In this blog entry, the professional Chicago dryer vent cleaning service team here at EmDuct will describe the cons of indoor dryer vents, and why it’s much better to have a fixed, metallic dryer vent.
What are indoor dryer vents?
Indoor dryer vents consist of a kit that includes a flexible hose, a plastic lint reservoir, and a mounting ring. The hose is connected to your electric clothes dryer, and channels exhaust air into your lint reservoir, where lint and moisture is captured. Sometimes, these kits are vented out a window to help manage moisture.
Why do people opt for indoor dryer vents?
Indoor dryer vents are considered easy to install and highly cheap, which is why some people opt to purchase them. Some other people like venting their dryers indoors as this can slightly warm your home. However, due to the major drawbacks we’re about to describe, we do not recommend ever getting an indoors dryer vent.
Disadvantages of Indoor Dryer Vents
- Indoor dryer vents increase indoor humidity, which can cause mold and mildew growth, which causes a nasty odor and potentially causes health and respiratory issues
- Indoor dryer vents cannot effectively trap lint in plastic lint reservoirs. This causes extra lint buildup, which can be a MAJOR fire hazard when vent systems are not regularly cleaned. Furthermore, plastic dryer vent attachments can easily melt or catch fire – which is why we recommend ONLY using metal dryer components.
- Indoor dryer vents can ONLY be used with electric clothes dryer, and using them with gas dryers can cause dangerous and deadly emissions like carbon monoxide gas to get released into your home