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Check out this disaster!!!

last year

I had a bathroom / laundry room remodel done in August.

I thought everything was on the up and up until my new gas dryer started throwing errors and shutting off. We also noticed strange fumes when drying clothes.

After investigation, I found that first, the contractor used a vent housing with a screen. It collected tons of lint and debris. This cause carbon monoxide to back up.

Next, the contractor used clear silicone to attach to my brickwork. As I was peeling back… I discovered a rag stuffed in the gap between the brick and the duct.

I never knew the duct got so hot as air vented but the rag was charred like it was smoldering in the wall. It’s actually only a 4 foot run so maybe it does get this hot?

Now, I’m faced with having to either DIY this or hire an HVAC company. The space is tight and I have no help, so I may need to hire out to fix this… I also noticed the tubing used inside the dryer is falling apart, and hoping an HVAC company can help me with that?

I just want to inform everyone to NOT use dryer vents with screens, spray foam gaps around dryer ducts with heat resistant products, and always makes sure seams in ducts are sealed with foil tape capable of withstanding heat.

Comments (13)

  • last year

    Picture here.

  • last year

    The positive is your timely discovery. No use until it's correct.

  • last year

    Of course, dryer vents shouldn't involve a screen. No dryer filter catches 100% of the clothing lint.

    The exhaust air doesn't (shouldn't) get hotter than the temperature inside the dryer drum. Yours is overheating due to the airflow obstruction, thus why the new machine exhibited fault codes and shutting off.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    The house we live in now was vacant and extensively renovated for a year as the result of a dryer fire.

    Yet, the new dryer venting installed is exactly as dangerous as before: intake vents used instead of dryer outlets. And flexible vinyl used to exhaust the hot air instead of straight metal.

    You're lucky your dryer warned you!


    One week accumulation.


    Hey, looks great! What could happen?

    Since we're selling this home soon, I've opted for regularly cleaning the vent. I have my hands full with a new build!

  • last year

    I am aghast at what that contractor did. Stuffing that rag into the crevice? Wow. So glad you found this mess before a potential tragedy.

  • last year

    I'd file in Small Claims Court to get the money you paid returned.

  • last year

    At the very least report them to your state contractors board. You can also reach out to them in advance letting them know if the actions are taking maybe they'll do the right thing.

  • last year

    They wanted to correct by sending the worker who did this back out. I feel concerned about that. Would much rather hire an HVAC contractor to complete and then my contractor cover the bill. I only think that’s fair.

  • PRO
    last year

    I would let them fix it and then inspect it. If they do it wrong hire someone else.

  • last year

    Wow - I am speechless (which if you knew me, doesn't happen often).


    I have had bad luck with a few contractors. I know people who have also had back luck. Additionally, there are posts on this forum all the time showing work that wasn't done correctly - or was completely in a shoddy manner.


    HOWEVER - this contractor did things that could have resulted in the loss of life if your home had caught on fire.


    N K - where do you reside (state only right now - don't need exact city location)? If you don't feel comfortable posting that info on here - you should be able to send me a private message,


    I would like to pull up the statute(s) in your jurisdiction that address residential renovations/services for you. These type of statutes differ from state to state - but they were enacted to protect homeowners. Many of these statutes require that you provide the contractor with a right of remediation OR you lose your ability to recover $.


    I would be leary of letting a contractor/company (who did the above) come back into my home. However, if you live in a state that requires this right of remediation, you have to provide them the option to address the issues - or you lose your right to sue them. I would find a reputable company to come out and provide you with a quote + scope of work to fix the issues created by the original contractor. I would then contact the original contractor and provide a list of the issues that need to be addressed - and demand that they remediate the same within a certain time frame (may be set forth in the statute). If the original contractor actually does remediate the work, you could pay the second contractor an inspection fee in order to make sure that the work has been done correctly - and recover it from the original contractor.


    Many times, a contractor will refuse to remediate the same - or, more likely, will choose to ignore your letter. That would be an ideal situation - because then you've complied with the statute + do not have to let them back into your home.


    Also, I HIGHLY encourage (actually, I am begging) you to contact the consumer protection agency for your state and report this contractor. I am not trying to be dramatic (I am definitely not a "drama" queen) - but this person/company needs to be stopped. If this was done at your home, I am 99.99999% positive that the same type of things have been done at other homes (FYI - I never say that I am 100% positive - even if I am - maybe the person who came to your home was a new hire - and this is NOT indicative of the type of work this company does - 🤞🏻.


    Many states have funds established to compensate homeowners for faulty work. Your state may be ones of those.


    There are approximately 15,600 structure fires, 400 injuries and 15 deaths reported annually as a result of dryer fires. According to USFA, every year, clothes dryer fires account for over $100 million (USD) in property losses.


    My mom lived in a town home where a fire started in one of the middle units due to negligence caused by a contractor. (it wasn't related to a dryer vent - it was a new gas fireplace that wasn't vented correctly + was not sealed properly - sparks got behind the unit in the wall). Her unit was one of the large end units. While the fire was put out just as it entered into the loft area on the second floor, there was a ton of damage due to water/smoke.


    An older woman lived in the unit next door - she had hearing aides which she took out at night (the spark smoldered for a little while before breaking out into flames - it was around 1 a.m. when my mom called me). One of the neighbors across the street busted through her living room picture window - and was able to take her to safety.

  • last year

    Stop buying vented dryers. Use a ventless heat pump dryer. Impossoble for them to start on fire (Not hot enough). They can be put anywhere inside with no worry. Have had one for over five years now (Miele) and zero problems.

  • last year

    You're on a different plane of existence vs. 1) people outside the area of Miele availability and service, 2) people who can't afford the upfront cost of a heat pump dryer.