To vent or not to vent, this is the big question. In this blog post, I’ll explain the advantages and disadvantages of common louvre type of closet doors, as well as some options in terms of what is mandatory by the International Building Code. This mandates that behind laundry units, adequate air flow according to the manufacturer of the laundry units instructions, must be complied. Make sure to follow the mechanical building code for the state the project is residing in, as these codes are not universal. Many mechanical codes often are different according to the city as well.

The “go-to” option for most people, when discussing vents is always this 730 louvre. This type of louvered bifold has its own list of advantages and disadvantages in terms of high density housing developments shown below. The first advantage for choosing this type of louvre, is it feels like the safe option, because it is the option that most people think of when mentioning a laundry unit. There are many options out there currently, so this isn’t necessarily the case in 2021 as it was in the 1980’s. This type of louvre also provides maximum air flow, as there are many slats for air to move through when using on a laundry unit. With the amount of air flow, comes the amount of noise. When the dryer is running, the unit will be louder with this type of vented bifold door than with any other. Next comes the painting issue. As you can imagine, painting a 730 louvre for a multifamily building is a very expensive and difficult endeavor. It is best to avoid this at all costs, as the slats make painting this type of door quickly and efficiently close to impossible. Time is money. Another disadvantage to using this type of louvered door are the warpage issues. Often, the slats on these types of doors give way and break off, especially when placed in front of a laundry dryer unit. This is just going to cost the owner of the building more money down the road. When tenants are paying rent at a high rise apartment complex that is new, the last thing they want to deal with is an unpleasing side affect of poor product selection. When a company will use a full louvre door next to all Magiglide bifolds/pivot closet doors, it also disrupts the cohesion of doors in the space. I have shown a picture below of a building that went with a full louvre closet door vs a building that went with our vented doors. It is clear which space seems more unified.

This type of vent seems to be out of the ordinary, but it is anything but. In the case of a bifold closet door, there are no seals. This allows for venting to be in full compliance with small in-obstructive vents located anywhere the owner chooses. As you can see from the rendering at the right, there are many options for fulfillment on this venting building code. At Magiglide, every vented unit is calculated to ensure adequate air flow is being respected to ensure everyone’s safety. A white glove service in the industry perhaps, but a service we will never get rid of nonetheless. Another positive of going with these square vents, are the ability to paint the door much easier than a full 730 louvre option. These bifold closets are also in full compliance with dryer codes, and will be just as durable as the nonvented doors.

This option is a great choice for those projects that would like a higher end vent feel to the closet door, without sacrificing quality or cost. Full solid core 730 louvered closet doors are significantly more expensive than our Magiglide bifold closets. Therefore, it makes sense to remain focused on budget, functionality, and aesthetics. Keep this wooden vent in mind for luxury high density urban venting options.

A newer, sleek design shown above for our Magiglide bifold closet doors. These doors provide the perfect amount of venting, with a contemporary aesthetic, which is proving popular with high density urban developments who are inclined to using a cutting edge closet venting option.

The last option to vent properly, when deciding between the best avenue for the project, is to keep the closet doors at a standard height, and to just simply vent above the closet opening. This option allows for all of the closet doors to remain identical, and for the adequate amount of air to still be vented, just into the opening through the drywall header space above the closet instead. Again, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding venting to gain compliance for the mechanical codes. Keep an eye out for our next blog which will compare the top 8 stackable washer/dryer units and their venting suggestions for the 2021 year.