Real Estate

Why does my clothes dryer vent tube keep getting clogged?

On more than one occasion during a home inspection, I ask the owner if he has problems with the clothes dryer and if it seems to take a long time to dry clothes. Most of the time they look shocked and ask me how I could possibly know that. They told me the dryer started fine and then seemed to take longer and longer to fully dry the clothes, and they are about to call a repairman or buy a new appliance. I then take them outside and show them the dangerous condition that exists and the cause of the problem… a dryer vent tube that is completely clogged with lint in the range hood.

This condition not only prevents the appliance from drying properly, but also presents a serious fire hazard. I then show them the reason for the obstruction: a screen installed at the end of the range hood. “This screen isn’t supposed to be there,” I tell them, “and it’s not only a fire hazard, it’s against the building code.” To make matters worse, they told me that they previously mentioned the problem to their builder and told them that the screen is needed to keep “bugs” out. What a completely incorrect statement. A properly installed vent will have a flap (damper) at the end that opens when the dryer is running and closes when it is off. This prevents the entry of any bug.

Having a screen, of any kind, at the end of the vent tube only does one thing…preventing lint from venting out and causing a clog in the entire vent, period.” Anyone who says otherwise is ignorant of the potential danger as well as the building code The IRC (International Residential Code) is very specific regarding the installation of clothes dryer vents and states that “exhaust ducts from clothes dryers must terminate on the outside of the building and must be equipped with a reverse draft damper. Screens will not be installed at the end of the duct. Ductwork should not be installed with sheet metal screws or other attached fasteners that will obstruct flow. Clothes dryer exhaust ducts should not be connected to a gas vent, gas vent, or chimney connector. Clothes dryer exhaust ducts shall not extend into or through ducts or plenums.”

There are others who are equally ignorant of the code requirements. On a recent stucco inspection, I noticed a severely clogged vent hood. I asked the homeowner my standard question about their dryer and was told that the duct clogged regularly. They had cleaned it twice before and were preparing to do it for the third time. The company they used never mentioned the screen at the end of the tube. I’d like to think it was just an oversight and not conveniently overlooked for job security.

I also noticed my neighbors newly installed roof had a brand new vent hood installed. Needless to say, it was the wrong type and should never have been used for a clothes dryer vent. And guess what, it was already starting to clog and the roofing company wouldn’t fix it.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there are 24,000 clothes dryer fires each year in the United States, amounting to $96,000,000 in estimated property damage. Lack of maintenance and inadequate facilities are the main causes, and LINT it is the main material for igniting. These fires can also be caused by failure of mechanical and/or electrical parts within the dryer, improper materials placed in the dryer, and insufficient airflow as a result of improper installation.

Periodic inspection of dryer components and installation material should be performed as part of regular owner maintenance. Be sure to regularly check your dryer vent and vent hose for lint buildup, and make sure there is no screen at the end of the tube. If the tube ends at your roof, make sure to have the end inspected by a professional for a screen if you are not comfortable going up to the roof.

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