How To Look At A House
McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of
site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes
Can you vent a clothes dryer into the attic?
Monday, January 11, 2021
Building codes require that dryer “exhaust ducts shall terminate to the outside of the building,” and for two good reasons. First, dryer exhaust air is loaded with moisture. When you think the about the weight of a load of towels when they come out of the washer, and then what they weigh when you take them out the dryer, the difference is a lot of water. And it all gets trapped in the attic if the dryer duct terminates there.
And second, dryer lint is extremely flammable. An amazing amount of lint can accumulate in an attic over the years, and all it needs is a small spark or the heat buildup from a clog in the duct to ignite. Here’s an example below.
Also see our blog post Why is it bad to have a clothes dryer vent near an air conditioning condenser (outdoor unit)? and What is the maximum length for a clothes dryer vent?
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Here’s links to a collection of some of our other blog posts about WASHERS AND DRYERS:
• What are the most common problems with washing machine installation and maintenance?
• Is a washing machine drain hose required to be secured at the standpipe?
• Why does venting a clothes dryer into a garage, attic, or crawl space cause problems?
• What are the code requirements for an outdoor dryer vent cover?
• What is the maximum length for a washing machine drain hose?
• How do you inspect a dryer vent?
• Why are rubber washing machine hoses a safety risk?
• What is the correct height for the washing machine drain standpipe or outlet box?
• Is a laundry area for a washing machine required by code for a single family residence?
• When were GFCI receptacle outlets first required in a laundry room?
• When did AFCI protection first become required for laundry rooms?
• Can a washer or dryer be located in front of an electric panel?
• Does a home inspector check the clothes dryer?
Visit our APPLIANCES page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.
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