Gas Dryers and Carbon Monoxide: Why the Vent Matters
A gas dryer burns gas to make heat, and its exhaust, including carbon monoxide, leaves through the dryer vent. If the vent is clogged, crushed or disconnected, that exhaust can stay in the home. Keep the vent clean and connected, never use an indoor vent kit with a gas dryer, and install a carbon monoxide alarm near the laundry area.
How a gas dryer vents
Electric and gas dryers both push lint and moist air out through the vent. A gas dryer also sends out the products of burning gas, which include carbon monoxide (CO), a gas you can't see or smell. When the vent works, all of it goes outside. When the vent is blocked, crushed or has come apart, some of it can end up in the laundry room and the rest of the house. The Chimney Safety Institute of America lists this as one of the reasons to have dryer vents inspected every year.
What makes it worse
- A clogged duct or packed cap.
- A transition hose that's crushed, torn or has slipped off the dryer or the wall.
- A vent that ends inside the house, in the garage, the attic or a crawl space.
- Indoor "lint trap" vent kits. These are sold for some electric dryers only and must never be used on a gas dryer.
- Laundry closets with doors that shut tight.
Signs of carbon monoxide
CO exposure often feels like the flu: headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea and confusion, sometimes affecting several people or pets in the home at the same time and easing when you're away. A carbon monoxide alarm is the only reliable warning.
If your CO alarm sounds or you suspect CO, get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911. Don't go back in until responders say it's safe.
What to check on a gas dryer
- Install a carbon monoxide alarm near the laundry area and the bedrooms, and test it monthly.
- Pull the dryer out and make sure the hose is metal, short, uncrushed and clamped at both ends.
- Go outside with the dryer running and check for strong, warm airflow at the cap.
- Have the full vent cleaned at least once a year.
- When moving a gas dryer, be careful with the gas line, and have a qualified technician handle gas connections.
How we help
We clean the full vent, replace foil or vinyl hoses with listed metal, fix disconnected or crushed sections, and make sure the vent ends outside with a working cap. We don't service gas lines or the dryer's burner; if we see a gas appliance problem, we'll tell you to call a licensed gas technician. See dryer vent repair and transition hose replacement.
Want it done for you?
Same-day dryer vent service across Pinellas County. Standard cleaning from $99, airflow tested before and after, price before any extra work.
Clearwater team
1727 Coachman Plaza Dr
(727) 454-0061
Clearwater area
Largo team
13801 Walsingham Rd
(727) 662-5045
Largo area
Seminole team
7821 Seminole Blvd
(727) 855-3490
Seminole area
Questions
Can a gas dryer cause carbon monoxide poisoning?
It can if its exhaust can't get out. A clogged, crushed or disconnected vent can let combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, stay in the home.
Can I use an indoor dryer vent kit with a gas dryer?
No. Indoor vent kits are never safe on a gas dryer. Gas dryers must vent outside.
Do I need a CO alarm if I have a gas dryer?
Yes. Put one near the laundry area and near bedrooms, and test it monthly.
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