You'll Always Know How Your Dryer is Performing
Back pressure in the dryer's exhaust system is always changing. Over time, it increases because of lint buildup, crushed hoses, damaged vent hoods and—surprisingly often—animal nests. The LintAlert® works to protect you by continually monitoring airflow and showing the exact pressure in the exhaust system. Armed with this information, you can save energy and be certain the dryer is operating at safe levels.
Air Pressure Sensor
The LintAlert gathers this information through a highly discriminating digital pressure sensor. It detects extremely small changes in water column inch (WCI) pressure by sampling minute amounts of airflow. Because of the very small volume of air sampled, there is zero impact to air pressure in the duct.
Onboard Computer
The air pressure samples are then analyzed by a programmable integrated circuit. This small onboard computer evaluates data to know whether the dryer is on and how the exhaust system is performing. Most importantly, it learns each unique system so it can compare current airflow to optimal, then report changes over time.
LED Indicators
These changes are shown through a simple to understand LED interface where green indicators, turn to yellow, and then red as pressure becomes more problematic. Optimal performance is shown with a single green indicator glowing. As airflow naturally becomes restricted over time, the second, then third green indicator will illuminate. This is a good time to clean the dryer and duct system for best energy efficiency and safety. In the event the system is not cleaned at that point, the yellow and red indicators will eventually illuminate. Once pressure becomes dangerous (or there is a sudden obstruction) all LEDs flash in unison and an audio alarm sounds.
Dryer Duct Connection
For the sensor to sample pressure in the system, a self-tapping fitting, the SmartTap™, attaches to the transition hose behind the dryer. This fitting is connected to the alarm module by a 1/8" tube and provides flexibility to plug the alarm module into the nearest power outlet (to conserve available power sources, the LintAlert includes a pass through terminal into which other electronic devices can be plugged).
Testing Systems for Accurate Lint and Air Restriction Alerts
LintAlerts are regularly lab tested across multiple scenarios. This includes varied exhaust conduit layouts that represent the majority of conditions typically found in residential construction today. This is then combined with the differing mechanical designs of today's clothes dryers which produce many different airflow and back pressure conditions and a broad matrix of analyzable factors.
This testing process is the original driver for the LintAlert's evolution into its current advanced state, and it ensures an accurate understanding of each unique dryer exhaust system. Today, the LintAlert's onboard digital processor is able to determine specific conditions and calculate what incremental change intervals best represent efficiency levels for accurate feedback.
This continuing research and development will likely bring about future releases that address new consumer needs. To date, this vent and lint alert system is known to work on all dryer except those with dual motor technology, inline dryer booster fans, and dryers that share exhaust systems as occasionally found in high-rise structures.
Dryer Vent Hooker-Upper Protector
This connection protector keeps fragile aluminum dryer transition
ducting from being crushed when the dryer is pushed back against the
wall.
Contact us to learn more or to inquire about install during your dryer vent cleaning!
