April 2025:
Clothes Dryer Standard: Deficiencies #3 and #6:
Electric/Gas Dryer Exhaust Ventilation System
Has Restricted Airflow.
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April’s Newsletter topic analyzes Deficiencies #3 and #6 of the Clothes Dryer Standard: Electric/Gas dryer exhaust ventilation system has restricted airflow.
This is a LIFE-THREATENING deficiency and (for those that get scored REAC inspections) rack up points fast – especially when you have clothes dryers inside every Unit! Remember, 30 points or more lost in the Unit inspectable area…you will receive a score of 59.
What does HUD mean by “Restricted?”
All the inspector needs is a reasonable doubt:
HUD’s Standard states for the Inside and Units:
Lint buildup is a major fire hazard! Not to mention the increased energy costs from the dryer trying to work through restricted airflow.
A maintenance director at East Georgia Housing Authority got fed up with all the squished dryer transition ducts, so he came up with a great solution and it worked so well that he now sells these:
For Electric Dryers ONLY:
Can this be cited Outside?
Yep – and it’s also Life-Threatening (but only scored once for the entire Outside)!
Although HUD does not state cages/screens are a deficiency UNLESS they have lint in them…did you know that cages/screens are against Code? International Mechanical Code 504.4 and International Residential Code M1502.3 prohibit “screens” on the duct termination outside (most jurisdictions view cages as screens):
Dryer manufacturers also prohibit them!
Primarily for this reason:
So how do you keep birds, squirrels, etc. from getting inside?! Dampers and louvers are accepted by code but honestly, ALL of them need to be on a cleaning schedule…
Resources
HUD has PDFs (videos are currently down) on how to appeal and how to close out H&S deficiencies here:
NSPIRE Toolkit
**Remember, if you will be appealing something,
your “defect mitigation in 24 hours” is that you are appealing…not that you fixed it!**
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