Washer/dryer venting into room, what's wrong

Question

I just moved in to a new apt (renting), it's only a year old and all the appliances are brand new as of Dec. 2007. I just put some towels in the wash (on hot water) and noticed that my laundry room (well, closet) is full of steam - it's toward the end of the wash cycle. The washer is a washer/dryer stack.

I felt around the edges of the washer while it was on and I could feel the steam coming out the sides and top of the washer. I checked the ducting behind it and saw that there was excess ducting that rested on the ground spiraling around itself before coming up to the ceiling to be vented. I shortened the duct by scrunching it back together - not damaging it at all. So now the ducting is a direct shot to the ceiling without any excess. I just did another wash and it's STILL steaming in the room.

Any help? What should I try next?

Answer 1

The duct is for the dryer only. It sounds like either an obstruction of the line and the warm, moist air is finding another path out. If you have already shortened your venting, you would have seen any big clumps of lint in the hose I would guess. If you didn't check, I would do that first. The next thing to check is to make sure that the hose is tightly clamped onto the dryer exhaust. If none of these address your problem, it is possible that there was sufficient back pressure to cause lint to form into the pipe in the dryer. You will have to get behind there and look with a flashlight inside the back of the exhaust duct (dryer) and vacuum it out. It also could be directly after the lint filter so have a look down there as well.

Answer 2

Given that the duct was coiled  up, it's likely to be blocked and needs to be cleaned out. Also check the filter, it could be plugged up as well.

Answer 3

first It's the hot water in the washer making the steam, it sounds  too hot, use warm cycle,  is it draining into a pipe or a sink? either way your water is too hot if it's steaming that much, lower the temperature

Answer 4

Since you are renting the apt, It would be the responsibility of your landlord to fix any problems. If he refuses I would take him to small claims court to have it fix it.