Hidden dangers can turn even a newly-built home into a fire trap

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Published Date 1/31/2025

Just because the house you’re considering is new or nearly new doesn’t mean it is without flaws and issues. Houses are built by people, not machines, and people often overlook problems that are right before their eyes.

Realtor.com’s Dina Sartore-Bodo introduces us to Texas-based Inspector Randle, as he is known on TikTok, who says a home inspection isn’t just window dressing when a structure is new. He reveals some of the issues he has had to report to his clients after a look around, including everything from plumbing issues to structural damage. But one of his latest videos showcased an important red flag everyone should know, according to Sartore-Bodo.

While inspecting a half-million dollar (new) home, Randle found a gas leak and warped walls. And after venturing onto the roof to look for the dryer exhaust vent, he found a potentially disastrous fire hazard.

“You should not have a screen in place,” he points out in his video, as he shows viewers metal mesh fencing along the front of the vent. “This should be removed.” He goes on to say that if you notice that your dryer exhaust duct has a metal or mesh screen on it, you should have a professional come and remove it right away, as they are not code-compliant. While the purpose of a dryer vent is to expel heat and moisture, the most common issue with duct venting is the accumulation of lint. A screen or mesh would simultaneously trap lint and restrict airflow, which may lead to overheating and, in the worst-case scenario, a fire.

Many of Randle’s followers, however, respond by sharing their concern for creepy critters crawling into their homes — from birds to squirrels and beyond. They ask how they could prevent the outside elements from entering their home without a screen over the vent. The solution? A backdraft damper, which acts as a swinging door between the dryer and the outside of your house. Gravity and force of air causes the door to swing open from the inside, letting out the hot air and odors to the outside via the vent hose. But like all those insect trap commercials, critters can get in but they can’t get out or inside your home. It’s damper doom, so to speak.

Of course, regular cleaning of your dryer vent (at least once a year) is a must, along with removing lint from your dryer screen with each load. Let it build up, and the results can be costly. A clogged dryer lint filter makes your clothes dry slowly and forces the appliance to work harder, and if the thermal fuse blows, you’ll need to schedule an appliance repair.

Realtor, TBWS

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