Dear Barry,

We’ve been living in a new home for two months now. We’re having problems with our new dryer – it’s simply not drying the clothes. A repairman found the dryer vent loose from the wall and also pointed out that the duct was made of plastic rather than metal and was full of lint. We’re told there’s no simple way to install a new duct. If we let the dryer exhaust blow into the house, we get drippy windows and lint on everything. Some stores sell special vent buckets for venting dryers indoors. Are these buckets OK? – Jamie

Dear Jamie,

According to the mechanical code, dryer vent ducts must be made of metal. PVC ducts take longer to become warm when the dryer is being used. This causes steam to condense inside the duct, and this moisture collects lint. Continued buildup of lint restricts the airflow within the duct, preventing your clothes from becoming dry. However, you may have additional duct problems. Since your dryer was venting poorly when the home was brand new, there may be additional restriction to the free flow of dryer exhaust.

Dryer vent buckets, commonly sold in hardware stores, do not comply with building code requirements because exterior venting of the exhaust is mandatory. But one of these devices may provide an interim solution until you can have the problem permanently solved. In the mean time, the builder may still be liable for this construction defect, depending upon the contractor liability laws in your state. The fact that the building inspector approved this installation at the time of construction does not get the builder off the hook. When building inspectors miss conditions that violate construction codes, this oversight does not render those conditions legal.

Your next step is to contact the builder regarding the faulty installation. Request that the condition be reviewed and corrected. If you encounter an unwillingness to address the problem, consult the state agency that licenses contractors and see if they can add some persuasion. It’s fair and reasonable to expect that the problem be corrected.

Dear Barry,

Our bathroom skylight recently became dislodged and began sliding down the roof slope. It appears the skylight was not fastened to the roof but was merely held in place with tar and the weight of surrounding shingles. Some guidelines for making this repair would be appreciated. Should the shingles be removed before reinstalling the skylight, and what kind of fasteners do you recommend? – Dan

Dear Dan,

Repair prescriptions of this kind cannot be made without inspecting the situation in question. Your best bet is to have the skylight reinstalled by a qualified professional: a licensed roofing contractor or a general building contractor. This will ensure a more reliable repair and decrease the likelihood of future leakage.

To write to Barry Stone, please visit him on the Web at www.housedetective.com.

***

Send a Letter to the Editor for publication.
Send a comment or news tip to our newsroom.
Please include the headline of the story.

Show Comments Hide Comments
Sign up for Inman’s Morning Headlines
What you need to know to start your day with all the latest industry developments
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive marketing emails from Inman.
Success!
Thank you for subscribing to Morning Headlines.
Back to top
Only 3 days left to register for Inman Connect Las Vegas before prices go up! Don't miss the premier event for real estate pros.Register Now ×
Limited Time Offer: Get 1 year of Inman Select for $199SUBSCRIBE×
Log in
If you created your account with Google or Facebook
Don't have an account?
Forgot your password?
No Problem

Simply enter the email address you used to create your account and click "Reset Password". You will receive additional instructions via email.

Forgot your username? If so please contact customer support at (510) 658-9252

Password Reset Confirmation

Password Reset Instructions have been sent to

Subscribe to The Weekender
Get the week's leading headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Top headlines from around the real estate industry. Breaking news as it happens.
15 stories covering tech, special reports, video and opinion.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
It looks like you’re already a Select Member!
To subscribe to exclusive newsletters, visit your email preferences in the account settings.
Up-to-the-minute news and interviews in your inbox, ticket discounts for Inman events and more
1-Step CheckoutPay with a credit card
By continuing, you agree to Inman’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

You will be charged . Your subscription will automatically renew for on . For more details on our payment terms and how to cancel, click here.

Interested in a group subscription?
Finish setting up your subscription
×