Thread: Dryer vent to Peak ridge???

I have never seen one of these. It is the dryer vent .....venting to peak ridge vent in attic. Obvious lent coming out of box. There is a little door to open and , I am assuming cleaning the lent out. I am thinking the ridge vent is not an approved termination for a dryer ..... but it looks as if this contraption was made to do this.
Anyone seen this??/

Originally Posted by TcDuhon

I have never seen one of these. It is the dryer vent .....venting to peak ridge vent in attic. Obvious lent coming out of box. There is a little door to open and , I am assuming cleaning the lent out. I am thinking the ridge vent is not an approved termination for a dryer ..... but it looks as if this contraption was made to do this.
Anyone seen this??/

It's wrong. Dryer vents must discharge outside of the building envelope... In other words they must go outside, not to a vent in the attic. I'll bet that if you removed that contraption the wood will be black and rotting.

Do you have a photo from the roof?

Based on the one photo shown, there are numerous deficiencies and problems with that installation.

thanks guys. I am going to write it up as deficient but I don't see how these things are even made and sold. I didn't open it up but it was blackish around the perimeter at the decking. Funny thing was there was no lent on the roof or other signs...... So I am guessing when that thing is opened up the lent is going to be built up in there no other. LOL

Originally Posted by TcDuhon

thanks guys. I am going to write it up as deficient but I don't see how these things are even made and sold. I didn't open it up but it was blackish around the perimeter at the decking. Funny thing was there was no lent on the roof or other signs...... So I am guessing when that thing is opened up the lent is going to be built up in there no other. LOL

Nothing really special about its construction, any good sheetmetal person could fabricate it.

Trap door or not - out-a-sight, out-of-mind. Who would routinely go to the attic to clean the "lint"?

Hopefully ... the duct in the center does not open into that box and ... hopefully ... that does not open up so lint can be cleaned out of it.

The clothes dryer exhaust duct is required to discharge to the outdoors ... for a reason.

From the IRC: (bold is mine)
- M1502.3 Duct termination.
- - Exhaust ducts shall terminate on the outside of the building. Exhaust duct terminations shall be in accordance with the dryer manufacturer’s installation instructions. If the manufacturer’s instructions do not specify a termination location, the exhaust duct shall terminate not less than 3 feet (914 mm) in any direction from openings into buildings. Exhaust duct terminations shall be equipped with a backdraft damper. Screens shall not be installed at the duct termination.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Screens shall not be installed at the duct termination.

I have seen many screened dryer vents over the years (here in FL). I have also seen many that have louvre style dampers at the termination (above roof line or under eaves).

I agree with the code. If screened, the lint builds up and must be cleaned very regularly reating other known hazards. However I have also seen wasps and other insects build thier nests in damper terminated exhaust. Also almost all the current models have plastic dampers which only last a few years in UV light.

Is there an option that I missed, neither of these options are truly good options.