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Dryer vent hood clearance distances to site features (C) Inspectapedia.com adapted from Whirlpool & AmanaClothes Dryer Exhaust Vent Termination Distance FAQs
Q&A on dryer vent clearances

Clothes dryer exhaust vent clearance distance FAQs.

This article series gives clothes dryer vent distance to gas meter, air conditioners, other building features.

This article series also describes good practices for clothes dryer vent installation, lint traps, wall vents, filters, and screens.

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Clothes Dryer Vent Termination Clearance Distance Q&A

Clothes dryer vent termination without cover (C) InspectApedia.comThese questions & answers about the clearance distances or codes for clothes dryer exhaust vents were posted originally at CLOTHES DRYER VENT CLEARANCES & TERMINATION - be sure to review the specifications given there.

On 2019-12-13 - by (mod) - dryer vent is too close to the ground

Yes your dryer vent is too close to the ground - and I agree risks snow blockage.

The minimum recommended height above ground is 12" or in my opinion a height above the highest anticipated snow cover that may fall in the area of the vent. (That's what you'll typically see in manufacturer's installation instructions for a clothes dryer vent termination or cover.)

On 2019-12-13 by Dino - my dryer vent is 1 1/2 -2" above the ground

What is the building code for ground clearance of a dryer vent in Twin Falls, Idaho? Mine is only 1 1/2 - 2 " and seems wrong due to snow that we get. Thanks

On 2019-09-27 - by (mod) - dryer vents under a deck

That should be okay provided your meeting the other clearances that are discussed in the article above.

I'm guessing that the location under the deck is assuring you that if you live in the snow climate that the de k assures that there's no concern with the venting blocked by snow.

On 2019-09-26 y Paul

Can an exhaust vent from the dryer come out under a deck with a 20 inch ground clearance?

On 2019-09-11 - by (mod) -

Pamela,

Typical mechanical codes on dryer vent terminations require the vent to be at least three feet from any building opening like a window or door.

There is also a 10-foot dryer vent Clearence discussed

in CLOTHES DRYER VENT CLEARANCES & TERMINATION

It's not specific to Windows however.

Keep in mind that your local Building Code Compliance inspector is the final legal Authority on this question

On 2019-09-10 by pamela

The odors from my neighbors dryer vents into my windows, Also soap smells. I live in a 17 story building in NYC. DOB said the vent needs to be 10' from living spaces (my windows). These are not.
But I don't see that written anywhere and I'm trying to get that addressed. Neighbor will not allow an inspection, so gathering info to write and want to be accurate.
Can you advise?
Thanks!

On 2019-05-16 - by (mod) -

Hugh

I'm not sure what problem we're solving here. But you may be able to extend the vent exhaust termination past the wall if there's some good reason to do so - just be sure it's tipped down away from the building so as to avoid a condensate back-drain problem and that it's protected as appropriate.

On 2019-05-10 by hugh

can i put the vent pipe 4 ft out from the wall if i insulate & support outside conditions ?

On 2019-05-16 by (mod) - vent pipe 4 ft out from the wall

Hugh

I'm not sure what problem we're solving here.

But you may be able to extend the vent exhaust termination past the wall if there's some good reason to do so - just be sure it's tipped down away from the building so as to avoid a condensate back-drain problem and that it's protected as appropriate.

On 2019-05-10 by hugh

can i put the vent pipe 4 ft out from the wall if i insulate & support outside conditions ?

On 2018-12-29 by (mod) -

It should have been whether or not that reduced under roof ventilation flow rate becomes a problem depends on other site conditions including moisture levels in the attic and heat accumulation in the Attic in hot weather.

On 2018-12-29 by (mod) -

Thanks for the added to tail.

I like coravent aesthetically.

However I've noticed that all of the mesh and other alternative systems to the original and uglier aluminum ridge vent have studiously avoided giving data on effective vent area and total air flow rates. If you ever find such data I would sure like to see it

. My direct personal experience is that the flow rates of all of these better-looking products are substantially less.

On 2018-12-28 by Justin

Thanks again Dan. I agree, I will keep an eye on it once the dryer is installed and go from there before making any changes to the termination.

Good point about the limited ventilation for the valley as well. You are correct about the ridge vent being a mesh type, it's actually a product from cor-a-vent. The soffit has exposed rafter tails with a cor-a-vent strip on top of a piece of wood blocking between each rafter bay which serves as the ventilation into the attic space.

On 2018-12-28 1 by (mod) - limited ventilation for the roof valley

Justin

I note that the dryer vent terminates at an inside corner surrounded on three sides, probably protected from wind but possibly a moisture trap.

If there is attic access to the space above the vent, and if this were my new house, I'd leave the installation as-is, but after a month or two of winter use I'd check the attic eaves over the vent for signs of moisture as we discussed before. If we find there is actually a concern then we can decide on further steps to address it.

Note that air intake venting into an attic around a valley such as we see in the photo is usually pretty limited anyway.

On the lower ridge in the photo I see what looks like a mesh type low profile ridge vent - those don't pass much air in my experience, though in a tightly-built new home without much air leakage into the attic the ridge vent combined with soffit intake vents (that I can't see in your photo) may be adequate.

On 2018-12-28 by Justin


Thank you for the quick response Dan. This is a new construction home and the dryer has not been installed yet so I won't be able to verify if the moist air is entering the attic through the soffit vents at this time. I did attach a photo that shows the location of the vent in relation to the soffits.

IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments Box Code error - sorry. If you can re-post the image we'll be glad to comment further.

On 2018-12-27 by (mod) -

Justin

I've read a few opinions that dryer exhaust might enter an attic through a close-by vented soffit though it's not a problem I've encountered. Generally the dryer wall termination vent cover directs the air flow downwards but upwards-moving moist air is certainly observable in the location of the vent, as we can notice on any winter day when the dryer is running.

Rather than a long dryer exhaust which creates additional maintenance and fire concerns, let's start by looking for some objective data for your specific house.

Take a look inside the attic at the lower roof eaves just above the area of the dryer vent.

Inspect the under-side of the roof sheathing for visible discoloration, mold, moisture signs, or in winter, for frost that is occurring just in that location and not elsewhere in the attic.

Let me know what you see. Or attach some photos (one per comment).

On 2018-12-27 by Justin

Hi, I have a dyer on an outside wall with the damper attached on the exterior wall approximately 1.5 to 2 feet below a vented soffit. Do you think I have to worry about the moist air entering the attic space through the soffit?

The damper is projecting downward away from the soffit, but hot air does rise and depending on the wind direction it may want to push the air up into the attic.

From what I've read the vent should have been a minimum of 3ft from any opening into the home. To move the vent would require a much longer run of duct approximately 20FT but this would put it out the gable end of the house.

Thanks!

On 2017-07-28 by (mod) - distance that I need from a foundation vent?

David,

I have not found that specific reference in model codes, but some mechanical codes specify the vent termination needs to be at least 3 feet from any building opening (like a door or window).

In my opinion you certainly wouldn't want to be blowing hot moist air right by a crawl space vent as it's likely that in some weather conditions and seasons you may be pumping moisture into the crawl space. I'd want to be 3 ft. or more away.

See also CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT at https://inspectapedia.com/structure/Crawl_Space_Dryout.php

On 2017-07-28 by David

When venting a dryer through the foundation, what is the distance that I need from a foundation vent? Can they be side by side?

On 2017-07-19 by (mod) -

Heather:

The two worries, I suspect, nagging at your maintenance guys were

1. lint and dust from the clothes dryer may clog the combustion air inlet of your gas fired heating furnace, causing unsafe conditions and risking fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

2. They might miss a chance to sell you a lint filter that you not only don't need, but that depending on the type and installation might itself be a serious fire hazard.

If your clothes dryer is properly and safely vented to the building exterior, the release of lint around the dryer itself ought to be minimal and not a safety hazard.

Start with a practical examination: is there dust visible in, on, or around your gas fired heating equipment? Is that dust dryer lint? If so, then a combination of housecleaning and an inspection of the dryer for dust and lint leaks is in order regardless of the dryer's exact placement.

Two feet more or less distance change from a clothes dryer that's leaking lint would not make one iota of difference in safety.

So where is the issue with clothes dryer distance to the gas furnace?

The answer is working space or fire clearances from combustibles that will be specified in the gas furnace installation manual for your specific heater. If the dryer is installed too close to the heater it violates the manufacturer's instructions, may prevent proper heater maintenance, and might be unsafe.

Using an American Standard Gas Furnace installation manual as an example, since you don't name your furnace brand and model, the word "clearance" appears 50 times in the document, showing that the manufacturer indeed has a worry about safe clearance distances for the heater.

There are at least three furnace clearance distance types:

Clearance from combustibles - ranging from 0" to 18" to 36" (typically) depending on the fuel type (electric, gas, oil)

Working space or clearance distances - that may allow 0 on 1-3 sides but always requires working space at least at the front, or at front + rear if access to a blower or filter are at the unit rear side. Typically that's 3 ft.

Direct vent terminal clearance distances: distance from the exhaust vent at the exterior wall to building features such as gas meter outlet, windows, doors, balconies, building corners, clearance over a driveway or paved sidwewalk. These range from 0 to 7 ft - this set of distances is surely not what your maintenance guys were discussing.

On 2017-06-15 by Heather

I just had some maintence guys in for my furnace. They told me my dryer had to be 2 feet from my furnace. They also said that if we don't mive it within 15 days, union gas eill cut off my gas. They were also trying to sell me a "air filter system for my furnace. My furnace is only 2 years old.

On 2017-06-15 by Heather

I just had some maintence guys in for my furnace. They told me my dryer had to be 2 feet from my furnace.

They also said that if we don't mive it within 15 days, union gas eill cut off my gas. They were also trying to sell me a "air filter system for my furnace. My furnace is only 2 years old.

On 2016-10-17 by Judy

I live in an upstairs apt. Wirh one door to out side. My down stairs neighbor installed a laundryroom that vents above my door level and into my living room window.

When they do laundry I have to shut my door and close my windows or my whole apt gets blasted. They have 2 other doors a front door and patio doors. What makes maters worse I'm on oxigen and need good air flow.

I have complaimed to the manager nut he dose nothing. Is it legal to vent into someone elses living space.

On 2016-08-23 by (mod) re: clothes dryer vent too close to neighbour's fence

Tiffany:

My OPINION is that the clothes dryer vent distance to the neighbor's fence is less of a worry than whether or not it's too close to ground level to be safely above the height of snow-cover. And I agree that you'll have trouble cleaning a vent or even inspecting it if you've only 12 " into which to insert your head and body.

A related question: how did your clothes dryer vent terminate only 12" from your property line in the first place?
A related question: is your house wall just 12" from the property line? Is this in compliance with your local building codes and property set-back requirements?

After checking those questions with your building department you'll better-understand your arguing position.

I suggest asking the neighbor to include an operable gate in the fence, with an latch working from your side so that you can safely inspect and maintain the dryer vent opening. Y

ou might point out that doing so also reduces a fire risk for them as well as for you.

On 2016-08-22 by Tiffany

My exterior gas dryer vent terminates on the side of my house. New neighbors want to install a fence exactly on the edge of their property.

This would leave less than 1 ft clearance between our dryer vent and their fence. Is this allowed? I'm worried that it will be very difficult to clean out the exterior vent and also ensure that deep snow and ice will be impossible to remove.



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