Dryer Venting In A Condo

Dryer venting in a condo can pose some special problems including condensation. How a dryer vent is installed in a condo can be a bit tricky and remember there�s also the vent from the other condo. Suddenly you can be facing damage but it could have been avoided.

The MDVS system is the only ventilation solution on the market that is nationally listed and approved for exhausting lint-laden air from single or multiple Type 1 and 2 clothes dryers. No other product currently on the market meets the requirements for such a listing.These at least hit the highlights of what could be the problem when dealing with that annoying smoking problem. There are other possible reasons for this problem, so if following the corrective actions presented here don�t take care of it, the best advice I could give would be to contact a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep in your area and put him to work figuring it out. Good Luck!3) Fuel� Cut firewood must be aged a minimum of one year. It should be kept dry and protected from the rain. If the log is larger around than 6" in diameter, it should be split so that it burns efficiently. Also, some types of prefabricated �paper wrapped� logs can be prone to smoking.The problem is condensation can easily form on the outside or inside of the vent pipe. The pipe gets cold and then the moist heat runs through the pipe which turns to liquid when it cools near the exterior wall.6) Cold Weather� If the weather outside the house is either colder and/or raining, the air inside the chimney flue will be cold and heavy and block the smoke from venting out. In this case, it helps to �prime� the chimney by rolling up a newspaper and lighting it, then hold the lit end close to the open damper inside the firebox for a minute or two to warm up the heavy air in the flue. Then you can light the fire and ideally should have a good draw.10) Tall Trees and Buildings� A tall tree or added-on second story (yours or your neighbor�s) close to the chimney may change the wind currents and cause down drafts to go down through the chimney and not only cause a smoking problem but possibly an odor problem as well. Keep those trees trimmed! With the 2nd story problem, the solution will likely be to raise the chimney height, but in some cases the wind cap might help instead.1) Dirty or Obstructed Chimney� Have the chimney inspected and swept by a Certified Chimney Sweep so that the chimney can be checked for any obstructions such as a bird�s nest or tree branches, or your kid�s missing volley ball. Also, a dirty chimney cap will prevent smoke from freely exiting the chimney.Second you need to get your caulking and caulking gun out and caulk around the outside of the vent. This is always a great source for cold air which can be promoting condensation because the exhaust pipe is getting cold. By caulking around the seams you reduce the amount of cold air that the piping is exposed to.If you haven�t developed this problem why not do the fix before the problem occurs. And if you already fighting condensation problems this simple fix will set you right and solve your problems.2) Closed Damper� Before starting a fire, always check to make sure that the damper is completely open. If you�re not sure, shine a flashlight up the chimney to see if the metal damper plate is open or closed.

If you follow these steps you�ll not have to worry about your dyer venting causing damage to your condo. You�ll driver will function optimally and you won�t be faced with fixing damage caused by condensation.

Author: Timothy Mccraney