On several recently conducted home watches in one of our high-rise complexes we found WATER in our client’s clothes dryer.  Yes, water in the clothes dryer.  How can this happen?

Building maintenance had recently performed an annual cleaning and inspection of the duct work on dryer vents. During the inspection some of the backflow vent attachments failed to close properly. As a result, the open backflow vent was stuck open — the wind pressure from the outside caused a vacuum and the warm outside air was drawn into the dryer. The much cooler indoor temperatures caused the warm outside air and moisture to condensate and the dryer accumulated large amounts of water in the drum within 24-48 hours of the inspection. Left unchecked the accumulated standing water could have resulted in a potential mold bloom within approximately 72 hours.

Once we discovered the water in the dryers we immediately notified building maintenance about the issue. Fortunately, our clients have a professional Home Watch service provider making regular observations looking for visual signs of obvious conditions that can put their homes at risk. This is just one example of why it is so important to engage a Home Watch professional to perform regular checks on your unoccupied home while you are away.

Backflow damper that connects to your clothes dryer duct and the exterior vent and it prevents the “backflow” of warm air into the home. A faulty backflow damper may permit the flap to remain open and allow the warm air in. Make sure this device is properly checked and serviced by a professional at least once a year.

Carefree Home Watch, LLC is a professional Home Watch service provider serving the greater Fort Myers, FL and Sanibel Island area. Visit our website www.carefreehomewatch.com or call 239-234-1847 and ask for your free in home consultation.