Laundry closet requirements are the extra conditions an installation guide adds when a washer and dryer go into an enclosed space with a door: ventilation openings in that door, minimum spacing around the machines and limits on what else can share the closet. They exist because a dryer moves a large volume of air out of the house, and the closet has to let that air back in.
What the spec actually says
- •Whirlpool 29-inch electric dryers (installation instructions W10617663C): The guide says closet installations with a door need ventilation openings at the top and bottom of the door, and that louvered doors with equivalent openings are acceptable. Its diagram lists the minimum openings as 24 and 48 square inches. Most installations need about 5 1/2 inches behind the dryer for the vent and elbow, and the guide recommends an extra inch on all sides to reduce noise. It also notes that local codes may restrict installation in closets, garages and sleeping quarters.
- •Whirlpool top-load washer (W10150593A): The washer guide says that if a closet door is installed, minimum air openings in the top and bottom of the door are required, with the same 24 and 48 square inch figures in its diagram, and recommends 1 inch of extra spacing on all sides.
- •Whirlpool gas dryer (installation instructions 3405338, hosted by KitchenAid): The gas dryer guide adds that no other fuel burning appliance may be installed in the same closet or recessed area, and that some codes limit or prohibit installing dryers in closets, so local codes should be checked.
The guides show which opening goes at the top and which at the bottom in a diagram. Check the drawing for your model rather than guessing.
Why manufacturers require it
- •Makeup air: Every cubic foot of air a dryer blows outdoors has to be replaced. In a closed closet, the door openings are the only way in.
- •Heat: A dryer and its motor give off heat. Openings at the top and bottom let warm air leave high and cooler air enter low.
- •Combustion air: A gas dryer also burns fuel, which needs air. A second fuel-burning appliance, such as a water heater or furnace, in the same closet competes for it.
- •Space behind: The vent elbow needs room to turn without being crushed against the wall.
- •Noise and service: An extra inch on each side keeps machines from rubbing the walls and leaves room to slide them out.
How to check your home against it
- Measure the closet's depth. Add the machine's depth to the rear space your guide calls for (about 5 1/2 inches in the Whirlpool dryer guide) and see whether the door still closes.
- Measure the width and subtract both machines plus the recommended side spacing.
- Look at the closet door. Solid doors without openings don't meet the requirement.
- For a louvered door, remember that the slats block much of the panel, so the open area is smaller than the louvered section's size.
- Check whether a water heater, furnace or other fuel-burning appliance shares the closet with a gas dryer.
- Open the dryer door fully inside the closet to make sure nothing blocks it.
What happens when it's ignored
- •Drying times stretch as the dryer starves for air.
- •The closet runs hot, and lint collects on surfaces.
- •A gas dryer competing with another fuel-burning appliance for air can burn poorly.
- •A crushed vent elbow behind the dryer restricts airflow further.
Closet airflow and vent length work together. See dryer vent maximum length.
When it needs a licensed pro
- •If a gas dryer and another fuel-burning appliance share a closet, have a licensed gas fitter or plumber evaluate it, and ask your building department what local code allows.
- •Moving a dryer outlet or adding a circuit for a closet layout is work for a licensed electrician.
- •Replacing a solid door with a louvered one, or cutting openings, is carpentry. Ask the building department whether a closet laundry needs a permit where you live.
Sources
- •Whirlpool: 29-inch electric dryer installation instructions W10617663C (door openings top and bottom; 24 and 48 square inches; rear space; local code note)
- •Whirlpool: Top-load washer installation instructions W10150593A (washer closet door openings; 1-inch spacing)
- •Whirlpool: Gas dryer installation instructions 3405338 (no other fuel-burning appliance in the closet; codes may restrict)
Quick check: A laundry closet with a solid door and no openings doesn't meet the dryer's installation spec.
A closet dryer that still runs hot and slow with the right openings may have a blocked vent or a failing part. Book through our dryer repair page, or call TrueFix Long Island at (631) 985-3690.