Can You Vent Your Dryer Into The Attic

The photo below shows an accumulation of dryer lint in an attic after years of the vent terminating in it.

Can you vent your dryer into the attic.

Venting a dryer into an enclosed space is never a good idea. A dryer vent should be vented outside. You have a serious risk of venting sewer gasses into your home. In addition to being against most building codes and a potential fire hazard venting a dryer in an attic can result in moisture problems which could lead to rot or mold in your attic.

And what are the code requirements for an outdoor dryer vent cover. The international residential code allows you to run a dryer vent through the attic but you can t terminate it there. For more on dryer venting see our blog posts what is the maximum length for a clothes dryer vent. No it s never a good idea to have any exhaust fan in your home dump all that hot moist air in your attic.

Check out our video on dryer vent safety for more information. Lint and grease are fire hazards moisture promotes molds and heat will cause snowmelt that often results in ice dams. Sometimes such as in town homes or condos it s not possible to vent a dryer through a wall outside. Sewer gas can be explosive not to mention likely to be unpleasant and possibly unhealthy.

Second is that a drain vent is typically too small and too moist to properly vent a bathroom fan. Several different ways you can move that hot air to the outside. If you plan to hook your ac unit into an existing dryer vent you need to be willing to constantly monitor the dryer and the air conditioner to ensure that both of those units continue to operate safely and efficiently. Not all dryers will allow for this so be sure to check the owners manual to ensure it can be vented in this manner.

It s ok to vent the dryer directly into the house so that the air can be used as either a source of humidity or a source of heat. Venting dryers and bathroom and kitchen fans into an attic is a very poor practice. It can cause you a lot of problems with mold and mildew forming on the underside of your rafters and decking as well as getting into your insulation. It introduces moisture heat and grease in a space that is not designed to receive them.