I've always told my Minnesota home inspection clients that the best type of dryer duct material is a completely rigid metal duct, with as short of a run as possible. I've recommended using semi-rigid metal when necessary, as a way of transitioning from the dryer to the duct. Semi-rigid aluminum is all that anyone recommends! After doing some research on the semi-rigid transition ducts, I've learned that they might not be allowed in Minnesota. To understand why, you need to know the difference between a clothes dryer duct and a transition duct. They're not the same thing, and they're not interchangeable. According to the Minnesota Mechanical Code, a dryer duct is required to be constructed of metal, and can only have a smooth interior finish (section 504.6). This means that flexible materials are not allowed for dryer ducts; not foil, not semi-rigid aluminum. A transition duct is flexible, which allows the dryer to be connected to the duct, then pushed back up against a wall so it's not sitting in the middle of the room. A transition duct is allowed by the Minnesota Mechanical Code to connect the dryer to the dryer duct... but that's all. These transition ducts are limited to single lengths of eight feet or less, and must be listed and labeled for the application. Keyword: Listed I went shopping at a few retailers for dryer transition ducts, and I was quite surprised to learn that the semi-rigidmaterial I've always recommended is not a UL listed product! If there are any manufacturers that do make a UL listed semi-rigid duct, they've done a good job of hiding their products - even online. Home Depot sells 'dryer stuff' from Deflect-o, while Menards and Lowes sells 'dryer stuff' from Dundas-Jafine. After browsing through Deflect-o's web site and Dundas-Jafine's web site, I learned that the only UL listed dryer transition ducts are the ones that look like they're made from foil, pictured below. These transition ducts are actually made from aluminum. Interesting. I won't be reporting the semi-rigid stuff as unsafe - I have it in my own house, and I feel like it's perfectly safe... but if it's not listed, it's a code violation and I won't recommend it any more. I wonder why the semi-rigid material isn't listed?
Thanks for sharing this important information with us this morning. Great stuff
Reuben I think the corrugated stuff has too many "nooks and crannies." The think about the flexible foil duct is that while it has a UL listing as a "transition" duct material, most manufacturer's installation instructions prohibit its use. Looks like we are back to rigid metal pipe :)
ATCO makes a UL listed Semi-rigid aluminum duct. Most building inspectors will not pass the foil type dryer vent even though they are UL listed and they will pass the Semi-rigid type even though it is not UL listed. It is like the plastic discharge line from the pressure relief valve for a water heater that is UL listed but no building inspector will pass them.
Hi Harry, thanks for reading.
Charles - that's a good theory. Most manufacturers prohibit the foil stuff? I'll have to read through a few more manuals. I've never seen that - thanks for the tip.
Andy - I found a UL listed semi-rigid aluminum duct at the ATCO web site, but it's only listed for furnace ductwork. You're exactly right about about the water heater discharge pipes!
The foils have too many lint catchers inside. The semi-rigid is much smoother. Why it isn't listed is beyond me...
Jay - the best reason I've heard is that the semi-rigid stuff won't spring back to it's original shape after it gets bent. That's a good point.
What the.......Wow, Thanks for the research Rubin. I need to keep on top of your posts, I might learn a thing or two!
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