Dryer Exhaust: Important tips

Clothes dryers are often neglected by the homeowner. It’s easy to forget about it as long as it’s still doing its job of dryer clothes. However, the duct must vent directly to the outdoors and be free of obstructions, like built up lint. Which can be a fire hazard. 

Moisture

A clothes dryer will vent about a gallon of water for each load of laundry. If the dryer vent discharges into a crawlspace, attic, or other building cavity, the potential for moisture-related damage is significant. Clothes dryers must vent directly to the outside. 

 Dryers should use approved exhaust ducts. Ducts made of vinyl, nylon or foil are not recommended. Spiral-duct designs often trap lint, which can clog the duct, requiring the dryer to work harder and longer to dry clothes and causing it to increase the dryer’s temperature. Not only is a poorly exhausting dryer less efficient, it can also be a fire hazard due to the flammability of the accumulated lint.

Duct

The duct should be as short, straight and horizontal as possible. The moist air, along with the lint should have an easy time exiting the building.

There should be minimal bends in the duct with proper supports and no sagging, which can trap lint. 

Termination

The exhaust duct should terminate outside the building away from any building opening, or  an air conditioner. The duct termination should be fitted with a closable damper (a backdraft damper). A screen may not be installed at the duct terminus, as it can trap debris, which poses a fire hazard.

Hazards

The leading cause of fires from clothes dryers is the failure to clean the lint and other debris that can accumulate in and around them. Here are some recommendations for homeowners:

• Always use a lint filter or screen.
• Clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry.
• Remove any visible lint within the dryer.
• At least once a year, have a professional technician clean the dryer exhaust pipe.
• Gas dryers should be cleaned and serviced regularly by a professional.
• Turn off the dryer when leaving home and before going to bed.
• Install a fire extinguisher in the laundry area.
• Install a smoke alarm in the laundry area.
• Install a CO alarm in the laundry area for a gas dryer.

Summary

Electric and gas dryers make our lives much easier and it’s easy to forget the duct system, they are usually out of sight, out of mind. But, it’s important to maintain this system as it can prolong the life of your dryer and avoid fires.