By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
The home I'm buying has a screen on the vent outlet for the clothes dryer. My home inspector says it should be removed, but the seller says it is necessary to keep rodents out of the building. Could you please weigh in on this debate? - Adrian
Dear Adrian,
Few will dispute the undesirability of uninvited rodents, but this common aversion may be trumped by other considerations. Screens are specifically prohibited on dryer vent outlets because they become clogged with lint. This restricts the airflow, causing the dryer to overheat, affecting your clothes and posing a fire hazard. If rodent control is a concern, other means should be considered. A reliable cat is one possibility.
. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted to our "