A hand-cranked clothes dryer was created in 1800 by French inventor M. Pochon. Essentially a metal drum with holes, clothing was placed inside the drum and dried over an open fire with a hand cranking system. Clothes, however, were left smelling of smoke and sometimes dusted in soot. This basic design of a ventilator system comprising of a metal drum with holes remains the foundation of the tumble dryer. ANSI Z21.5.2-2016/CSA 7.2-2016: Gas Clothes Dryers, Volume II, Type 2 Clothes Dryers covers clothing dryers for use in multiple family and commercial applications.
What Is the Most Energy-Efficient Clothes Dryer?
Heat pump dryers are considered the most energy-efficient type of dryer since they recycle hot air to dry clothes. They can reduce energy use by at least 28% compared to standard dryers. By heating the air to remove moisture and sending the heated air through an evaporator to remove the moisture without losing too much heat, a heat pump dryer works as a closed loop system. On the other hand, a conventional dryer releases warm, humid air through a dryer vent to the exterior of the home. Since heat pump dryers makes use of a refrigerant as part of the drying process, there is less electricity used to generate heat. Heat pump technology often comes with additional features like moisture sensors and delicate fabric settings, helping prolong the life of clothes and reducing the risk of damage from overheating.
What Is ANSI Z21.5.2-2016/CSA 7.2-2016?
ANSI Z21.5.2-2016/CSA 7.2-2016 applies to newly produced dryers constructed entirely of new, unused parts and materials for use with natural gas, manufactured gas, mixed gas, propane gas, and liquefied petroleum (LP) gas-air mixtures. It covers all electrical equipment, wiring, and accessories built in or supplied for use with dryers. This American National Standard covers only dryers whose electrical equipment, wiring, and accessories are intended to be installed in accordance with the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, or the Canadian Electrical Code, CSA C22.1. It covers dryers having supply voltage ratings of 120, 208, 240, 277, or 480 volts.
Clothes Dryers Classifications
ANSI Z21.5.2-2016/CSA 7.2-2016 specifically refers to “type 2 clothes dryers” and classifies clothes dryers as follows:
- Type 1 Household: intended for use in residential homes; gas supply pressure does not exceed ½ pound per square inch
- Type 1 Commercial: intended for intermittent duty in common laundry facilities of multi family dwelling, with or without payment collection means; may include installations requiring the appliance to be fasted to the building structure; and gas supply does not exceed ½ pound per square inch
- Type 2: intended for continuous duty in multiple family and commercial applications, with or without payment collection means may include installations requiring the appliance to be fastened to the building structure; gas supply pressure does not exceed ½ pound per square inch
Why Do My Clothes Shrink in the Dryer?
The main reason that clothes shrink in the washer and dryer is because of the heat. Excessive heat is damaging to fabrics; the high temperatures can cause fibers in your clothing to contract, resulting in shrinkage. In other words, washing clothes in hot water and then drying them on high heat can result in clothes shrinking. So, washing clothes in cold water helps to prevent them from shrinking and preserve the fibers in them. Additionally, avoiding using high heat and instead using the lowest heat setting possible when dryer clothes with help prevent clothes from shrinking. Another option is to remove clothes from the dryer when they are slightly damp and then letting them air dry to finish.
ANSI Z21.5.2-2016/CSA 7.2-2016: Gas Clothes Dryers, Volume II, Type 2 Clothes Dryers is available on the ANSI Webstore.