Why you shouldn’t heat your home with a clothes dryer
Q: In a past article, you said, “It is not legal for a clothes dryer exhaust vent to terminate within the confines of a building …” and you cited the Uniform Mechanical Code. Does this mean that the dryer vent diverters sold in hardware stores and used to provide extra heat in a home are illegal too?
A: Several companies are currently marketing clothes dryer vent diverters. These fixtures consist of a vent duct connection and a small water reservoir. As the dryer exhaust passes through the diverter, the moist air from the clothes dryer vents into the room, while the lint is captured by the water in the reservoir.
Manufacturers such as Dundas Jafine praise these devices as sources of indoor heat in winter. Advertising claims include “No need to drill holes to vent your dryer …” and “Ideal for apartments, condominiums and mobile homes.” What they fail to mention is that the building and mechanical codes specifically require that clothes dryers be vented to the exterior.
There are three primary reasons for exterior venting of a dryer. With a gas dryer, the primary issue is safety because the exhaust contains combustion byproducts that could be dangerous to breathe if vented into a home. The manufacturers of dryer vent diverters are aware of this and only recommend use with electric clothes dryers. But the likelihood that some homeowners will install diverters with gas dryers is undeniable.
Another problem with dryer vent diverters is moisture condensation in homes. All of the wetness in the clothes being dried is expelled from the dryer vent. In dry climates, added air moisture might be an advantage. In areas with moderate to high humidity, the moisture from a dryer could promote condensation and the growth of mold.
The third problem is the potential for lint buildup in the home; a potential fire hazard. This can occur if the water level in the reservoir is forgotten and allowed to evaporate. Lint can then bypass the diverter and vent into the home.
The building code prohibits the installation of unapproved fixtures in mechanical systems, but it does not prevent manufacturing companies from producing and selling such items. Other examples of products that enable homeowners to violate the building code are corrugated connectors for the drainpipes under sinks, submersible refill devices for toilet tanks, and electrical outlet adapters that enable you to insert three-prong plugs into two-prong wall outlets.
The free market allows these devices to be made, but the authors of the building code have good reasons not to sanction their use.
Q: My son lives in our backyard guesthouse with a ventless gas heater. Twice this past week, he has gotten sick at night. Both times, he became congested and got chills even when it wasn't that cold. Could this be caused by the heater?
A: If your son's sickness coincides with nighttime use of a ventless gas heater, you should have your doctor examine him immediately for symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure. You should also have the gas company test the furnace for carbon monoxide emission. And regardless of their findings, you should replace the heater with one that is vented to the exterior. And be sure to install a carbon monoxide detector in the room where your son sleeps.
• Distributed by Action Coast Publishing. Questions to Barry Stone can be emailed to barry@housedetective.com.