Leaking From the Vent on an Evaporator Dryer

Condensation

• The cause behind these dryer vent leaks is condensation. Evaporator dryers earn their name for a reason: moisture evaporates, and as the moisture cools the water vapor finds surfaces to collect on. The surfaces the water finds are inside the vent if the air is not cycled quickly enough. This leads to thick condensation that eventually pools and starts leaking out of the vent. There are several common causes for these leaks.

Poor Vent Installation

• Poor vent installation refers to the way that your hose or vent duct work was originally installed. If your venting is flexible, it might have folded in on itself in a tight space and started to constrict air flow until condensation formed. If you have to carry the vent out too long before it exits the house, the air may have to travel too far, leading to cool down and condensation before it leaves the building.

Clogs

• Clogs occur when dirt and debris pile up inside the vent. When the air cannot make it from your dryer to the outside air because of this clog, the moisture starts to collect and eventually seep out toward the vent exit. Of course, you should also check your filter to see if it needs to be cleaned out, since it can help clogs form as well. Remove any blockages as soon as possible to avoid mold problems.

Air Leaks

• A condensation leak should not be confused with an air leak. Condensation leaks are caused by lack of air flow, while air leaks are caused by improper vent installation and too much air flow. This leads to dryer exhaust entering areas in the house it shouldn't, and allows dust inside the vent system. However, because the moisture can escape more easily, air leaks actually lower the likelihood of water leaks.