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We have a second stackable electric dyer on the first floor that is vented via a Y vent connection from our primary gas dryer in the basement. The electric dryer actually gets warm when the gas dryer runs. Is there any danger of carbon monoxide escaping into the house thru the electric dryer vent?

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  • the question can never be answered no ... the question is similar to could I get sick tomorrow?
    – jsotola
    Jun 24, 2021 at 23:01
  • It is possible. You have a second outlet(into the house) if vent ever gets blocked. Even without blockage can be letting gas in. Get a CO alarm.
    – crip659
    Jun 24, 2021 at 23:01
  • We have one near by
    – Mary Halloran
    Jun 24, 2021 at 23:33
  • To be safe would remove the Y joint and use a separate vent for the electric dryer. Electric dryers only put out very moist warm air.
    – crip659
    Jun 24, 2021 at 23:43
  • Is it normal to have a dryer vent that's this long? Seems like a bad idea to me, separate from the gas... longer dryer vent = hard to clean = lint fire...
    – Joe
    Jun 25, 2021 at 8:36

2 Answers 2

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Yeah, definitely

Any backpressure or restriction in the dryer vent duct beyond the wye piece will cause backdrafting into the house via the second dryer vent in your situation. Given that a gas dryer is blowing combustion exhaust out its vent, this is a bad situation, especially considering that lint-induced dryer duct restrictions are inevitable. In order to solve this, you'll need to give the electric dryer its own vent or replace it with a condensing dryer, preferably a heat pump model. (IMC 504.10 and 504.11 require a continuous or interlocked exhaust booster fan of the appropriate type, but are not intended to be used in a SFR context where the required maintenance cannot be guaranteed.)

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If your gas dryer is making CO , you have bigger problems than a "Y" connection. How did you measure CO? Are you getting bad headaches when the gas dryer is running ? If you have any objective fact indicating CO is being produced , do not use the dryer until it is corrected.

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  • 2
    OP did not indicate any actual presence of CO. The statement is " Is there any danger..." Gas dryer venting is designed to handle CO just in case and the concern is if there is any CO, will the combined venting allow it to get into the house.
    – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
    Jun 25, 2021 at 14:45

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