By 
On more than one occasion during the home inspection, I have asked the owner if he is having problems with the clothes dryer and if it seems to take a long time to dry the clothes. Most of the time they look shocked and ask me how I could possibly know that. They told me the dryer started fine and then seemed to take longer and longer to completely dry the clothes, and they are about to call a technician or buy a new appliance. Then I take them outside and show them the dangerous condition that exists and the cause of the problem…a dryer vent pipe that is completely clogged with lint in the range hood.
This condition not only prevents the appliance from drying properly, but also poses a serious fire hazard. Then I show them the reason for the obstruction: a screen installed at the end of the range hood. “This screen isn’t supposed to be there,” I tell them, “and it’s not only a fire hazard, it’s against the building code.” To make matters worse, they told me that they previously mentioned the problem to their builder and told him that the screen is necessary to prevent “bugs” from getting in. What a completely incorrect statement. A properly installed vent will have a flap (damper) on the end that opens when the dryer is running and closes when it is off. This prevents the entry of any bugs.
Having a screen, of any kind, on the end of the vent pipe is good for only one thing…preventing lint from venting and causing a clog up the entire pipe, period.” Anyone who says otherwise ignores the danger potential.as well as the building code.The IRC (International Residential Code) is very specific regarding the installation of clothes dryer vents and states that “clothes dryer exhaust ducts must terminate outside of the building and must be equipped with a reverse damper. Screens will not be installed at the end of the duct. Ductwork must not be installed with attached sheet metal screws or other fasteners that will obstruct flow. Clothes dryer exhaust ducts must not be connected to a gas vent connector, gas vent, or chimney. Clothes dryer exhaust ducts shall not extend into or through air ducts or plenums.”
There are others who are equally ignorant of the requirements of the code. On a recent stucco inspection, I noticed a severely clogged vent hood. I asked the homeowner my standard question about his dryer and was told that the tube regularly clogged. They had cleaned it twice before and were preparing to do it a third time. The company they used never mentioned the screen at the end of the tube. I’d like to think it was just an oversight and not conveniently overlooked for job security.
I also noticed that my neighbors newly installed roof had a brand new vent hood installed. Needless to say, it was the wrong type and should never have been used for a clothes dryer vent. And guess what, it was already starting to clog and the roofing company wouldn’t fix it.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there are 24,000 clothes dryer fires each year in the United States, amounting to $96,000,000 in estimated property damage. Lack of maintenance and inadequate installations are the main causes, and LINT It is the main material for lighting. These fires can also be caused by failure of mechanical and/or electrical parts inside the dryer, improper materials placed in the dryer, and insufficient airflow as a result of improper installation.
Periodic inspection of dryer components and hardware should be performed as part of regular owner maintenance. Be sure to regularly check your dryer vent and vent hose for lint buildup, and make sure there is no screen on the end of the tube. If the tube ends in your ceiling, make sure to have a professional inspect the end for a screen if you’re not comfortable going up to the ceiling.