How seriously do you inspect dryer vents?

[Barry Adair]

Like me you may want to pay closer attention and have advisements for your clients

Hot link from Inspection News
http://www.setexasrecord.com/news/20...nt-caused-fire

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5022.html

http://www.dryerbox.com/convertions/...nical-Code.pdf

http://www.dryerbox.com/convertions/...ntial-Code.pdf

http://www.dryerbox.com/dryer_venting_guide.htm

[rdawes]

Thanks Barry

[Larry D. Kage]

Good reminder...thanks, Barry.

[Bob Elliott]

Thank you Barry I put the CPSC diagram staight on my clip board.
I will be using it a lot.

[Jae Williams]

Standard blurb from my report:

Dryer exhaust ducts should be independent of all other systems, should convey the moisture to the outdoors, should terminate on the outside of the building in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and should be equipped with a back-draft damper.
Exhaust ducts should be constructed of rigid metal ducts, having smooth interior surfaces with joints running in the direction of air flow. Screens should not be installed at the duct termination. Exhaust ducts should not be connected with sheet-metal screws or any means which extend into the duct. (Screens and screws can trap lint.)

Exhaust duct terminations should be in accordance with the dryer manufacturer’s instructions.

www.appliance411.com/faq/dryer-vent-length.shtml


www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5022.html

[Russel Ray]

I would use a personal story here, but, alas, it seems certain people would jump in and create a bashing thread, so I won't. I'll just copy the following story directly from the San Diego Union-Tribune (Sept. 14, 2007, p. B2):

Fire Watch
Residents extinguish fire caused by clogged dryer

NATIONAL CITY: A teenager and a senior citizen extinguished a house fire yesterday.

Jordy Vazquez, 14, first noticed the fire behind a dryer in the laundry room shortly after 9 a.m. in the house on E Avenue near 15th Street. He told his mother to get out and grabbed a small fire extinguisher.

Jordy's neighbor, Manuel Ramos, 75, grabbed a second extinguisher and then a third. All the extinguishers spurted only briefly.

The two then ran out the back door and grabbed a garden hose and together used it to douse the flames. They extinguished the fire just before firefigheters arrived at 9:19 a.m.

The fire caused about $5,000 damage in the laundry room and kitchen, said National City fire Batallion [sic] Chief Randall James.

He said lint clogging the dryer's vent caused the fire.-M.A. and K.K.

I save stories like that all the time so that when a Client or Realtor asks me, "What's the worst that could happen?" or "Yeah, but how often does that happen?" well, I think that ranks right up there. Personal stories put things in perspective for people whereas they don't always understand the technical jargon or the warnings themselves.

Also note that the three fire extinguishers "spurted only briefly," providing you with another opportunity to counsel your Clients about not only having fire extinguishers in the home, but having those extinguishers checked annually to make sure they work.

[Barry Adair]

Now that we are taking care of our clients and the rest of the world I'll ask all of you to inspect your own dryer vents and fire extinguishers ASAP.

You may be surprised what you find!

I found the 16 unmatched pairs of socks and 2 pair of underwear. TMI

and yes my exhaust tube and dampered vent did need a good cleaning.

BTW, thanks ML

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by badair

I found the 16 unmatched pairs of socks

Were all of them yours, or have my 8 missing ones taken up with 8 of yours?

[Charley L. Bottger]

504.3 Cleanout. Each vertical riser shall be provided with a

means for cleanout.

This one of my pet peeves I have a lot of vert rise dryer vents in my area and have consulted with the AHJ as to their defination of cleanout. There answer was remove the dryer that is your axcess. Needless to say I am against any verticle rise vents I find them blocked all of the time.

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

Originally Posted by badair

Like me you may want to pay closer attention and have advisements for your clients

Hot link from Inspection News
http://www.setexasrecord.com/news/20...nt-caused-fire

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5022.html

http://www.dryerbox.com/convertions/...nical-Code.pdf

http://www.dryerbox.com/convertions/...ntial-Code.pdf

http://www.dryerbox.com/dryer_venting_guide.htm

Barry,
You have provided some VERY useful information.
THANK YOU!

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by badair

Now that we are taking care of our clients and the rest of the world I'll ask all of you to inspect your own dryer vents and fire extinguishers ASAP.

You may be surprised what you find!

I found the 16 unmatched pairs of socks and 2 pair of underwear. TMI

and yes my exhaust tube and dampered vent did need a good cleaning.

BTW, thanks ML

Gee I alway though missing socks went the same place as the TV controles went .
I figured there was secret place out in the bush where they all hide .

.... Cookie
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