How do I choose the best laundry chute?
A laundry chute must be smooth, with no exposed joints or protrusions. Although I’ve tried drywall and finished plywood, I prefer metal ductwork because it’s smooth and quick to install. Also, it can be angled and formed to avoid obstacles. In new construction, I ask the HVAC tech to build the duct and I install it during the HVAC rough-in stage.
How many floors can you cut a laundry chute through?
As a retrofit, one story is usually the limit, as it is much easier to cut through one floor than it is to send a properly sized chute from second floor to basement. The chute featured in this article drops from the main-floor master-bedroom closet into the basement laundry room below.
What are the code requirements for building a laundry chute?
If you’re building a laundry or trash chute in a commercial building, get ready to decipher a host of code requirements. In the residential world, you must comply with IRC section 602.8, which addresses fireblocking. Basically, any penetrations you make for the chute must be headed off with approved materials.
What is the size of a chute in a house?
In new construction, you may have the option of a larger, custom-sized and custom-located chute, not limited to the typical stud-bay size of 3 1/2 inches by 14 1/2 inches after finishing. Study your house’s blueprint if available to route the chase, instructs This Old House.
Are laundry chutes safe?
Are laundry chutes a fire hazard, helping spread flames upward? “They can have a chimney effect,” said Karen Harris of the American Institute of Architects. “You can get smoke and fire up through all the floors.”
Why are laundry chutes a fire hazard?
Are laundry chutes a fire hazard, helping spread flames upward? "They can have a chimney effect; you can get smoke and fire up through all the floors," said Karen Harris of the American Institute of Architects.
How much does it cost to install laundry chute?
Laundry chutes make transporting laundry fast and easy. DIY laundry chute materials cost between $100–$200. Professional chute installation starts at about $800.
What do you line a laundry chute with?
Usually, the best laundry chutes are lined with metal.
Why did they stop making laundry chutes?
Today, designers aren't constructing new homes with laundry chutes, not just because the architects are boring and terrible, but also because home trends have eliminated the need. Multi-level homes feature laundry rooms installed on the same floor as bedrooms, saving families the dreaded trip to and from the basement.
How do you seal a laundry shoot?
To permanently seal a laundry chute, the door to the chute is taken off and replaced with sheet rock to make a permanent seal. Another way to permanently seal a laundry chute is to bolt the door to the opening of the chute, making it impossible to open or operate.
How do I build a laundry chute?
5:0616:58Examples of two DIY laundry chutes: How to make yourself a ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnother way you can achieve safety with a laundry chute is having it at least 36 inches off theMoreAnother way you can achieve safety with a laundry chute is having it at least 36 inches off the ground. So you could put a laundry chute into the wall instead of into the floor.
How do you make a chute?
0:321:28How To Build A Remodeling Debris Chute - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI build a chute out of a sauna tube. And there's different sizes you can use this one happens to beMoreI build a chute out of a sauna tube. And there's different sizes you can use this one happens to be 12 inches they make 16 and 24 inches as well and all I do is I just secure.
What are laundry chutes made of?
Though costlier, large-diameter PVC pipe also works well. Wood, drywall, and melamine are additional options, but these latter materials require joints, and with joints you run the risk of snags (the enemy of a successful laundry chute).
What is a laundry chute?
Properly designed, a laundry chute provides unobstructed passage between floors. Many people believe that this chimney-like construction has the potential to turn a small fire into a really big and utterly devastating one.
Is a laundry chute a chore?
Perhaps the most tedious part of doing laundry —itself a tedious chore—is struggling down the stairs with a heavy and cumbersome hamper overflowing with stinky clothes. If you’ve done this on a weekly basis for a period of years, it’s no surprise you’ve neared the end of your rope. The rumors are true: A laundry chute really does make the laundry task less of a hassle, and although installing one is not rocket science, there are a few thing to know before moving ahead.
Can you buy a laundry chute kit at a box store?
Sometimes it really does seem as though home centers stock literally everything. Believe it or not, you can even buy a laundry chute kit at your local box store. That convenience comes at a cost, though; it’s somewhat cheaper (but less quick and easy) to buy all the supplies separately.
Is a laundry chute rocket science?
The rumors are true: A laundry chute really does make the laundry task less of a hassle, and although installing one is not rocket science, there are a few thing to know before moving ahead.
Do laundry chutes bend?
Note that it’s possible for a laundry chute to bend slightly in its run so as to avoid an obstruction, but that bend must be gradual and of course is going to complicate matters.
Where should a laundry chute end?
Clients want their chute to end as close as possible to the washer, so it’s best if you can make it terminate in or very near the laundry area. The top of the chute should go in the master bath or main hallway, with the latter affording easier access from other bedrooms. Dimensions also play a deciding role.
What code is required for a laundry chute?
If you’re building a laundry or trash chute in a commercial building, get ready to decipher a host of code requirements. In the residential world, you must comply with IRC section 602.8, which addresses fireblocking. Basically, any penetrations you make for the chute must be headed off with approved materials.
Where to place a chute in a bathroom?
With the chute starting in the wet wall, you often have the option to place the hatch in the master bath or an adjacent hallway. In both cases, I usually place the top of the chute in a small wall cabinet with a pull-down door, resulting in a hopper that makes loading easier.
Who is the project manager for the laundry chute?
Synopsis: Project manager Steve Pink and woodworker Asa Christiana show the steps to building a basic laundry chute, from locating the chute on each floor, to cutting the inlet and installing the metal chute, to building the upstairs and downstairs cabinets.
How to fix a hole in a chute?
Start with a pilot hole to confirm the chute will align as planned— if you’re wrong, a small hole is easier to fix than a large cutout. Use a long bit, and take care to keep it plumb to ensure you transfer the location accurately from ceiling to floor above. Enlarge the hole.
Why should the shape of the laundry chute make a difference?
While gravity plays a big part in the movement of bagged laundry, there are some other factors to consider. If the bag of laundry is not perfectly circular, it will get caught as it falls down the square or rectangular chute.
Does size matter?
Yes, the size of the chute is the most critical consideration as it determines the intended type of use and available space. The size of the bag when full, will dictate the chute size. Big isn’t always better; the weight of the bag increases with size. Is the size and weight of the container too heavy for someone to lift and load?
Where to put a chute in a bedroom?
You can also place the chute behind a dresser door in a bedroom, in a cabinet at the top of a stairway, underneath a bookcase, or even a hatch that opens in the floor directly above the laundry room.
How big is a stud bay chute?
In new construction, you may have the option of a larger, custom-sized and custom-located chute, not limited to the typical stud-bay size of 3 1/2 inches by 14 1/2 inches after finishing.
How to chase a house?
Start in the laundry area, and look for a landing area for dirty clothes convenient to the washer but not near the furnace or water heater.
Can a laundry chute be opened into a basket?
While you may see designs that recommend a laundry chute that empties into a laundry basket, you’ll have improved fire safety if you have self-closing, spring-loaded three-sided hatch doors at both ends of the laundry chute. The door can be large enough to enclose a basket if you prefer.
How to make a laundry chute?
To make the chute, use ordinary 3-1/4 in. x 12- or 14-in. galvanized heating duct. You’ll also need a 90-degree elbow with a 6-in. register opening and a preassembled laundry chute door. These materials are available in the plumbing and heating sections at most lumberyards and home centers.
What happens if you don't have a clothes chute?
If you live in a house without a clothes chute, you’re probably sick and tired of running up and down the stairs from your bedrooms and bathrooms to your laundry room, toting baskets of dirty clothes and towels . If you can find a suitable location, consider a laundry chute!
Build Or Buy?
Location, Location, Location
- Real estate and laundry chutes have at least one thing in common: For both, location is of key importance. Certainly, you want to find a place for the chute that’s going to be convenient in your day-to-day life, but the greater challenge is going to be finding a spot where the chase can fit into the framework of your house. While it’s easy enough to build a laundry chute into a new home o…
The Big Drop
- The idea of a laundry chute appeals most to those who live in a multistory home. Bear in mind, however, that the risk of a snag increases in direct proportion with the length of the chase. There are worse things in the world than having a sock snag in your laundry chute, but the impetus for building a chute is to minimize hassle, and clearing a snag is nothing if not annoying. Most hom…
Kid Stuff
- Are there small children in the house? If so, position any upstairs entry doors to the chute high up on the wall, beyond the reach of kidswho don’t know better than to send themselves (or the cat) on a ride to the basement. Alternatively or in addition, downsize the door so that no small bodies can fit through. Yet another child-safety option would be to put a lock on the door to the chute.
Fire Safety
- Properly designed, a laundry chute provides unobstructed passage between floors. Many people believe that this chimney-like construction has the potential to turn a small fire into a really big and utterly devastating one. On the other hand, many builders and architects point out that stairways carry the same potential risk. And whereas stairways are typically open, laundry chute…