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I live in a condo, the neighbors clothes dryer vent is routed through my garage (it is enclosed in a sheetrock ‘box’ about 1 1/2 foot square). It has recently stared dripping water, I assume from condensation, out of a nail hole. The paint covering the nail peeled away and the nail head is rusted, so the condensation has been effecting it for some time. How should I go about plugging this leak? Should I use some sort of caulking?
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The vent from a dryer has alot of moisture in it. That's the point of the dryer afterall.
If the ductwork is cold, or if the air being vented is allowed to cool in this duct, it will lose some of it's moisture to condensation.
I don't know what you can do to make the vent water tight. I'd opt for venting the dryer closer to the dryer and not running ductwork through your garage. If It must run there, maybe a lenght of Pipe instead of the typical duct would solve the problem. Water will still condense but at least it will have to leak out either outside or in your neighbor's house.
Insulating this chase will also help to keep the vent temperature up and reduce condensation.
Just brainstorming.
*Why bother trying to understand a problem caused by a neighbour's dryer vent when you live in a condo?Don't you have a condo association?That's why you pay condo fees, isn't it?Call them and tell them they have a problem and it's dripping in your garage and let them fix it at their expense.As Ryan has indicated, condensation is the culprit and because of poor installation, the exhaust pipe is probably level or more likely, sagging and water from the condensation is laying there seeping into your garage.So, let your fingers do the walking and pass the problem onto the proper channels.Gabe
*Sounds like maybe the nail has pierced the dryer duct. Either way, some Sheetrock tear-out and other repairs are in order for a real fix. If your condo-assoc. doesn't cover it, go hire someone.Or, pull the nail, and caulk it if you like, but generally yor're in the wrong place for recommendations for bubble-gum and duct tape fixes.
*If your neighbour's dryer is venting through your garage, just how long is that pipe anyway?? It's gotta be 15 - 20 ft, plus a couple of right angles. Manufacturers suggest that you keep dryer length to an absolute minimum, with fewest angles possible. (Even more crucial if it's a gas dryer). I'd be asking for someone to re-route it. Do they clean their dryer regularly. If they don't, and there's a dryer fire, well, seems to me it's gonna come your direction. Plus your neighbour is paying extra charges, as that long an exhaust pipe is really inefficient. Ask them how long it's taking to dry a load of clothes -- more than an hour, I'll bet. Half an hour is ideal.
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curious as to why it would be more crucial with a gas dryer to keep venting distance shorter (I'm about ready to vent my new gas dryer this weekend, but it won't be going more that 6'). Is this to insure exhaust of combusted fuel vapors?
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I live in a condo, the neighbors clothes dryer vent is routed through my garage (it is enclosed in a sheetrock 'box' about 1 1/2 foot square). It has recently stared dripping water, I assume from condensation, out of a nail hole. The paint covering the nail peeled away and the nail head is rusted, so the condensation has been effecting it for some time. How should I go about plugging this leak? Should I use some sort of caulking?
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I'm just an amateur who reads a lot, but, yes, your pipe is exhausting combustion products. We just installed gas dryer, love it, but we changed the run to shorten it (a 45 angle instead of two 90s) and also sealed the joints with tape.