This dryer vent leak did not need a thermal camera, but it helped!
As soon as I saw it I knew it had a problem.
It was rusting, and there was a coat of lint all over everything nearby!
There was even a gaping hole.
When the dryer was turned on the lint nearby blew in the breeze!
And this vent travels 25' from here, over a drywall ceiling of a family room.
What's going on as it passes over that drywall ceiling to discharge outside the house TO AN UNSEEN AND INACCESSIBLE LOCATION UNDER A DECK?
So, to review - we have a cracked dryer vent, clogging somewhere, unable to be seen, and without the ability to clean the outside discharge location.
Excellent!
What does it look like to Mighty Mo?
Like a metal tube with weak spots and leaking heat!
More problematic is the idea that it is rusting, weak, and probably leaking all over the ceiling. And most likely clogged at the outside discharge location.
This could be a house fire in the making. Certainly access through the deck outside needs to be provided to get to and clean the opening. And that tubing may need to be replaced from the inside all the way to the outside.
My recommendation: dryers can be dangerous appliances, perhaps the most dangerous in the house. The tubing should be metal, and cleaned regularly. The outside discharge hood needs to be visible, accessible, and cleaned also regularly. How regularly? When it looks like it's clogging! How often is that? Well, THAT depends on how many people live in a house and what kinds of clothing they wear!
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