Dryer vent

[Jae Williams]

International Residential Code (which many states have adopted - check your state's Code) 1501.1

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

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

[cbottger]

Originally Posted by jwilliams4

International Residential Code (which many states have adopted - check your state's Code) 1501.1

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

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

This is all just fine but does not address the problem I have been having for the past 10 years fighting city hall about dryer vents and their potential fire hazards. About 3 out of every 10 inspections I do have VERTICAL DRYER VENTS. and there is not a thing that I can do about it but inform my clients of the potential problems. I have a group of builders that lay the foot print for a home with no consideration for venting the dryer the utility room will be in the middle of the home no exterior wall to get the vent to. Yes this is one of my pet peeves.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by cbottger

About 3 out of every 10 inspections I do have VERTICAL DRYER VENTS.

I'll get the discussion going.

What is wrong with vertical dryer vents?

Originally Posted by cbottger

there is not a thing that I can do about it but inform my clients of the potential problems.

How you inform your Clients of the potential problems would probably be a good report writing exercise right here....

[jmichalski]

I am interested in the issues regarding vertical dryer vents as well.

[cbottger]

[quote=rray]I'll get the discussion going.

What is wrong with vertical dryer vents?

I do not have to tell you RR what is wrong with verticle dryer vents you have to be dumber than a fence post to ever install one of these animals. They stop up within the first 3 years of life. I have inspected two of them this week and they were both stopped up. You can peck on the duct in the attic and it has a different sound when stopped up than when it is open. I have jumped the bones of the city building inspectors many times over this to no availe. As you can see above there is nothing in the code describing this verticle vent. The city inspectors response was that there must be a provided cleanout of this vent system and I asked what do you consider an approiate cleanout and there response was where the flex line connects to the verticle riser is the cleanout. How many people do you know that removes the dryer and clean this vent. NONE

I do not write two pages on this item to the client just inform them the the vent is a verticle vent and the that the construction of this vent is allowed by the city building code division. That it is a fire hazard and should be cleaned on a regular scheduled perodicty to be determined by the owner depending on the usage of the dryer.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by cbottger

I do not have to tell you RR what is wrong with verticle dryer vents

'Tis true, but I thought I'd let you go first. That way I don't look so overbearing, always right, etc. I'm trying to be less active in order to improve my reputation (you know, those little green box thingies).

Originally Posted by cbottger

you have to be dumber than a fence post to ever install one of these animals. They stop up within the first 3 years of life. I have inspected two of them this week and they were both stopped up. You can peck on the duct in the attic and it has a different sound when stopped up than when it is open. I have jumped the bones of the city building inspectors many times over this to no availe. As you can see above there is nothing in the code describing this verticle vent. The city inspectors response was that there must be a provided cleanout of this vent system and I asked what do you consider an approiate cleanout and there response was where the flex line connects to the verticle riser is the cleanout. How many people do you know that removes the dryer and clean this vent. NONE

I do not write two pages on this item to the client just inform them the the vent is a verticle vent and the that the construction of this vent is allowed by the city building code division. That it is a fire hazard and should be cleaned on a regular scheduled perodicty to be determined by the owner depending on the usage of the dryer.

Very good.

So those in your neighborhood take three years to clog? You must have some good systems there. Here? A year, 18 months at the most. Might have something to do with the weather, I guess.

There are some manufacturer's instructions which caution against vertical vents, especially long vertical vents.

Washer/dryer combinations are the worst because they typically are installed in condominium towers, and the blower motors just don't have enough power to get moist, lint-laden air up through those flues. And then when one finds the vertical, accordion plastic flue, all bets are off. Period.

Thanks for bringing up a good topic.

[cbottger]

Weather should not enter the pic out your way the vent should not clog for at least 10 years I understand that they do not wear clothes in your area

At least some credit is due to some of the local contractors as they will use a rectangular duct that will just fit between the wall studs and transition to round pipe in the attic and some will still install sheet metal screws???? at the bottom where the round pipe adapter is connected Thus voiding the size of the riser. If you ever have to clean out one of these vents of the rectangular shape you better have one of the wheel barrows that have the double wheels in front.
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