Clothes dryer on the balcony

From time to time in every home there is a need to wash clothes. To date, this task is perfectly handled by the automatic washing machine. Not all of them are equipped with a drying function, and not all washed products need spinning, so the question of placing already washed linen is an acute issue. The presence of a balcony or loggia makes it possible to organize drying of things in this space using modern clothes dryers of various types and designs.

The location and the expected load on the device must be taken into account when purchasing one or another version of the clothes dryer.

Clutter and high humidity do not contribute to a comfortable stay, therefore, if there is a balcony or loggia, the washed linen is most often placed there.

There is a huge variety of tumble dryers, of various designs, with a variety of mounting methods and design options, subdivided into external and internal.

The most numerous group is indoor, including ceiling, wall and floor options.

The most modern and convenient type of balcony dryer is a ceiling dryer. A structure of this type is attached to the ceiling and allows you to use almost the entire width of the balcony without taking up the rest of the balcony or loggia space.

The presence of a wide working area allows you to simultaneously arrange a large number of products: the structure, as a rule, is designed for a very significant weight. This is an irreplaceable thing for the simultaneous drying of several sets of bed linen, which differ not only in their considerable size, but also in their weight.

The simplest option is a plastic or metal frame equipped with chains that are connected to a hook.

The design is shaped like a pyramid. The hook can be used to hang it on a ring attached to the ceiling or on a clothesline.

The clothespins on the frame can be used to hang small washed items. Such a suspended dryer does not take up much space, is very compact, but it is not designed for a serious load.

A similar version of the dryer, but with a slightly modified design, is intended for delicate items that can only be dried when unfolded. The design of this model is a frame covered with a net, on which things are located, which are dried due to the structure of the net, and the presence of two, sometimes three tiers in the design provides a simultaneous drying of several things. Compact model that saves space not only during operation, but also during storage.

Stationary ceiling devices do not require such manipulations, their fixings are fixed. Two metal trapezoids or wooden bars are attached to the ceiling surface with ropes stretched between them.

The structure saves space well, but the height at which this structure is installed presupposes the use of aids in the form of a stool or step-ladder.

There are more advanced lowering models with an elevator mechanism. They consist of parallel traverses, between which there are rigidly fixed beams.

The structure is suspended by ropes passing through block systems attached to the ceiling. The ropes attached to the traverses help to raise and lower the device to any height, either manually or using special gearboxes, depending on the model chosen.

There is the most advanced model of the overhead folding dryer. The system of this option is not as dependent on a balanced arrangement of things as the previous model, but reasonable moderation in hanging the washed laundry will not hurt in this option.

Linen dryer "Liana" is a structure with adjustable hollow slats through which the ropes are passed, collected in a comb, fixed on the wall. During the operation of this structure, any of the slats can be lowered to a given height, independently of each other.

This structure is attached either to the wall using a bracket, or to the ceiling using a profile. Convenient model that provides quick drying of laundry due to the ability to set each bar at a different height.

An alternative to the ceiling type is wall dryers that are permanently mounted on the wall. The simplest of them is presented in the form of fasteners located on opposite walls, between which ropes are stretched. This option is suitable for loggias, but not for a balcony, due to the special design of the latter.

The easiest option is to stretch clotheslines between two parallel brackets. The structure can be mounted on one wall, or maybe on two parallel walls.

There is an improved model, which is an inertial type device. A closed block is installed on one wall, which includes a drum with twisted ropes, the ends of which are attached to one plank. On the opposite side, a structure is attached, which is a hook, with which the bar with ropes is firmly fixed. When removing the bar from the retainer at the end of drying, the ropes are wound on the drum by inertia.

This option looks very neat when not in use and does not spoil the appearance of the room at all. But this device also has a drawback: when hanging things on ropes, the space where the dryer is located becomes very cluttered.

Another type of wall dryer is the option with a sliding mechanism. On a metal bracket, strips are attached in a certain way, which have the ability to fold, being inoperative, and move out to the desired distance, forming rows with crossbeams located parallel to each other. Laundry placed on such a dryer dries quickly and without creases. After use, it quickly folds up, taking up a minimum of space.

But this option does not withstand heavy loads due to its design. The slightest overload on the extreme crossbars leads to the sagging of the entire structure, which does not have the best effect on the parts that deform over time. This can ultimately lead to jamming of the dryer mechanism.

An alternative to a sliding structure is a stationary metal model, consisting of a frame with horizontal slats. Very robust construction that can withstand significant loads.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to dry or ventilate things that require careful handling, which can only be hung on a hanger. A balcony hanger attached to the wall does an excellent job of this. Convenient, compact and easy to install model.

This design is presented in the form of a bracket attached in one part to the wall, and the other is intended for hangers with clothes, on which special grooves are located, preventing the hangers from sliding with things. There are also floor options for balcony clothes hangers, which are a rack with a swivel system of brackets with different positions.

Lightweight and compact wall dryers can be used on open balconies by installing this structure on a parapet. Their purpose is to quickly dry small items such as towels, baby clothes, underwear. But this option is categorically not suitable for large-scale washing and placement of large items.

The floor dryer is designed to withstand heavy loads, allowing items with a high specific gravity to be dried. And after the end of drying, it folds easily, becoming very compact. In the unfolded state, it takes up a lot of space, and this is not very convenient, especially for small balconies.

A floor dryer for an apartment is not always the best option.

This dryer is perfect for closed loggias and balconies, as they are protected from various weather conditions.

The principle of operation is very simple: clothes are placed on tubes that are heated, as a result, the laundry dries faster without the formation of a musty smell, even in rainy weather. This type of dryer is not very convenient for drying large items.

In addition to internal options for dryers, there are also external ones that are only suitable for open balconies. This type of dryers is located outside the balcony, that is, from the outside. The balcony space remains free, which is a definite plus. In addition, the hanging laundry does not close the window, letting in light into the room, and is also well ventilated and dries quickly.

Despite the many advantages of an outdoor dryer, it also has disadvantages. Laundry hung in this way can be exposed to negative effects in the form of dust and small debris, sudden rain, gusts of wind and other negative influences. These are factors that do not contribute to high-quality drying of the laundry, leading, at best, to repeated washing.

Outdoor clothes dryers are located on the street side of the balcony and are constructed using clotheslines. As a rule, either a bracket or a wooden bar is taken as a basis. For the simplest version of external drying, holes are drilled in the bracket into which the rope is passed.

The outdoor type of dryer can be used not only on the balcony, but also outside the window. Brackets are attached to the wall, between which the clotheslines are pulled.The design can be supplemented for convenience with rollers, which will greatly facilitate both hanging things up and taking them off. A curtain can be installed on the window as needed, but it will only withstand light things.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the right tumble dryer. The choice of the system depends on the consideration of many nuances. Stationary systems are installed if washing occurs quite often. For a large number of large items, it is better to choose a ceiling-type dryer.

Any of the options, mounted on the ceiling, withstands significant loads well and does not clutter up the space. If there are not so many things, then a wall structure with a sliding mechanism will do.

When choosing a stationary device, it is necessary to take into account the material of manufacture of this or that option. The duration of the device's functioning directly depends on its quality. Plastic models are lightweight, but do not withstand heavy loads. Ceiling options made of aluminum are stronger than plastic, but they have one feature. The tubes on which the laundry is hung can bend, which happens quite often.

In another version, steel pipes in a polymer braid are used, which withstand the load well. But over time, they also become unusable, the braid cracks and peels off, which in the future can lead to corrosion, due to which stains can remain on the linen. In this case, it is better to choose a model made in Turkey or Germany. It costs more than the one made in China, but it is stronger, and the service life is much longer. The best option is the stainless steel construction. Strong, reliable and durable.

It is necessary to mount the device taking into account the window opening mechanism in the loggia or glazed balcony. It is necessary to calculate this moment in order to understand whether open windows will touch the laundry, and whether there will be free space for passage.

When choosing a dryer designed for use on the balcony, it is better to give preference to compact options made from quality materials.

When installing various types of devices, it is necessary to take into account the nuances of mounting for each design. It is not difficult to mount the ceiling structure, the main thing is to follow the instructions supplied with the dryer.

First you need to decide on the place where the structure will be installed. Then prepare the necessary tools. Having prepared the place and having studied the instructions, you can proceed with the installation.

On the ceiling surface, make marks by attaching brackets and accurately determining the distance using the structure rod equal to its length.

Then use the hammer drill, the most suitable tool for concrete surfaces, to make the holes along the marks. Install the brackets with self-tapping screws. A bracket is installed to the wall at a convenient height

The final step will be to adjust the length of the cords by pulling through the roller mechanisms and fixing the height using the caps included in the kit.

How to install a tumble dryer yourself, see the video below for more details.

To save the family budget, a ceiling-type clothes dryer can be made by hand.

You can make both a wooden structure and a frame one. For a homemade frame structure, you can take an old clamshell as a basis, after removing the springs.Instead, they will use cords attached to special devices left over from the clamshell damper.

The frame itself is suspended on each side by slings, which are connected through a carabiner with the ropes of the lift-type system.

The cords, in turn, are thrown over rigidly fixed blocks on the ceiling surface and pass through a double block-type system.

The cords need to be adjusted so that the frame takes a horizontal position, and then connected together, tying them in a knot.

The free end of this rope, with the help of which the structure will be raised and lowered, is fixed on a bracket with ready-made holes fixed to the wall.

To raise the structure, the cord must be pulled down, and to lower it, it is necessary to carefully loosen it and slowly release it until the frame drops to the desired height.

How to make a tumble dryer, see the video below.