GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Dryer Maintenance came the other day and said I "had" to change the plastic part on the left side in the pic=looks like a teflon tape slinky) because it's a "fire hazard". I said I didn't put that on...it came with the house/dryer. He said yeah, it's original equipment, but I need to change it. Offered to do it for a fee, but I had no cash and I told him I'd change it myself when I got my paychecks (still waiting!!) I forgot what he called it. But he said I have to get an aluminum one.I don't want to take it off and drag it in the car and into the store because it's got cat hair all over and in it and I'll suffer. (I just cleaned around it today, so I know this for a fact-I'll need a Hazmat mask when I change it LOL or will sneeze, wheeze and scratch even hours later.Any ideas what I have to ask for? Thanks!

I think it's called a "dryer vent duct." The flexible vinyl ones aren't UL approved and are considered a safety hazard since lint can build up in them and they can catch on fire and start the house burning. So they aren't allowed by the codes in many areas. The aluminum ones can also be flexible (which is easiest to install), but best is to use the more rigid metal type with a smooth inside surface so lint isn't as likely to be trapped.

Thanks!!! I'll go down there and ask for "dryer vent duct" and see which ones they have in stock. If the plastic ones aren't UL listed, how the heck did they get away with building two phases of condos with them installed?!

They may be acceptable under your local building code.

your better off with the solid duct work that you see that flexable drier vent hooked up to.Anything else will still be a fire hazzard because it can capture the lint and if the lint got hot enough it would catch fire.The solid duct work is nice and smooth on the inside to limit the amount of lint build up.

Bribes, probably.

We were told that the metal is also less likely to be crushed and cause a lint built up that can catch fire. You can buy ones that look just like what you have, they're just metal.

OK, finally got around to picking it up today. I went to home megastore to check out carpet prices until salesdude started flirting with me. Ramenboy...& Herb: uso ja nai...(rokujussai gurai/hachijyuu pondo gurai) So off to the plumbing department to pick up my new Made in the USA disposal and Fire Resistant, Made in the USA aluminum dryer duct, which I wasted no time installing. My boy wants to know if there's really a badger in the box.