A recent inspection of a remodeled townhouse opened the door for the next series of questions. The subject of clothes dryer vents may seem trivial, but according to a 2003 publication by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, clothes dryers were associated with over 15,000 fires and 20 deaths (in 1998). So, while the dryer vent may seem trivial, it can be a significant safety hazard...

True or False? Clothes dryer vents are required to terminate to the exterior of a structure.

False - Yes, the correct answer is FALSE, but with a big asterisk. The first sentence of the Building Code regarding Clothes Dryer Exhaust says: "Clothes dryers shall be exhausted in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions." So that means, IF the manufacturer says it is acceptable to terminate the dryer vent to an interior port, then that is acceptable. HOWEVER, 99.9% of the units on the market today, fall under the second sentence of the Code, which says - "...exhaust systems shall convey the moisture and any products of combustion to the outside of the building." So, unless there are special circumstances, dryers should exhaust to the exterior - but SOMETIMES, there are exceptions to the rule.

Brad Arnold of Coastal Properties