A Caution About Plastic Dryer Vent Hose

[Tom]

In most states vinyl or plastic dryer vent hose is now illegal. It has been the cause of several documented fires in homes. One problem I see in stores is that they still put the plastic hose in the same area as the metal vent hose. Everyone assumes thats it okay to use since its in the same area, not so. If you look on the package, it will state not recommended for dryer vents.

The problem with plastic is that the ribs attract and hold lint, which in turn can block the vent and then the plastic can overheat and cause a fire.

The best alternative is straight metal pipe with elbows. Second best is the flexable ribbed metal ducts. Do not confuse metal with the foil hose that looks like metal, they are junk and not much better than plastic.

I would suggest to anyone using plastic vent pipes to change over to metal at the earliest opportunity or at the very least make sure the pipe is not full of lint until you do. Tom

[Bill]

Good advice Tom. Another huge disadvantage to flexable plastic hose is that with all that lint stuck to it, the airflow is really lousy and can cause extended drying time. BTW: is Michigan one of the states where plastic is no longer legal to use?

I ended up finding (at Home Depot) a pretty slick setup. It's a thru-the-wall vent that has a donut-type flange on the wall. Only down side to this setup is that it requires exact placement of the dryer so the exhaust vent lines up to the donut flange. Very short exhaust distance though, and it works very well. - Bill

[Tom]

Yes MI is one the the states where its illegal. Just for your info, Joe Gagon, who used to do the home fix it show on Wjr on weekends and now on Wxyt, was one of the original pro's who got the MI law changed. He was preaching the dangers of this years ago before the general public was made aware of it. Tom

[Bill]

Really makes you wonder why most places still sell that stuff. Maybe I'm wrong, but I could swear I saw it available in Home Depot very recently.
Thanks for the info on Joe Gagon. I used to listen to him occasionally, mostly by chance. WXYT.... is that 95 am?

[Tom]

1270am

[Tom]

Forgot to ad, I cannot get 1270 up here in my area, not well anyway. This even after they supposedly boosted to 50K about a year ago. There signal stinks. Tom

[Bill]

1270....yeah, I forgot about that one. Been awhile since I listened. I'm surprised you can't get it in the Lansing area, it's not that far. Want to talk about a STRONG signal? Back in 1977 I moved to Florida with my mom & dad, who just retired. I used to have this little portable radio, and could pick up WJR at night (sometimes). Used to listen to the Tiger games when I could get it.