Is It Okay To Vent A Dryer Through A Roof

The international residential code allows you to run a dryer vent through the attic but you can t terminate it there.

Is it okay to vent a dryer through a roof.

Be careful you don t cut through any studs electrical wires or pipes in the process. Before you clean a dryer vent on the roof vacuum out the vent behind the dryer since it s easier to clean out the length of the vent from the ground floor. A vertical dryer vent is typically a problem because it acts as a moisture condenser. Check with your appliance dealer or local building inspector for recommendations about the best roof vent cap to use.

After the snow melts below the vent it ll probably freeze again farther down on the roof. It is not advisable to vent a dryer through the roof. Dryer vent specialists will tell you that a vertical approach to installing a dryer vent is inefficient and creates a fire risk for a home if it goes unchecked. If venting outside isn t an option you can vent the dryer out of the attic through the roof using a special roof vent to keep rain out.

In order to take advantage of the shortest route a better termination was required roof vent airflow restriction for non dryer specific vents versus the more efficient dryerjack. Then get on the roof and peel back any shingles that may be covering the vent as well as the guard. When bath fans and clothes dryers vent through the roof they melt a bunch of snow. Vent a dryer through the roof only as a last resort.

The sheet metal duct is cooled by the outside air in the attic. Once the vent is exposed use a vent brush first clean the exterior surfaces. No a dryer should not be vented through the roof. This causes the steam from your dryer.

This is one of the most common mistakes we see from people who are not experienced with air ducts. After the snow melts below the vent it ll probably freeze again farther down on the roof. If this happens enough an ice dam will form that s large enough to cause roof leaks. When venting dryers for long distances use rigid metal pipe with as few elbows as possible.

While it sometimes made sense to vent through the roof every roof vent that had previously been used was inefficient often to a dangerous degree. It should go out through a wall or the eve of a roof. Cleaning lint buildup from roof vents is difficult and nesting birds and squirrels often find roof vent caps irresistible.