Sometimes, when dealing with mechanical or electrical devices, one has to think beyond the obvious problem. For example, in the photo below, the initial reaction would be: "Boy what a mess, that is gonna be a pain to cleanup." The next thought might be: "Boy all that moist, hot air floating around the room is hard on the house." Yet another thought might be: "Boy that could cause a fire, all that lint and all." Can you think of any other reason that the disconnected dryer duct below might be a highly significant safety concern? We are not talking about fires here, although that of course could be possible too. The answer is below the photo, so you can mull it over.
ANSWER: This is a gas clothes dryer, not electric, so that changes the playing field. Have you noticed that your gas or propane water heater or furnace vents outdoors, usually through a B-vent. And you probably know that combustion gases and some carbon monoxide is passing through that system. Think about it. A gas clothes dryer does not have a B-vent, but it is burning gas. Where does the exhaust, which contains poisonous gases, go? Well, it is routed outside through the exhaust duct -- the same one the lint and the hot air go through. This is an example of a situation where what, at first, looks to be merely a mess is a safety hazard in more ways than one. A home inspector has to, as they say, connect the dots time and time again.
Thanks for looking.
Steven L. Smith
Whoa...
I had never even thought about this. We don't see very much gas in Florida. But thanks for the heads up :)
TLW...ROAR!