Landlord installed a dangerous makeshift furnace exhaust vent
Landlords frequently use improper materials like dryer vent hoses, blocked chimneys, or makeshift plywood window blocks for gas furnace exhaust. This leaves tenants terrified of carbon monoxide leaks and fire hazards near their bedrooms, with management companies and handymen failing to fix the issues correctly.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Contacting the management company to send a maintenance technician
- 2Considering DIY repair by purchasing tools and supplies from a hardware store
- 3Calling the gas company to red tag the furnace
- 4Contacting the local building inspector or housing department
- 5Shutting off the furnace immediately
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“While doing some roof work the handyman noticed the chimneys were concreted shut. I was concerned and brought it up to the landlord since the 1978 era natural gas furnace is vented to the chimney.”source ↗
“He rerouted the exhaust out through a piece of plywood he blocked a basement window. The outdoor portion of the vent is a metal vent boot with the plastic pest screen and back draft damper. All of this screams fire and CO leak to me.”source ↗
“Shortly after move-in I discovered the furnace exhaust vent was actually a dryer vent hose with burnt tape around it.”source ↗
“After having a "certified maintenance technician" from the fairly large management company come repair the furnace "properly", I am still suspicious that the job isn't done correctly.”source ↗
“Since the heater is upstairs next to every bedroom I am concerned about the connection of the new vent into the existing and any carbon monoxide issues.”source ↗