Is this venting dryer into utility closet a bad idea.

Is this venting dryer into utility closet a bad idea.

This problem is one that bothers my landlady a lot: All the apartments were built with space for a washer and a dryer, with the dryer next to an outside wall for venting the air.

But, I think it is her neighbor right next door (2 apts. per floor) who rearranged his apartment and decided to revent the dryer.

There is utility stack (right word?) that has floor-to-ceiling metal doors on each stairway landing. I didnt' stick my head in, because it's pretty crowded, but I guess they go from the bottom to the top of the building with no "floors" of their own. They carry the water drain, the power, probably the water, and maybe the gas and the phone.

They are 12 to 18" deep, probably 14 to 16" and the one she opened was about 30 or 36" wide, and there's another one just beside it. I think they have a cement (or concrete?) wall in back and maybe the sides, but if this could make a difference, I'm not sure and I can probably find out.

So this is where the n'bor vented his dryer. I think you can see the

4" hose in the closet, up near the ceiling of the landing, which would be half the distance from the floor to the ceiling of her apartment and his.

When she first said closet, I thought clothes, boxes, and storage. Not utilitiy closet. So I agreed that it was bad. But how bad is it to vent the dryer into this space? What reasons? There is some sort of condo association with rules, but of course, it if gets that far, one usually has to explain why something is really violating the rules.

Reply to
Micky
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Venting any form of heat into an enclosed space is asking for a serious infestation of mold which will lead to future health issues.

There is a reason why dryer ducts are vented outside.

Reply to
Meanie

It's not the heat, it's the moisture.

Reply to
DerbyDad03

Wait a minute, she's made a penetration into a multifloor utility duct, in a high occupancy dwelling unit? Pretty sure that violates fire code, there is now a pathway for fire and smoke to migrate.

Reply to
TimR

+1

And also the lint will make a mess over time.

Reply to
trader_4

+1

That's very likely an issue too. The obvious question is why anyone would re-route an existing dryer vent that went outside into any closed space.

Reply to
trader_4

FWIW, he did it. She just complained that he did it. It's 5 floors with 2 apartments on each floor, plus FWIW there are two other matching buildings, side by side, each with its own entrances, own elevator. (This one is not in the mddle.)

I don't if that is high occupancy?

You're saying that fire could start in his dryer, and make smoke that would fill the utility "duct", and the smoke could enter appartments from there, or at least the stairwell. The aparment have pretty heavy metal "fire doors" at each entrance, but all of this would not be enough to keep it from being a violation of the fire code???

The dryer vent hose seemed to be white vinyl with a metal coil inside, you know what I mean. This guy is always doing one project or another.

She's on the first floor but that's really one floor up.

(It was a 3-story building but they added two-rooms and a balcony to every apartment plus they put 2 more floors on it, which they sold for a substantial price.)

Reply to
Micky

Nah, that's what panty hose are for...

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Reply to
DerbyDad03

and over time, the lint becomes a fire hazard.

Reply to
Jimbo

That or similar could happen. Depends on how many openings, severity of the fire, etc.

That type of vent tubing is no longer code in the US. Must be a metalized type now.

In any case, the building owner should be made aware so he could handle it properly.

Reply to
Ed Pawlowski

It's very likely a code violation to vent a dryer into a confined space like that instead of outside, without regard to breaching a firewall. Breaching a firewall on a 10 unit building is probably just the icing on the cake. But obviously we can't say, because we don't even know where it's located. Around here, it would be instantly flagged by a code inspector, house inspector, etc. Everyone agrees it's a very bad idea, what more do you need?

Which is the cheapest, crappiest alternative.

Why did anyone remove a dryer vent that went properly to the outside to begin with?

Reply to
trader_4
[snip]

Flexible duct broke and its now too short?

Reply to
Sam E

Because they moved the laundry room to a different part of the apartment.

Reply to
Pat

When they tapped into the electrical - for the grow-op - they figured - why not vent it !

Reply to
hubops

And if it's not being vented outside, the moisture becomes a mold haven problem.

Reply to
Diesel

Venting ANYWHERE within the building envelope is a VERY BAD idea.. Against code anywhere in North America - no idea where you are, but if there is any code, it is likely against code there too.

Reply to
clare

You still didn't (tom my knowlege) say where you are. The plastic "vent hose" is not legal anywhere for driers either.

Reply to
clare

Sounds like these are "ownwd flats" - something like a "condo" here.

Reply to
clare

I thought Mikey made it pretty plain - the guy re-arranged the "apartment" and moved the drier away from the outside wall.

Reply to
clare

Where does it say he moved the drier away from the outside wall?

Reply to
DerbyDad03

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