Why Is My Dryer Vent Leaking Water?
As a dryer heats clothing, the moisture within is channeled outside through the dryer vents.
If you notice your dryer vents are leaking water, it may be due to lint blockage, a broken flapper, or poorly insulated pipes. It’s important to repair leaking dryer vents to prevent water damage.
Reasons For a Leaking Dryer Vent
1. Lint Blockages
A byproduct of drying clothes within this appliance is lint. Over time, lint and any excess fabric can begin building up within the dryer vent. When there’s no clear path for air and moisture to flow through, the moisture can condense — resulting in a water leak and causing the lint in your dryer to be wet.
Routine maintenance of your dryer should include the removal of any buildup within the vent via a long-handled brush.
2. Broken Flapper
Moisture and hot air will flow out of the dryer vent to the outside. The exhaust pipe is protected by a flapper that opens when air flows outward and remains closed when there’s no activity. However, if the flapper is not closing as it should, rainwater and snow can easily get inside the dryer vent.
The flapper can become stuck — resulting in a buildup of moisture that can condense and cause your dryer vent to leak water. Make sure the flapper is working properly at all times.
3. Condensation from Outdoor Temperatures
When hot air travels through the dryer’s exhaust pipe during extremely cold temperatures, condensation can form on the outside and edge of the pipe. Without the proper insulation, this condensation can begin to drip and cause water damage, mimicking a water leak.
Avoid this altogether by insulating the entire length of the exhaust pipe. As you insulate the pipe, inspect it for any possible holes or cracks (and fix them if necessary).
Get Leak Repair from a Professional Plumber
The dryer is meant to transform your laundry from wet to dry, not give you a water leak and another headache to deal with. When you’re dealing with a plumbing, heating, ductless AC system, or HVAC problem that you’d like a professional to handle, give us a call, and we’ll be happy to help.
For dryer vent cleaning and leak repair, contact Lancaster Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical.
