Home Inspector Finds Countless Problems With $535K Newly Built Home, Including a Major Fire Hazard

Don’t believe everything you see on social media—but do let what you see encourage you to ask vital questions about your new home.

The rise of new construction in the nation is a welcomed trend for many who have struggled to find a home the past few years. Of course, every housing scenario has its pros and cons, and while buying a brand-new home might sound wonderful, it can have its drawbacks. 

This is why a home inspection is absolutely necessary even when buying a new construction. Just wait until you see what this Texas home inspector revealed to his clients after a look around. 

Home inspector finds major fire risk 

Texas has become a hot housing market in the past decade, and many moving there are enjoying the benefits of buying a new-construction home. 

As a home inspector in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Inspector Randle, as he’s known on TikTok, shares videos with his followers about what he uncovers doing his job. He looks for everything from plumbing issues to structural damage, but one of his latest videos showcased an important red flag everyone should know. 

While inspecting a home worth $535,000, Randle found a gas leak and warped walls. But when he ventured 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 pointed out in his video, showing metal mesh fencing along the front of the vent. “This should be removed.”

Dryer vent should not have a screen

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. 

According to the International Residential Code, exhaust ducts “shall terminate on the outside of the building” and “screens shall not be installed at the duct termination.”

The purpose of a dryer vent is to expel heat and moisture, while the most common issue with duct venting is the accumulation of lint. Put those elements together, and a screen or mesh would simultaneously trap lint and restrict airflow, which may lead to overheating and, in the worst-case scenario, a fire.

How to prevent animals from getting into the dryer exhaust vent

Reading through the comments section of Randle’s post, which has received 1.1 million views to date, many followers shared their concern about creepy critters crawling into their homes. 

From birds to squirrels and beyond, homeowners asked how they could prevent the outside elements from entering their home without a screen over the vent. 

Inspector Randle’s answer? “Backdraft damper helps.”

A backdraft damper acts as a swinging door between the dryer and the outside of your house. With the help of gravity and the force of air pushing through, the door swings open from the inside, letting out the hot air and odors to the outside via the vent hose.

However, the process does not work in reverse, meaning unwanted bugs and vermin will stay out of your home, as they should be.

How to clean your dryer vent

Proper maintenance of your dryer vent can greatly reduce the chances that your machine will cause a house fire. The key is to make sure it stays clean—and that goes for both the vent and the lint filter.

“Use a vent brush to clean the complete venting system, including where it vents to the outside wall—but be sure to unplug the dryer first,” recommended Wayne Archer, an appliance expert at Sears Home Services, to Realtor.com®.

Ideally, you should clean your dryer vent at least once a year.

On the other hand, the lint filter is the easily removable filter screen that catches lint before it gets to your vents. You should be cleaning this after every load you put in the dryer. If you don’t, it could become costly.

“A clogged dryer lint filter makes your clothes dry slowly and forces the appliance to work harder,” says Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance repair service.

“If the thermal fuse blows, you’ll need to schedule an appliance repair, but you can prevent this by cleaning the filter before every load,” he says.

Some more modern machines also have moisture sensors that monitor the dryness of your laundry and turn your machine off when clothes are dry. Over time, the sensors will get covered in film, particularly if you’re using dryer sheets.

A good indicator to clean both the moisture sensors and the lint dry is after a cycle, your clothes are still damp.

Tend to those elements first, before hiring a professional to come to take a look.