Whether or not an inspector is required to test the dryer depends of which Standards of Practice they are following. Florida licensed home inspectors must comply with state statute 61-30.807, which requires that inspectors test appliances. Here’s what it says:

“The inspector shall inspect household appliances to determine whether the appliances are significantly deficient using normal operating controls. Inspectors will not operate systems or appliances if they have been excluded in the scope of services disclosure or if there is a risk to the property being inspected. Inspectors will first review the system to be operated and use professional judgment as to whether it is safe to operate using normal operating controls and report accordingly.”

    Inspection of “mechanical ventilation systems,” which would include the dryer vent, is required too. The Florida Standards of Practice also has several exclusions. The inspector is not required to:

• Activate any system or appliance that is shut down, disconnected, or otherwise rendered inoperable.
• Operate any system, appliance or feature that requires the use of special codes, key, combinations, or device or where user manual reference is required. 
• Operate any system, component, or appliance where in the opinion of the inspector, damage may occur.
•  Move any appliance.
•  Confirm operation of every control or feature of a system or appliance.

    The two major national home inspector associations each have a different view of appliance testing. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) states that “the home inspector is not required to inspect or move any household appliances,”  It does require inspection of “mechanical exhaust systems in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry area,” which would include dryer venting. 

    While the Standards of Practice of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) limits appliance inspection to “installed ovens, ranges, surface cooking appliances, microwave ovens, dishwashing machines, and food waste grinders by using normal operating controls to activate the primary function,” but not dryers. It does, however, require inspection of “clothes dryer exhaust systems."

    Whether or not they are required to by the Standards of Practice they adhere to, most home inspectors check the operation of the dryer in a single cycle, and check the venting system. A safe, unobstructed dryer vent is especially important because of the numerous house fires started by a lint accumulation in the vent catching fire.

    Also, see our blog posts What is the maximum length for a clothes dryer vent? and Why does venting a clothes dryer into a garage, attic, or crawl space cause problems? and What are the code requirements for an outdoor dryer vent cover? and Why is there a water hose connected to the back of the clothes dryer? and Why is it bad to have a clothes dryer vent near an air conditioning condenser (outdoor unit)? and Can a washer or dryer be located in front of an electric panel?

    Click on any of the links below to read other articles about what is required to be included, or not, in a home inspection:

AFCI •• Air conditioner •• Ants •• Appliance recalls •• Appliance testing •• Attic •• Awnings •• Barns and ag blgs. •• Bathroom exhaust fan •• Bonding •• Carpet •• Ceiling fans •• Central vacuum •• Chimneys •• Chinese drywall •• Clothes dryer •• Dryer exhaust •• CO alarms •• Code violations •• Condemn a house •• Crawl space •• Detached carport •• Detached garage •• Dishwasher •• Docks •• Doors •• Electrical •• Electrical panel •• Electromagnetic radiation •• Fences •• Fireplaces  Furnace •• Garage door opener •• Garbage disposal •• Generator •• GFCIs •• Gutters •• Ice maker •• Inspect in the rain •• Insulation •• Insurance •• Interior Finishes •• Grading & drainage •• Lead paint •• Level of thoroughness •• Lift carpet •• Low voltage wiring •• Microwave •• Mold •• Move things •• Help negotiate •• Not allowed •• Outbuildings •• Paint •• Permits •• Pilot lights •• Plumbing •• Plumbing under slab •• Pools •• Questions won't answer •• Radon •• Range/cooktop •• Receptacle outlet •• Refrigerator •• Reinspection •• Remove panel cover •• Repairs •• Repair estimates •• Retaining walls •• Roaches •• Rodents •• Roof •• Screens •• Seawalls •• Septic loading dye test •• Septic tank •• Sewer lines •• Shower pan leak test •• Shutters •• Sinkholes •• Smoke alarms •• Solar panels •• Specify repairs •• Sprinklers •• Termites •• Toilets •• Trees •• Troubleshooting •• Wall air conditioners •• Walk roof •• Washing machine •• Water heater •• Water pressure •• Water shut-offs •• Main water shut-off •• Water softener •• Water treatment systems •• Well •• Windows •• Window air conditioners •• Window blinds •• Wiring 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Here’s links to a collection of some of our other blog posts about APPLIANCES: 

• What are the building code requirements for installing an appliance (furnace, air handler, water heater) in the attic?

• Which house appliances need a dedicated electrical circuit? 

• Is a washing machine drain hose required to be secured at the standpipe?

• When was GFCI-protection for kitchen dishwasher receptacle outlet first required? 

• Does a refrigerator water supply line require a shutoff valve behind it? 

• My spa tub stopped working. What's wrong?

• Is a hot water faucet required at a washing machine?

• Can I remove a 240-volt range receptacle and hard-wire the range? 

• Can a dishwasher be wired to a kitchen counter small appliance receptacle circuit? 

• Do home inspectors test the appliances?

• What are the most common defects with over-the-range microwaves?

• Are a range and refrigerator required kitchen appliances for a house to pass FHA inspection?  

• Why are my ceiling fan blades drooping? 

    Visit our APPLIANCES and "DOES A HOME INSPECTOR…?” pages for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.