Home built with Dryer vent sealed shut

Hello,

Looking for some insight on what to do, been living in my Irvine home in Orchard Hills for 7 years, purchased straight from the developer, Irvine Pacific. Recently had some issues with vent so we got someone to clean the venting. He discovers that one of the vents for the dryer has a metal flap that completely blocks it shut, and there was no way to remove it without tearing down some walls, how do I go about this as it was definitely installed wrong from the builder, plus we were using it like this for 7 years. It explains all the times there was a faint smell of natural gas which is of course a hazard. Looking for suggestions on how to proceed? I've contacted Irvine Pacific but yet to hear a response.

Exactly where was this flap? On the dryer itself, or on the vent line? What's the path of this vent line? Trying to imagine how it required tearing down walls. Also, I don't see how it explains smelling NG. Understand that the dryer has an igniter, and gas has to flow before it's lit, so not all of it will get burned necessarily.

I'm not sure if its a flap, its a metallic object blocking the vent line. The vent goes up to the ceiling, from the attic onwards to ceiling it is clear, below the attic to the first level, where the dryer is at, there is blockage with no air flowing through, in the vent, not in the dryer. It requires tearing down a dry wall piece to access the part of the vent blocked by this metallic object. The technician cleaning the blocked air duct was hitting it with his cleaner brush and couldn't break through, it was making a metallic sound as well. With the air flow completely blocked, maybe there is a chance the gas is not combusting properly, cause excess gas to escape. Regardless, there is a blocked vent which shouldn't be blocked, and there should not be a gas smell only when the dryer is in use.

Have you verified there's no air flow at the exterior vent exit when the dryer's running? It seems like you would have noticed at a much earlier point in the past 7 years if your dryer wasn't working. Are you sure it's not just the back wall of an elbow, or a grate that's blocking the brush? Vent ducts are off the shelf parts made to meet very strict building code specifications that wouldn't typically allow for blockage as you describe. Before you start breaking into the drywall, see if you can get a borescope up into the duct to see what's going on. There are relatively cheap ones available on amazon.

Yes we have verified there is no air flow exiting while the dryer is running, as for the past 7 years, the dryer has always been working, but there has always been a faint smell of gas whenever it was running, some days more than others, it was not consistent. Even now the dryer works fine, heats up fine. It was only last week when the gas smell was painfully obvious that I traced it to the dryer when it was running, most likely points to a clogged air vent. In terms of the blockage, if it were vent ducts the air would still flow when the dryer is on to the exterior, currently no flow. I understand that they have strict building codes, but honestly I wouldn't be surprised, when I first got into my home from the builder, there was always a faint burning electrical smell, traced it to the electrical box, a circuit breaker was incorrectly installed and had a badly burnt wire, electrician was shocked when he saw it. These homes in Irvine are built quick with very little care for detail or checks, lots of things incorrectly installed, and this was not from me, this was from several plumbers, electricians and now the air duct cleaners. IF the vent has been incorrectly installed, it would be a very bad blunder from the builder

It sounds as if it is time to bring in a real HVAC person, rather than relying on an unlicensed vent cleaner.

will do both, let the HOA know that regardless of the dryer, the vent is blocked, they will probably send someone out. And request a washer/dryer specialist to take a look at the dryer

Is this an attached condo unit? If so, the HOA may get involved. If this is detached, I'd be very surprised to the the HOA get involved. This doesn't impact a common area.

Have you spoken to an owner who has the same floorplan as yours? They may not have the same issue (or have already dealt with it) and can give you a better idea about how this is part of your home was supposed to be constructed.

I'd also see if there are any County or City Inspectors cards in your attic or garage as whoever inspected the property seems to have screwed up. You can seek some kind of redress from the County/City as long as you have sign off by their inspector that all was built according to plan.

Also: ".....a circuit breaker was incorrectly installed and had a badly burnt wire, electrician was shocked when he saw it." HA!

Contact your builder and see which subcontractor performed the work, then contact the subcontractor.

Usually the subcontractor can fix it, or at least give you a discount.

sgip said:

Is this an attached condo unit? If so, the HOA may get involved. If this is detached, I'd be very surprised to the the HOA get involved. This doesn't impact a common area.

Have you spoken to an owner who has the same floorplan as yours? They may not have the same issue (or have already dealt with it) and can give you a better idea about how this is part of your home was supposed to be constructed.

I'd also see if there are any County or City Inspectors cards in your attic or garage as whoever inspected the property seems to have screwed up. You can seek some kind of redress from the County/City as long as you have sign off by their inspector that all was built according to plan.

Also: ".....a circuit breaker was incorrectly installed and had a badly burnt wire, electrician was shocked when he saw it." HA!

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Its a condo. Will check with my neighbors, though everyone around me are renters so will have to see... already reported to HOA and they are aware, though not sure what the resolve will be

Attached, or detached? I'm assuming attached, so yeah, HOA will get involved. This may not be a "one off" and thus a bigger issue for the community. If your issue is not a "one off", there could be talk of litigation against the builder - which of course is a separate issue. If the "L" word comes up, bring it to the forum as there are huge issues for all homeowners (usually, but not always bad) and should be explored carefully.