Uh-Oh, My Dryer Vent is Leaking! Is That a Problem?

Is your dryer vent leaking? If the answer is yes, then you should be calling us RIGHT NOW. Why is that? It might not seem like a big deal if your dryer vent is a tad leaky, but a leaky vent can cause many issues. Not only can a vent that’s leaking cause dust, mildew, and mold to build up in your home—exacerbating your allergies and causing respiratory issues—but if you have a gas dryer, a leaky vent could also be leaking carbon monoxide in your home, which can be deadly. So, this problem might not seem like a big deal at first, but it can result in huge problems, which means you want it taken care of sooner rather than later. But why is your vent leaking in the first place?

The first possible reason is condensation (which is more likely to happen in colder climates). Condensation is caused by warm air from your dryer coming in contact with the cold air outside. It then condenses and begins to drip into your home. If not taken care of right away, this can lead to serious water damage. However, you can avoid condensation in your dryer vents by keeping the vent properly insulated.

Another possible reason for a leaky vent is where the vent exhausts. Preferably vents should exhaust to the outside of the home, but in some homes, they exhaust into the garage or attic instead. Venting exhaust into an enclosed area can result in moisture problems, like leaky vents, mildew, and mold. So, always try to have your dryer vent exhaust outdoors!

Or it could be a case of having cracks or holes in your dryer vent. Damaged or cracked dryer vents don’t function correctly, and may allow water from surrounding pipes or condensation to get into the vent, then your house. If this is the issue with your leaky vent, you’ll need to call in your local Dryer Vent Wizards to take a look and fix things up.

It might also be a result of a blocked vent. How does your dryer vent become blocked? Small bits of fabric and stray lint that isn’t caught by the lint filter can build up over time in your dryer vent, eventually causing a blockage so large it blocks air flow. And when that happen, the hot air from the dryer doesn’t have anywhere to go, which leads to condensation and leaking. The fix? Once again, calling in the professionals to have your dryer vent professionally cleaned!

Finally, the cause of a leaky vent could be a broken flapper on the outside opening. This flapper is on the outside end of your dryer vent where the hot air gets released. When properly working, it opens to release hot air as needed, then snaps back into place. But if the flapper has been broken, it won’t snap back to a closed position like it should, which means water, rain, frost, and snow can all get inside your vents. Not to mention if the flapper is broken in a way where hot air can’t get out, condensation will form. Thankfully, fixing this is simple—you just need to replace it!

So, if you’ve noticed that your dryer vent is leaking, take a closer look to figure out which of the above it is. If you aren’t able to fix it yourself, then give us a call, and we’ll have the problem solved in no time!

So, when it’s time for your dryer vent to be cleaned out, give us a call! We're the experts for professional Cincinnati dryer vent cleaning and repair, after all! Give us a call at 513.460.4243 so Dryer Vent Wizard of Cincinnati can help you save energy, time, and money. Some of the towns we service include Hamilton, Warren, Butler, Clermont, Greene, Montogomery counties in Ohio. Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties in Northern Kentucky and Dearborn County in Indiana and many others!