What's Wrong with this Picture: Chimney Vent
ANSWER: Dryer Vent Needs to be Relocated
A couple things come to mind with this picture. Apart from not complying to code…some of the reasons not to do this would be: the air from the dryer vent is very moist. So whatever it is venting into would become moist, leading to mold buildup and maybe even surface deterioration. Also, dryers eject lint which is ejected out of the vent, and will also collect in the vent, especially those flex pipes. Lint is highly flammable. So, if you are venting a dryer directly into a chimney, well, you’re asking for trouble!
Some More Basics on Dryer Vents
The lint trap on the dryer should be cleaned after every load. Dryer vent ducts need to be cleaned regularly, the flex pipe type more often than smooth metal duct type. (Incidentally, this would be one of the first things to do when moving into a home in case it's been a while since the previous homeowner did so). Dryer vent duct runs should be short, with minimal bends. Longer runs may cause the dryer to be inefficient and so might require a booster device. Lastly, and the main thing to be addressed with the above picture, the vent outlet needs to go to the outside with an appropriate hood.
