Laundry Room Intake? for gas dryer

[artimus]

I am remodeling my laundry room. Years ago I made the entry way into a laundry room and moved the entry to another area. The washer and dryer were stacked in one corner and the water heater was in the other corner. I had louvered doors for the doors to the laundry room.
I came up with the bright idea to unstack the washer and dryer, put them on pedestals and recess them side by side through the wall, outside. I moved the water heater outside. I have one inch clearance on the both left and right sides and 1 1/2" on the top. The gas dryer is vented outside. So the room is 3' 4" deep, 9' 4" wide and 8' 4" tall. The washer and dryer are not in that space but recessed outside into the front yard. The recessed area is framed, roofed, insulated and drywalled. The entry to the laundry room is on the 9' 4" wall from the kitchen. The door is a 32"x80" etched glass pantry door. My question is, do I need a intake vent. Should I put a duct to the laundry room the HVAC? Is it safe to have the dryer recessed? Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Arthur Lacy Email addresses are not allowed in post, please put it in your profile, thank you.

[hearthman]

What do the listed instructions for the dryer say? How are you providing makeup air?

Not sure I'm following you on the through the wall thing but it does sound like you made an *alcove*, which may have restrictions but will also make service a nightmare.

[Shophound]

Sounds to me like you "bumped out" a wall of your house to accommodate the washer/dryer pair, side by side. But I'm not sure about the rest of your description. Maybe if you posted some photos of it, that might help clear things up. Also, are you asking about make-up air for the dryer, for the water heater, or both?

[artimus]

Here are some pictures that should shine some light on my questions. I have removed the water heater from this room an placed in outside. My plan for this room is to house the washer and dryer (recessed) to the left will be a chest freezer and to the right of the dryer will be a folding table. This is a poured in place concrete house. The exterior walls are 6". The entry door to the laundry room was a window looking out past the entry/porch. When I converted this to a laundry room, years ago, I broke out the bottom of the window to make access to the laundry room and enclosed the entry/porch to make the laundry room. I am good with exhausting the dryer but want to make sure to provide the proper air intake to this small laundry room. The door opening will be a 32"x80" door. Beside the gap under the door, what other air intake should I provide to this laundry room? Some of my thoughts are; I have 4" to the left of the and 6" to the right, where I could place vents. I could add a register tying in the the heating and air or place a vent to the outside wall behind the dryer. What would be the best/safest solution?

[Shophound]

Gas dryer or electric dryer?

[artimus]

I am using a Gas Dryer

[CraziFuzzy]

How much gap is there under the door from the kitchen? More than likely, it is enough to provide the make-up air the dryer needs.

[artimus]

I have not hung the door yet so I can make it what ever is needed. Do you see any issue with the way I have recessed the washer and dryer as far as air flow?

[CraziFuzzy]

There should be clearance requirements listed kin the washer and dryers manual, so as long as you meet them, you'll be fine.

[artimus]

I'm not sure how to interperet the op man clearances.
It has some, "additional instructions for closet installations."

I'm not sure whether or not to consider this a closet installation?

If so it wants at least 18" clearance above the dryer which would be a problem for the way I have it designed.

If this is not considered a closet install, I should be good to go. Right?

[tedkidd]

Natural draft water heater, or power vented?

Hopefully you designed access to service dryer vent. Driers are a primary cause of home fires.

Worst case CAZ depressurization test will tell if you have sufficient make up air for your combustion appliances.

[CraziFuzzy]

I actually would call this a closet install. the 18" above it is probably because the 2 inches you have won't provide enough air mixing to keep surface temps down. Most recessed installs I've seen still provide a space above the equipment, and then put a louvered grill or some such to fill that 18-24" gap above the equipment.

[smooth_operator]

This is exactly what they call "closet install". You do not meet clearance requirements as per dryer manufacturer requirements.

Certified dryer exhaust technician.

PS Plumbing does not like outside walls.

[Shophound]

Gas dryer - you must account for both the combustion air the dryer burners need, and the air the dryer blower will need.

Does the water heater share this space, also?