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Updated over 13 years ago on . Most recent reply

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2,498
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281
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Bienes Raices
  • Orlando, FL
281
Votes |
2,498
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Dryer fire hazard?

Bienes Raices
  • Orlando, FL
Posted

One of my houses has washer/dryer hookups in the garage. There is a hole in the wall where the dryer tube, etc. is supposed to vent to the outside. Unfortunately, the way the house was built, the AC condensor is right in front of that hole, so the dryer vents right into the AC condensor when the tenant is drying clothes.

I was told by a couple people that I can't leave it this way because it will damage the condensor over time. They told me to divert the air flow.

I bought another dryer vent tube and one of those door flap devices (don't know what they are called) and connected it to the vent hole outside the house, so that it blows the exhaust three feet further from the AC condensor. The tube is propped up on cinder blocks. So it travels from a tube inside the garage (connected to dryer) and then another tube once it's outside the house.

However, now I'm wondering if this could be a fire hazard (having too long a tube, and it gets backed up with lint? ). Do I need to put it back to the way it was?

I know that dryer fires are extremely dangerous and I don't want to create a hazardous situation. I don't know if having such a long tube through which the exhaust needs to travel creates a hazard or not. Thanks.

Most Popular Reply

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71
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Mike Tooley
  • Investor
  • Orange County, CA
9
Votes |
71
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Mike Tooley
  • Investor
  • Orange County, CA
Replied

I have to agree with what Mitch says. The extended distance shouldn't be a problem. I've been on several dryer fires in my career and the cause of them is due to lint build up inside the dryer frame (not the actual drum). The lint ignites since it is so close to the heating element of the dryer. Basically it's from not cleaning the lint trap on a regular basis. Extending the vent line is not going to increase the fire danger at all. Hope this helps!

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