit from the outside proved fruitless.
> (The
>>>> dryer was almost totally ineffective, and I made the assumption
>>> that
>>>> the vent was blocked.)
>>>>
>>>> I eventually had to pull the Splende out of its closet.
>>>> Unfortunately, the tight installation requires removing one of
> the
>>>> hinged doors to the washer/linen closet. Of course, BB used a
>>> piano
>>>> hinge with nearly a dozen screws -- at least they only did every
>>>> other screw.
>>>>
>>>> Only a relatively small amount of lint was found behind (and
>>> under)
>>>> the washer. I discovered that years of lint build up at the
> screen
>>>> (to keep vermin out) at the dryer vent exit had formed a thick
>>> (1/2
>>>> inch) nearly solid seal -- it was not wonder the dryer didn't
> work!
>>>>
>>>> The hoses looked to be in good condition -- but replacing them
>>> with
>>>> steel-braid replacements would probably be a good precaution (why
>>>> didn't I think of that while I had the washer out...). The water
>>>> outlet is, as you said, simply a typical curved 'hook' from the
>>>> washer feeding into a standing pipe connected with the plumbing.
> I
>>>> suspect that the tube isn't sealed to allow venting which might
>>>> otherwise cause undesirable back pressure. We have not
> experienced
>>>> any unpleasant sewer odors from the washer vent line. Isn't there
>>> a
>>>> trap to block odors from the holding tank? (I don't recall seeing
>>> one
>>>> in my installation, but then I don't recall not seeing one
> either.)
>>>>
>>>> There was no sign (water spots, stains on unpainted wood, etc.)
>>> that
>>>> the outlet had ever overflowed. I do not have any moisture
>>> problems
>>>> in the washer/linen closet.
>>>>
>>>> After cleaning the vent tube and outlet thoroughly, I re-
> installed
>>>> the washer as it had previously been -- and now the dryer, while
>>>> hardly impressive, does dry clothes. Due to the relatively small
>>> size
>>>> of the washer and anemic drying performance of the dryer (but it
>>> does
>>>> work and is consistent with reports from others) we still do the
>>> bulk
>>>> of our laundry at laundromats, etc.
>>>>
>>>> Pete Masterson
>>>> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
>>>> aeonix1@
>>>> On the road near Scranton, PA
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sep 30, 2008, at 12:00 AM, Kurt Horvath wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Just tiding up the coach, putting back in the rear wall of the
>>> washer
>>>>> dryer closet and wondered dang it's still a bit musty. I just
>>> finished
>>>>> vacuuming behind the Splende 2000 last week and had cleaned up
>>>>> everything. I looked behind it once more. How did I miss that.
> The
>>>>> drain from the washer goes into a pipe stand. There is no washer
>>> or
>>>>> collar around it, it's just the washer drain tube stuck into a 1
>>> ½"
>>>>> black pipe. Lots of room to vent back into the closet. I found
> one
>>>>> source of unpleasant odor. But that just lead to another
>>> question.
>>>>> When
>>>>> was the last time anyone changed the water hoses for the washer?
>>> Near
>>>>> as I can tell in my coach never. That would make them 13 years
>>> old.
>>>>> Nearly triple the recommended service life. New stainless
>>> braided
>>>>> hoses
>>>>> and a some sort of collar or vapor lock for the drain pipe. Now
> I
>>> need
>>>>> to pull the machine out a bit just make sure the vent tube is
>>>>> OK,and to
>>>>> install the new hoses. It did have some lint and was very dusty
> in
>>>>> there. And the beat goes on, and the beat goes on. On and on.
>>>>> Kurt Horvath
>>>>> 95 Pt 42
>>>>> 10AC
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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