By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
In one of your past columns, you answered a question regarding clothes dryer exhaust vents, but you missed an important point. You stated that clothes dryers should not vent into a garage but must have a duct leading to the outside of the building. Our dryer blows into the garage and we were able to solve the problem without an outside vent. Instead, we purchased a simple device from the hardware store: a plastic vent bucket that you fill with water and connect to your dryer exhaust. It operates with no problem and you simply empty it when the water becomes filled with lint. Other homes in our area also have lint buckets, so I am sure they meet the code. Just thought you'd like to know. - Doris
Dear Doris,
Clothes dryer vent buckets are often used by homeowners whose laundry facilities are not properly vented. They are commonly sold in hardware stores and, when regularly maintained, appear to perform their intended functions adequately. But it should be clearly understood that dryer vent buckets are not legally approved for this use: They specifically violate requirements set forth in the Uniform Mechanical Code.
The reasons for exterior venting dryer exhaust are two-fold: to prevent excessive moisture conditions and the accumulation of lint with a building. Moisture condensation can cause fungus and mold infection. Lint build-up can pose a fire hazard and can adversely affect indoor air quality. Vent buckets can trap some or most of the moisture and lint expelled from a dryer, but they do not catch it all. Furthermore, the performance of a vent bucket depends upon the continued maintenance of the water level. If the water should spill out or if it should be depleted due to evaporation, the bucket would become ineffective.
The mechanical code specifies solid metal ducting to the exterior because this provides a positive and reliable means of removing all of the dryer exhaust from the building, without reliance upon maintenance of related fixtures.
When hardware stores market vent buckets they unknowingly mislead customers regarding legal compliance. Most purchasers have no way of knowing that these devices circumvent the requirements of the code.
Another common example of misleading consumer hardware is the standard electric outlet adaptor, enabling the user to insert a three-prong plug into an old two-prong outlet. In most cases, these devices operate without adverse consequence. But they expose the user to definite hazards and, as with vent buckets, are not consistent with the code.
. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted to our "