Dryer vent for basement suite

Not sure on the legality, I thought they shouldn't share the same exhaust. You may need to install a backdraft damper that opens when upstairs is on and closes when upstairs is off.

Tabooger wrote: ↑ Not sure on the legality, I thought they shouldn't share the same exhaust. You may need to install a backdraft damper that opens when upstairs is on and closes when upstairs is off.

Thanks very much. I did not even know what a backdraft damper is (had to Google it, I will ask the folks at Home Depot)

I might add the basement suite was already finished and tenant-occupied when we purchased this property so we didn't know what might/might not be missing.

Tabooger wrote: ↑ Not sure on the legality, I thought they shouldn't share the same exhaust. You may need to install a backdraft damper that opens when upstairs is on and closes when upstairs is off.

I thought earlier about suggesting that but decided not to. I wondered about it possibly creating conditions which could result in the damper getting blocked or not opening and the potential for a fire. Usually a damper would be on a single use exhaust hose, and to my knowledge not a shared one. Dryers can deposit a lot of lint in the hoses and any sort of obstruction would become a key location for deposits and could block the damper on a closed or semi closed position. A damper possibly might not open or fully open if both dryers were running at the same time. Lately there seems to be a residential fire in the news almost daily.

Get in touch with your building inspection office and ask what the requirements are for a two-unit property. You may have different code requirements to deal with than for a single-family house with two laundry rooms.

Since you're dealing with a multi-unit dwelling I would assume that each unit needs a separate exhaust duct to maintain a fire break between the two units.

fergy wrote: ↑ I thought earlier about suggesting that but decided not to. I wondered about it possibly creating conditions which could result in the damper getting blocked or not opening and the potential for a fire. Usually a damper would be on a single use exhaust hose, and to my knowledge not a shared one. Dryers can deposit a lot of lint in the hoses and any sort of obstruction would become a key location for deposits and could block the damper on a closed or semi closed position. A damper possibly might not open or fully open if both dryers were running at the same time. Lately there seems to be a residential fire in the news almost daily.

I actually just came to comment on this as I was thinking about it yesterday. May not be a great solution actually. I tihnk if you google something like "two dryer exhaust" you'll get some threads coming up. Would still have to check code on it.

Just get a seperate vent installed for upstairs dryer. It's not that costly.