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Omaha Home Inspection: Is Your Dryer Vent a Fire Hazard?

By
Home Inspector with Foundation-2-Rooftop, Inc.

Dryer vents should be a maximum 25' in length, minus 5' per 90 degree turn, minus 2.5' per 45 degree turn.  The only time the dryer vent can exceed this length is if the dryer manufacturer specifies it.  Some of the higher efficiency dryers can be upwards of 50', but common sense says you shouldn't push your luck.  If the dryer vent is too long, the dryer may not be able to push the moist air out, thus building up with lint.  They should be made of approved dryer vent material...rigid metal with interior smooth surface or the flex type (that is manufactured for dryer vent use.)  The flex type should not exceed 6'.  Foil hose and plastic hose are made for bathroom vent fans...not for dryers and are considered a fire hazard as they will collect lint easily.  Make sure there is no mesh on the end as this will build up with lint quickly and clog the line.

Below are 3 photos taken from a recent inspection.  They used the proper flex type at first, then tapped that into plastic underground sewer line piping, and finished it with plastic hose before exiting the home through a short piece of rigid metal. 

To see more fire hazards, go to www.omaha-home-inspection.com and check out our photo galleries.

dryer vent installed with section of sewer line

 

Sewer line installed as dryer vent

 

Zoomed out view of dryer vent

Comments (1)

Robert Schwabe
Herron Real Estate - Orange Park, FL
Orange Park Real Estate

Greg - Great information about dryers vents. I just had my dryer vent cleaned about 2 months ago. I didn't realize you should have it done once a year.

Oct 10, 2010 04:44 PM