We wanted to share our thoughts on a rare, but very problematic, dryer vent situation. The dryer vent that exits the home through the roof is, by far, the most over looked of all the dryer vents. This vent is difficult to access, and therefore never addressed. For these vents the “out of sight out of mind” saying can only lead to a potential fire.
Roof top vents become problematic for three reasons. First, unlike other vents, they are difficult to see. If you have a ground level vent that becomes obstructed you’ll often see that the vent is clogged or you’ll be able to feel the lack of airflow when the dryer is on. For roof top vents this is not the case. After all, how many times have you actually looked up at your roof? Secondly, roof top vents are often more exposed to the elements. Vents along the side of your house are covered from rain and snow, whereas the roof vent is subjected to the elements. For these reasons the wet vent may lead to wet lint. When lint becomes wet, and subsequently dries, it becomes hardened. This hardened lint then acts like a barrier to airflow. Thirdly, the roof top vent is traditionally structured with a hard bend near the end. Airspeed is the weakest at the end of a dryer vent and the steep bend is a likely collection point.
For those equipped with a roof top dryer vent consider the last time it was cleaned and checked. Our company knows that the very end of the vent is very important to check. We ensure that when cleaning roof vents we either access the roof (if it is safe to do so) or disassemble the vent in the attic. This allows us to clean the vent and scope the very end with a camera to ensure that it is clear. Please consider that roof top vents are the most problematic of all and it is recommended that they are cleaned and inspected annually.
Please feel free to contact us to learn about having your dryer vent cleaned if you live in Connecticut.
