Can a Dryer Be Vented Through an Enclosed Deck?

Dryer Vent Exhaust

• Dryer vent exhaust is mostly of hot air and the moisture. Dryer filters capture most of the other particles that the air would carry. By the time it exits the vents, it is mostly clean and largely harmless, as far a health is concerned. However, the moisture that the exhaust carries can still cause problems.

Enclosed Deck Problems

• Enclosed decks are often sheltered with windows and walls providing some of the benefits of indoor rooms, such as heat control. If you made your enclosed deck for these purposes, it has little access to true outdoor air. As a result, the moisture in the exhaust is trapped in the enclosed deck. This leads to condensation, which can cause mildew and mold problems.

Deck Venting

• Dryer vent safety largely depends on how enclosed your deck is. Fully enclosed decks can cause a mold problem. Decks that are enclosed but have constant and significant venting to the outdoors are not as bad, but you would still be better off venting elsewhere. Decks that are simply overhung with rooftops and partially enclosed but still open on one side to outdoor air can handle dryer exhaust.

Alternatives

• When possible, avoid the enclosed deck and vent underneath it reaching the outdoor air. You may vent over the enclosed deck space, but avoid venting through the roof itself. The less dryer venting you have to use the better. Find a spot that expels the exhaust directly into outdoor air for the system to work the best.