Odd bathroom vent fan and dryer vent hookup

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1

Originally Posted By: tgardner
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L & Gs,


I wish I had a pic to load up for this situation, but my trusty canon died yesterday temporarily ( dropped it into the snow).

The situation here is that I found (on a Brick Veneer Sided home) that the Hapless Homeowner had spliced his basement bathroom power-vent discharge onto the existing Dryer vent discharge in a "T-like" fashion, with lots of duct tape. Apparently Hap did not want to cut through the brick veneer to install a separate vent outlet.

Well, when the dryer is on, air comes out of the bathroom vent and vice-versa.

I've never seen it before - How about any of you? And what does one say?

Thanks, tg

2

Originally Posted By: ekartal
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Well, when the dryer is on, air comes out of the bathroom vent and vice-versa.



This alone is a problem.

Erol Kartal
ProInspect

3

Originally Posted By: tgardner
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Erol,


I know all the reasons, moisture, lint, etc. I just hate the P'shaaaw factor (as in p'shaaaaw, I ain't worried 'bout that!) ![icon_rolleyes.gif](upload://iqxt7ABYC2TEBomNkCmZARIrQr6.gif)

tg

4

Originally Posted By: janderson
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Yikes, that’s no good. Haven’t seen that one yet. icon_sad.gif


I did see a natural gas dryer exhaust vent shoved into the combustion air inlet for the natural gas furnace and waterheater once Homeowner said the same thing.

--
Within the seeds of ignorance lie the fruits of denial

Jeremiah

5

Originally Posted By: tgardner
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I went ahead and ignored the P’shaaaw factor - reported what I observed and called for evaluation by a Licensed Plumber.


rgds, tg

6

Originally Posted By: jpeck
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tgardner wrote:
I've never seen it before - How about any of you? And what does one say?


One says that it is wrong and needs to be corrected. Explains what is wrong about it, why it is wrong, what some of the possible effect of it being wrong could do, then restates "It needs to be corrected properly."

tgardner wrote:
I went ahead and ignored the P'shaaaw factor - reported what I observed and called for evaluation by a Licensed Plumber.

rgds, tg


" ... evaluation by a .... "? Why? You've already "evaluated" it and found that it is wrong, and that it needs to be corrected. Why not just say that?

--
Jerry Peck
South Florida
7

Originally Posted By: rpalac
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This is not alowed by code.


I will find the article that speaks directly to this for you.

I do know thate you can not have ANYTHINGon a dryer vent other that one dryer.

I believe you must vent each bath seperatly.


I'll get back to you.

Bob

8

Originally Posted By: rpalac
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Mechanical Code information is followed by two brackets with numbers from [UMC] [CABO]


Code information is followed by two brackets [301.4.1] [912.3].


The first contains the code numbers or basis for the information preceding the brackets. The first bracket will contain a reference number to the UMC.


The second bracket is the corresponding code number or reference as cited in the CABO One and Two Family Dwelling Code.

The third bracket is the corresponding code number or reference as cited in the BOCA.


Appliances
Clothes Dryer
Flexible connector max. 6ft. & not concealed [504.3.2.1] [2607.6]
Duct must be smooth metal inside [504.3.2.1] [1801.1]
4in. min. duct [504.3.2] [1801.3]
No screws into airflow [504.3.1] [1801.1]
14ft. max. (25ft.**) run with two 90? bends, deduct 2ft. (5ft.** ) per 90? bend in excess of two bends or by manu. instructions [504.3.2.2] [1801.3]
Termination­3ft. from property line [504.4] [302.2]
Backdraft damper req'd. & no screens [504.3.1] [1801.1]

Bathroom Fan (locating fan other site)
too close...Termination min. 3ft. from opening or property line [504.4] [302.2]
Backdraft damper [504.1] [n/a]

Range
Vert. clearance 30in. (24in. if 1/4 in. millboard & 28ga.) [917.1] [2201.1]
Gas connector & valve pt-13 [2606.3]

Range Hood(Environmental Air)
too close...Termination clearances min. 3ft. from opening or property line [504.4] [302.2]
Smooth interior, 26ga. metal [504.2] [1802.1]
Backdraft damper [504.1] [1802.1]

9

Originally Posted By: Susan
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Timothy,


Depending on the code used in the area, the homeowner could have vented out the roof as well. (So as not to mess up the brick work!).

As mentioned in the codes in the previous post, the dryer vent should be smooth metal as well.

Don't have a mechanical code book handy, but most dryer vents (again depending on your area's code) should be 4". Most flex duct/bath vents are 3". (I believe....)

Sue Cieslewicz

10

Originally Posted By: tgardner
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Sue,


You're right! The dryer flex was 4" and the Bath vent was 3" dia. This house was built in 1994. I'm not sure about the code at the time ( and damn sure wouldn't reference it if I did know) but they should not be conjoined.

Thanks for the input Jerry. I always recommend an expert evaluation.

rgds, tg

11

Originally Posted By: tgardner
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Robert,


Thanks for the info - saved it for future ref.

rgds, tg

12

Originally Posted By: dbush
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I inspected a harry homeowner home the other day, the electrical was atrocious. It was probably in the top five of the worst I have ever seen. But the other thing was, during the winter, the seller would unhook the dryer vent, set it through the opening between the laundry room and the kitchen and used it for a supplemental heating system.

–
Dave Bush


MAB Member


"LIFE'S TOUGH, WEAR A HELMET"
13

Originally Posted By: kpapp
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Hate to say it but we are not code inforcers. We are home inspectors!! Report what you see and move on that way you are covered

–
_______________________________________


If you dont have time to do it right the first time, When will you have the time to go back and fix it?

14

Originally Posted By: gsutterfield
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Dave


You mean you haven't seen the aftermarket diffuser for dryers ![icon_question.gif](upload://t2zemjDOQRADd4xSC3xOot86t0m.gif) Can be purchased It is about 8x8x10 inches and has a control handle to divert dryer exhaust to interior or exterior

I think you can find them on the shelf next to the salad shooter, clapper light control , and those damn heads that grow green stuff Oh yea , Chia pets

15

Originally Posted By: jpeck
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kpapp wrote:
Hate to say it but we are not code inforcers. We are home inspectors!! Report what you see and move on that way you are covered


Curious as to what you mean by the above.

You are correct in that HIs are not code enforcers, however, everything the HI looks at was built to (should have been built to) code. Without knowing at least the basics of the code, you are not able to tell if the item is "operable", "functioning", or "working" as the only way to apply a "yes it is" or "no it is not" operating, functioning or working is to relate that system, item, or component to the manner in which it was intended to operate, be used or be installed. If the system, item or component is not operating or being used as it was "intended" (and the code gives you that answer in most cases), then it is not operating, function, or working.

"Report what you see", yes, based on the above.

Then "move on", we all do that, after reporting what we see. We move on to the next system, item or component.

And yes, that way we are covered (but by what?).

--
Jerry Peck
South Florida
16

Originally Posted By: kpapp
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Jerry,


Point taken. If you saw what Mr Garner saw, would you go to your code book to see if its legal or not, or would you say, Hey this isn’t right, knowing that a dryer moves a lot of hot air and will push some of that air back into the bathroom and recommend that a licensed contractor correct the problem? I know what I would do.


Ken Papp

--
_______________________________________
If you dont have time to do it right the first time, When will you have the time to go back and fix it?

17

Originally Posted By: jpeck
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kpapp wrote:
Jerry,
Point taken. If you saw what Mr Garner saw, would you go to your code book to see if its legal or not, or would you say, Hey this isn't right, knowing that a dryer moves a lot of hot air and will push some of that air back into the bathroom and recommend that a licensed contractor correct the problem? I know what I would do.

Ken Papp


Don't have to go to my code books. I KNOW it is not right. All vented appliances must be vented to the exterior.

The exhaust from the dryer is, well, an exhaust, and all exhausts must go to the outside.

An "recirculating" range hood is not a "vented" appliance. As I explain to my clients, 'it just sucks the hot, moisture and grease laden air from over the cooking pots and pans and blows it right into your face'. ![icon_smile.gif](upload://b6iczyK1ETUUqRUc4PAkX83GF2O.gif)

Also, it's not that the "dryer moves a lot of hot air and will push some of that air back into the bathroom", it's that the hot air from the dryer is LOADED with moisture, and then bathroom exhaust fan is designed to get rid of moisture from the bathroom, and here we are pumping the bathroom full of moisture.

However, Yes "Hey this isn't right, knowing that a dryer moves a lot of hot air and will push some of that air back into the bathroom and recommend that a licensed contractor correct the problem?" will suffice to hopefully get it corrected.

It's not so much on how we write this up (that is secondary), but that we recognize that it needs to be written up, and then do so.

--
Jerry Peck
South Florida