SonitaJ1 (Colorado)
Posts: 1
Posts: 1
Posted:
The dryer vents in this community need cleaned from outside to inside. I have lived here for 7 years and they have never been cleaned. Who is responsible for cleaning them and the cost to do so?
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dryer vent cleaning who is responsible
Started by SonitaJ1 • 19 replies • 464 views
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SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
Have you checked your documents? The CCRs usually address common areas (e.g. parking lots), so there should be something about what's homeowner responsibility. There may also be something in the documents you got at closing - go find then and take a look.
If the vent goes through a shared space lije an attice or wall, thats usually considered common area, so tge association would be responsible. You would be responsible for the portion in your unit, including the connection to the machine.
As for the cost, that depends on the contractors in your area, and the number of buildings. After 7 years, it would be a good idea to get some estimates (at least 3).
If the vent goes through a shared space lije an attice or wall, thats usually considered common area, so tge association would be responsible. You would be responsible for the portion in your unit, including the connection to the machine.
As for the cost, that depends on the contractors in your area, and the number of buildings. After 7 years, it would be a good idea to get some estimates (at least 3).
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
DeanJ
Posts: 1,786
Posts: 1,786
Posted:
You documents are likely silent on cleaning dryer vents. But, a dryer vent is likely to responsibility of a condo HOA and if it isn’t the condo needs to perform this service because it is a fire hazard.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
If dryer vents are common elements, which they may be in some communities, then they'd probably be the association's responsibility. Otherwise they're probably unit owner responsibility. But you have to check the exact wording of your CC&Rs. Look for the definitions of "common element" and "unit", then read the sections that spell out who is responsible for what.
My condo community's Declaration states that dryer vents are part of the units, and owners are responsible for maintaining everything within their units. This means that the association would be overstepping if they clean the dryer vents without owners' permission, and would be taking on liability even with permission.
Since our association has an interest in preventing fires, the board negotiated a deal with a local company to provide this service. The company then sends info to the individual owners who can arrange for the cleaning. It keeps the association out of the transaction and avoids the liability that would go along with overstepping their authority.
Some regular posters here have said that their associations do clean the dryer vents. I think a lot depends on the structures of the buildings. In high rises, the structure of the plumbing system is going to be different than it is in two-story condo buildings, so maintenance responsibilities will also be different.
My condo community's Declaration states that dryer vents are part of the units, and owners are responsible for maintaining everything within their units. This means that the association would be overstepping if they clean the dryer vents without owners' permission, and would be taking on liability even with permission.
Since our association has an interest in preventing fires, the board negotiated a deal with a local company to provide this service. The company then sends info to the individual owners who can arrange for the cleaning. It keeps the association out of the transaction and avoids the liability that would go along with overstepping their authority.
Some regular posters here have said that their associations do clean the dryer vents. I think a lot depends on the structures of the buildings. In high rises, the structure of the plumbing system is going to be different than it is in two-story condo buildings, so maintenance responsibilities will also be different.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Owners are responsible im our high rise. Once a year our Community Mgr. send out a blast about then a dryer vent cleans will be on our premises and owners contact the vendor to set up dates.
Our vent for run for a laundry room ceiling across out living rooms and exit on our balcony ceiling.
Neglect to clean them has never cause a fire in 22 years. But what does happen is that the v cloggged lint in the vent gets very wet and actual l;ears form the vent too living rooms or the area near where the vent connects to the equipment leaks water
Your CC&RS might say that owners are obligated to maintain anything that serves only their Unit and no others.
Is this a multi story. Bldg.? Or singfamilay homes? Or?
Our vent for run for a laundry room ceiling across out living rooms and exit on our balcony ceiling.
Neglect to clean them has never cause a fire in 22 years. But what does happen is that the v cloggged lint in the vent gets very wet and actual l;ears form the vent too living rooms or the area near where the vent connects to the equipment leaks water
Your CC&RS might say that owners are obligated to maintain anything that serves only their Unit and no others.
Is this a multi story. Bldg.? Or singfamilay homes? Or?
LoriM15 (Florida)
Posts: 1,009
Posts: 1,009
Posted:
They are having this issue in the community where I own a condo. They are mostly two-story units like townhouses that are all interconnected, but look like separate units. The dryer vents are on the roof and the dryers are on the second floor. Owners are responsible for their dryer vents. However, the community won a huge construction defect judgment against the developer and has just completed phase 1 of reconstruction. All the roofs in that section are new and phase 2 is happening shortly. Now they are seeing dryer vent cleaners and window washers walking on the new roofs, which voids the warranty. Apparently there are some companies that can do it via a lift, but it seems to me that they need to shift the responsibility for the cleaning to the COA, since the roof issue is such a huge problem. Hopefully they will get their act together to find a preferred company for the residents to use so that all the roofs don't get damaged again.
MarshallT (New York)
Posts: 414
Posts: 414
Posted:
Yes this is probably something that has been overlooked. Since it is such a big item, I would guess that the association would be responsible for hiring a contractor to clean the vents.
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
I posted the following in the wrong conversation instead of this one, so for what it's worth:
Since our annual meeting is next week, I think I'll ask the board about this. We're a townhouse community, with some being one story and others, like mine, two story. In my building, the vents go out to the roof and then I guess the hot air and whatever floats out through the roof vents. The last time I had my vent cleaned, the contractor asked the same question and because the roof is common area, he couldn't go up there. He did see the roof opening from my unit and cranked up his machine to clean up to that point.
The one-story units have dryer vents on the side of their buildings, so I would think that's more accessible, so the homeowner should be able to take care of the whole thing. Then again, a few had issues with birds building nests in them, and the association had them removed and then put a cover on them.
Since our annual meeting is next week, I think I'll ask the board about this. We're a townhouse community, with some being one story and others, like mine, two story. In my building, the vents go out to the roof and then I guess the hot air and whatever floats out through the roof vents. The last time I had my vent cleaned, the contractor asked the same question and because the roof is common area, he couldn't go up there. He did see the roof opening from my unit and cranked up his machine to clean up to that point.
The one-story units have dryer vents on the side of their buildings, so I would think that's more accessible, so the homeowner should be able to take care of the whole thing. Then again, a few had issues with birds building nests in them, and the association had them removed and then put a cover on them.
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
I expect that your Association will say that the vents are your responsibility.
If they do, your follow-up question would be - can the owners who have dryer vents out the roof obtain written permission for our contractor to enter the attic and walk on the roof so the vents can be fully cleaned?
If they do, your follow-up question would be - can the owners who have dryer vents out the roof obtain written permission for our contractor to enter the attic and walk on the roof so the vents can be fully cleaned?
DeanJ
Posts: 1,786
Posts: 1,786
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By KerryL1 on 02/14/2025 4:46 AM
Owners are responsible im our high rise. Once a year our Community Mgr. send out a blast about then a dryer vent cleans will be on our premises and owners contact the vendor to set up dates.
Our vent for run for a laundry room ceiling across out living rooms and exit on our balcony ceiling.
Neglect to clean them has never cause a fire in 22 years. But what does happen is that the v cloggged lint in the vent gets very wet and actual l;ears form the vent too living rooms or the area near where the vent connects to the equipment leaks water
Your CC&RS might say that owners are obligated to maintain anything that serves only their Unit and no others.
Is this a multi story. Bldg.? Or singfamilay homes? Or?
Owners are responsible im our high rise. Once a year our Community Mgr. send out a blast about then a dryer vent cleans will be on our premises and owners contact the vendor to set up dates.
Our vent for run for a laundry room ceiling across out living rooms and exit on our balcony ceiling.
Neglect to clean them has never cause a fire in 22 years. But what does happen is that the v cloggged lint in the vent gets very wet and actual l;ears form the vent too living rooms or the area near where the vent connects to the equipment leaks water
Your CC&RS might say that owners are obligated to maintain anything that serves only their Unit and no others.
Is this a multi story. Bldg.? Or singfamilay homes? Or?
You should call your local fire dept. and see if they agree uncleaned dryer vents are unlikely to cause fires?
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
All I'm saying, Dean, is that they HAVE not in my neighborhood of 1000s of dryer vents. I do think they COULD. happen.
I do think many are unaware of the annoying WATER damage caused by clogged ducts. By the the time moisst dryer hits the clogged lint 20 feet from the dryer, the lint is a giant sponge that leaks. onto the ceiling below.
So, Dean you tell us with citations, how dryer lint fires there are a meter area or whatever.
I do think many are unaware of the annoying WATER damage caused by clogged ducts. By the the time moisst dryer hits the clogged lint 20 feet from the dryer, the lint is a giant sponge that leaks. onto the ceiling below.
So, Dean you tell us with citations, how dryer lint fires there are a meter area or whatever.
JamesV3 (New Hampshire)
Posts: 50
Posts: 50
Posted:
In our community we have 6 buildings
1 Building has provisions for a washer and dryer in each unit, Those vents are the unit owners responsibility.
That same building also has common area washers and dryers that are pay to use. those vents are the association's responsibility.
The other 5 buildings have only common area washers and dryers and are the association's responsibility.
We are on a annual cleaning schedule to have these done.
1 Building has provisions for a washer and dryer in each unit, Those vents are the unit owners responsibility.
That same building also has common area washers and dryers that are pay to use. those vents are the association's responsibility.
The other 5 buildings have only common area washers and dryers and are the association's responsibility.
We are on a annual cleaning schedule to have these done.
JackR9 (New Hampshire)
Posts: 8
Posts: 8
Posted:
I own a condo unit in a 22 unit building. The property manager sends out a notice once a year to have owners schedule to have the dryer ducts cleaned. He charges $90 per unit, and it's optional.
JackR9 (New Hampshire)
Posts: 8
Posts: 8
Posted:
Forgot to mention each unit has their own washer/dryer (stackables)
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
That's how our 200+ high res individual vents are done too, JackR. It costs us $125.. It's about 40 ft to the vent terminals on our balcony ceilings, which the techs also open and vac.
PatriiciaR (Texas)
Posts: 32
Posts: 32
Posted:
I have lived in our community for 15+ years and dryer vents have never been cleaned. We, as the board sent a letter to all owners giving them a time frame for their units vent to be cleaned and the receipt to be submitted to the office for proof. It not completed by the deadline they were sent a violation and a fine. Once the deadline date was up we then had a company come in and clean the roof vents and it's was quite scary seeing what they extracted. I'm surprised that we have not had a fire in the past. Our individual vents go into one large vent that is filter out thru the roof. When the vent crew came to inspect we found that we had the wrong covers that were like a grid that didn't allow the lint to escape but the were animal proof. We have since replaced all covers without a grid and are animal protected. It is our responsibility to protect our assets and maintain accordingly. Have a blessed day.
KcG1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 11
Posts: 11
Posted:
Read this building code. You will be enlightened… https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IRC2018/chapter-15-exhaust-systems
In a nutshell, dryer DUCTS in walls and ceiling cavities cannot be flexible. They must be rigid (IOW metal). Also, embedded ducts cannot be longer than 35 feet. If the ducting has elbows, then the allowable length is LESS THAN 35 feet (per the chart). Chances are, your ducting violates this code. Also, if your embedded duct IS flexible you cannot brush out the lint (brushing will puncture the duct). It can only be blown (or replaced with a rigid duct).
In a nutshell, dryer DUCTS in walls and ceiling cavities cannot be flexible. They must be rigid (IOW metal). Also, embedded ducts cannot be longer than 35 feet. If the ducting has elbows, then the allowable length is LESS THAN 35 feet (per the chart). Chances are, your ducting violates this code. Also, if your embedded duct IS flexible you cannot brush out the lint (brushing will puncture the duct). It can only be blown (or replaced with a rigid duct).
MichaelS56 (Minnesota)
Posts: 858
Posts: 858
Posted:
Our association is not responsible for the dryer vent cleaning so two of us have meet with three vendors for bids to clean dryer vents. The only job the Board did was to put our information out in an email blast to let all of the owners know of this service. We have been gathering up owner requests and the vendor will be out later in April.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Good for you two, Michael! I love to see owners come up with solutions! *. Or, are you on the board?
This is what our Comm. mgr. does. for our 200 high rise condos in two towers . He puts out the range of dates and the vendor's contact information. He reminds residents that clean ducts allow their dryers to use less electricity and extend the life of the dryer.
Residents contact the vendor directly for a logical date &. time to make the sequence of the vendor's work efficient.
Our ducts are about 25 feet long with the termination in balcony ceilings. Its moistures that goes out these ducts, we have had a few water leaks from clogged ducts where the compacted lint is like a big soggy sponge. Leaks are mainly onto hardwood floors, but one did go on to the unit below.
It might work next year,Michael, to have residents contact the vendor themselves after prompting from your Board and save you two some work.
* Another.owner & I very recently at open forum urged the Board to consider adding something to a big contract that excluded, we felt, a very important element. AT the following open meeting the Board revealed they'd gotten bids on that element. And they voted unanimously to include it.
This is what our Comm. mgr. does. for our 200 high rise condos in two towers . He puts out the range of dates and the vendor's contact information. He reminds residents that clean ducts allow their dryers to use less electricity and extend the life of the dryer.
Residents contact the vendor directly for a logical date &. time to make the sequence of the vendor's work efficient.
Our ducts are about 25 feet long with the termination in balcony ceilings. Its moistures that goes out these ducts, we have had a few water leaks from clogged ducts where the compacted lint is like a big soggy sponge. Leaks are mainly onto hardwood floors, but one did go on to the unit below.
It might work next year,Michael, to have residents contact the vendor themselves after prompting from your Board and save you two some work.
* Another.owner & I very recently at open forum urged the Board to consider adding something to a big contract that excluded, we felt, a very important element. AT the following open meeting the Board revealed they'd gotten bids on that element. And they voted unanimously to include it.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
We also follow the same model as Michael and Kerry. It's the best you can do in condo communities where dryer vents are not common eleenmts.
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