"Dryer vent was dumping straight into the attic—had no idea until we noticed condensation spots."
Haha, classic builder shortcut right there. Did you also notice any mold starting up? I've seen cases where folks didn't catch it early enough and ended up with a mini rainforest in their attic...not exactly the indoor garden anyone wants. Makes me wonder how common this oversight really is—do inspectors just gloss over this stuff or what?
Honestly, I doubt inspectors are intentionally glossing over it—more likely they're just checking boxes and moving on. I've had a few inspections done myself, and sometimes it feels like they're more concerned with the obvious stuff (like electrical panels and plumbing leaks) rather than ventilation details. But ventilation is actually pretty critical, especially in newer homes that are sealed up tighter than ever.
I had a similar issue a few years back, though mine wasn't the dryer vent—it was the bathroom exhaust fan venting straight into the attic insulation. Didn't notice until winter hit and we started seeing weird moisture stains on the ceiling. Sure enough, when I climbed up there, the insulation was damp and mold was already starting to form. Not exactly what you want to find after just two years in a new build.
My advice would be to check your attic thoroughly yourself every couple of months for at least the first year or two after moving in. Builders often subcontract out HVAC and venting work, and some of those subs cut corners because they know most homeowners won't check behind them. If you catch it early enough, it's usually an easy fix—just extend the ductwork properly through the roof or sidewall with an appropriate vent cap. But if you wait too long, you're looking at mold remediation costs and possibly structural damage.
Also, consider installing humidity sensors or even a remote hygrometer up there if you're worried about moisture buildup. They're cheap insurance against bigger problems down the line. It's frustrating that we have to double-check professionals' work like this, but unfortunately that's just part of being a homeowner these days...
"Builders often subcontract out HVAC and venting work, and some of those subs cut corners because they know most homeowners won't check behind them."
Yeah, good point. As an inspector myself, I'll admit ventilation details sometimes slip under the radar—especially when everything "looks" fine at a quick glance. Definitely worth homeowners taking a peek every now and then...
Fair enough, but honestly, how many homeowners even know what they're looking at? I mean, I've peeked into my attic a few times and still can't tell if the venting's done right or just looks neat...
"I've peeked into my attic a few times and still can't tell if the venting's done right or just looks neat..."
Yeah, exactly my experience. When we moved into our new build a few years back, I thought everything looked fine—clean lines, tidy insulation, vents in place. Then summer hit, and the upstairs turned into an oven. Turns out the builder skimped on proper airflow channels. Looks can definitely be deceiving, so now I'm skeptical whenever something "looks neat."
