Need assistance figuring out dryer vent routing (Page 1/3)
Monkeyman NOV 15, 02:41 PM
And now for something off topic that does NOT involve politics!

I own a 2 story (separated) house. I rent out the lower apartment and live in the upper. Both have washer/dryer hook ups and both are used. The contractor who renovated the house when I moved in ran both dryer vents to a single Y connector and vented them outside. There is no outside access to the vent as it's under a porch. About 6 months ago, my tenant hooked up her dryer and I noticed, every time she'd turn it on, it would partially vent through MY dryer. This is obviously unacceptable. I had a handyman in today to run an outside vent to the rear of the house.

Here's where it gets tricky. The lower 1/2 of the house is poured concrete finished in stone. The upper half is typical construction (all wood). I was planning on running the outside vent downstairs as it has a dropped ceiling thus easy access. Turns out nobody has anything that will drill a 4" hole through solid concrete and the only way to get to the little bit of wood above it (without going through my floor) is to cut a 4" hole through a floor joist. There's a pocket behind the joist that would allow the outside vent but I don't want anybody cutting 4" out of a 6" joist. Just doesn't seem like a good idea. My dryer is on an INSIDE wall so I can't vent it as most would.

I wish I had taken pics but hopefully you get the idea. Does anybody have any suggestions? I can probably hire a carpenter to go through the joist and shore it up however it needs to be done but I can see some serious $$$ going that route. I can have another vent run through the front of the house but I don't even know how the original contractor did that as it's probably 4' from the wall to whatever he drilled through. In hindsight, that probably isn't even the best idea as I don't see any way to secure/seal the pipe.

I'm hoping one of you knowledgable folks has some suggestions.
IMSA GT NOV 15, 03:14 PM
Does her laundry area have a window? If so, the contractor can remove the stationary glass, add sheet metal or wood, and vent her out the window. Then simply plug the disconnected vent that leads up to your place.
Patrick NOV 15, 03:15 PM

quote
Originally posted by Monkeyman:

...both dryer vents to a single Y connector and vented them outside. About 6 months ago, my tenant hooked up her dryer and I noticed, every time she'd turn it on, it would partially vent through MY dryer. This is obviously unacceptable.



I find it difficult to believe there wouldn't be a simple one-way valve that can't be installed on your section of dryer vent that would prevent your tenant's dryer from venting in that direction.

In a house that I renovated years ago, I had a kitchen stove hood fan and a bathroom fan connected to the same exhaust pipe that went to an exterior wall. Both fans had one-way valves built-in to them. There was never any problem with either fan venting into the other room.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 11-15-2020).]

IMSA GT NOV 15, 03:20 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

I find it difficult to believe there wouldn't be a simple one-way valve that can't be installed on your section of dryer vent that would prevent your tenant's dryer from venting in that direction.



I thought about this too but I think any obstruction (flap) in the vent would act as a lint trap which would lead to a clog or even a fire.
Patrick NOV 15, 03:25 PM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:

I thought about this too but I think any obstruction (flap) in the vent would act as a lint trap which would lead to a clog or even a fire.



Hmmm... that might be a valid point.

steve308 NOV 15, 03:32 PM


Easy.... non vented dryer vent/lint trap
Patrick NOV 15, 03:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by steve308:

Easy.... non vented dryer vent/lint trap.



Depending on home construction, and the local conditions, dryers venting indoors can create quite a condensation problem.
Monkeyman NOV 15, 04:10 PM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:

Does her laundry area have a window? If so, the contractor can remove the stationary glass, add sheet metal or wood, and vent her out the window. Then simply plug the disconnected vent that leads up to your place.



Good idea but unfortunately not. Her laundry room is on an interior wall, too. Great design, eh?
Jake_Dragon NOV 15, 04:14 PM
The old pipe that goes to the Y just mash your side shut with a big hammer.
tebailey NOV 15, 04:20 PM
If you have a gas dryer DO NOT vent it inside.