Just plain stupid

**Ian Page** · 02-01-2011, 12:46 AM

Gentlemen - for your perusal...

This is a two story SF home built in 2000. The ductwork, including dryer venting is all original construction. The laundry room is on the second floor and the flex. tube from the dryer is connected to rigid at the wall behind the machine. It then makes a sharp 90 deg. rising vertically inside the wall and into the attic space before venting to the outside through the roof decking via roof vent. Total vertical run is approx. 16' (8' of which was inside the attic). The duct was so clogged with lint it was overflowing out the top and falling like snow onto attic floor decking, supporting the gas furnace. Flames from the burner were no more than 3'.0 away. The current homeowner has four kids, all under 8 yrs and does at least two loads of laundry per day.

Obviously called out as hazardous. Interesting, none-the-less. What amazes me is that the ductwork was installed without consideration as to the obvious consequences. I recommended a thorough clean-out (short-term) and a horizontal run through the attic to vent at the eaves. Current homeowner was suitably advised.

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Sam Sloane · 02-01-2011, 02:37 AM

Originally Posted by Ian Page

Gentlemen - for your perusal...

This is a two story SF home built in 2000. The ductwork, including dryer venting is all original construction. The laundry room is on the second floor and the flex. tube from the dryer is connected to rigid at the wall behind the machine. It then makes a sharp 90 deg. rising vertically inside the wall and into the attic space before venting to the outside through the roof decking via roof vent. Total vertical run is approx. 16' (8' of which was inside the attic). The duct was so clogged with lint it was overflowing out the top and falling like snow onto attic floor decking, supporting the gas furnace. Flames from the burner were no more than 3'.0 away. The current homeowner has four kids, all under 8 yrs and does at least two loads of laundry per day.

Obviously called out as hazardous. Interesting, none-the-less. What amazes me is that the ductwork was installed without consideration as to the obvious consequences. I recommended a thorough clean-out (short-term) and a horizontal run through the attic to vent at the eaves. Current homeowner was suitably advised.

I remember an old farmhouse a few year back. Laundry room was between the kitchen and rear attached shed. The shed was in very poor shape with loose floor boards and rodent droppings. Dryer vented into this shed. Shed floor was completely covered with lint. Owner said she never went in the shed. Too dangerous!

**Tom Edwards** · 02-01-2011, 08:17 AM

You're absoluted right!
I see these all the time and always call them out as a "life safety" issue. I think the first one I encountered was in a two story townhome about 15 years ago. The laundry room was on the main floor and vent through the roof deck vertically. A run of 25 feet or so with some flexible, vinyl hose blended in in the attic too. The home owner and listing agent went nuts when I challenged the installation. Seems the builder and architect of the residential complex was very well known and revered. Who cares! It's dangerous and I said so. I don't make friends but I get to keep my fees and assets. That's what is all about anyhow.