Dryer Vent Attic Condensation

If your dryer is vented into a garage or through an attic condensation will be more of an issue.

Dryer vent attic condensation.

This creates a blockage in the pipe blocking the flow of air. Stray lint and fabric may accumulate in the vent over time. The warm moist air inside the vent tends to condense on the colder walls. This can lead to problems.

Bathroom fans dryer vents kitchen hood fans or other exhaust fans venting into the attic or not connected. Against an outside wall. As a result it could condense and result in a water leak. Condensation in the attic is a direct result of warm humid air finding its way into the attic and then freezing in our extremely cold weather.

The attic is usually colder than the rest of the house during the winter and that can create a problem for a dryer vent. If venting outside isn t an option you can vent the dryer out of the attic through the roof using a special roof vent to keep rain out. Be careful you don t cut through any studs electrical wires or pipes in the process. Dryer vent hose often is not insulated.

However this connection is sometimes the only option in older homes. I now have to vacuum out the dryer vent sometimes weekly to remove the condensation as enough of it forms that it blocks the dryer from venting from the amount of water in the pipe. When metal vent pipes aren t insulated the ambient air cools the metal which condenses the moist air inside the pipe this condensation can leak through the joints in the pipe and collect in the walls or ceiling or the water can run all the way back to the dryer and show up as a puddle under the unit. Some areas have laws restricting dryer vents to be hooked up through an attic as it increases the chances of a fire.

A blocked vent is a common cause for dryer vent leaks. The hot moist air that is exhausted by the dryer has nowhere to go. The water also condenses and runs back to the dryer creating a puddle underneath. As the hot moist air hits the metal walls of the vent it condenses on the cooler metal and can leak through the pipe to damage the walls or ceiling.

The longer the cold snap the more opportunity the moisture has to accumulate into frost. Check all possible entry points for water leaking from outsi. Because the dryer vent s air seal to the outdoors cannot be made between the heated space and the unheated space the second floor ceiling natural convection in the ductwork when the dryer is not running may still convey enough water vapor to the attic ductwork to cause condensation.