The Danger of DIY Indoor Dryer Vent Kits

Hardware stores sell "indoor dryer vent kits" consisting of a plastic bucket and water to catch lint. For homeowners struggling with a bad vent run, it seems like an easy fix. In reality, it is a massive hazard.

The Mold Factory

Dryers are designed to exhaust roughly a gallon of moisture per load of laundry. When you use an indoor kit, you are pumping all that hot, humid air directly into your home. These buckets do not catch moisture, only some of the lint. Within weeks, the constant humidity can cause severe black mold to grow on walls, ceilings, and inside your HVAC ducts.

A Lethal Mistake for Gas Dryers

If you have a gas dryer, using an indoor vent kit is not just a bad idea - it is potentially lethal. Gas dryers produce carbon monoxide during the combustion process. An indoor trap vents this odorless, deadly gas straight into your living space. Building codes strictly prohibit venting gas appliances indoors under any circumstances.

Micro-Dust Pollution

Even with water in the bucket, these kits fail to catch the finest micro-particles of lint and dust. Every time the dryer runs, these particles become airborne, heavily polluting your indoor air quality and aggravating allergies and asthma.