Smelly Dryer Backdraft - Where is it coming from?

[amast]

About once or twice a week my apartment gets a strong and constant backdraft from the dryer (while its off). The air is warm, very moist and smells awful. It stinks up the entire apartment.

The landlord says each apartment has its own dryer duct, and he has called several cleaning crews to try to inspect and clean the ducts. Everyone always claims the ducts are fine.

What can I do?

 

[slownsteady]

Have you checked the connection at the back of the dryer? The ducts may be fine but a loose fitting connection could be the culprit. Also make sure the dryer is free of any lint build-up. You may have to take off a panel to see inside the dryer housing. It may temporarily block the duct. Accumulation of lint around the heating unit could also be a fire hazard.

 

[user 4883]

A dead bird in the duct is quiet common. Get yourself a good leaf blower and blow out the duct. Make sure that there is no screen on the output end of the duct. If there is no screen then a dead bird is quiet possible.