Mike I have the dryer, If you duct fan worked I would continue to use it until it dies. I like the dryer but it is pricey. The filter material is just a thin layer of woven plastic material, if I remember correctly. When mine arrived I had to assemble it, I commented to my wife that it looked like a computer fan in an armored casing. A piece of vent pipe and a duct fan are likely all you need.