I'm open to other ideas as well! That's just what Google mentioned the most. We've got a call out to a repair guy but I'm obviously clueless about this stuff
If it's actually a hose (i.e. it's flexible duct) then yeah, it's crappy. Best to replace it with rigid aluminum duct with minimal turns and elbows. If that's what you have, that's the best thing, it's thin aluminum, but there is no reason for it to be any heavier, and is explicitly designed for this application. The important thing with either type is to minimize the length and, especially, the number of elbows or curves it has to make.
BTW, the rigid ducts can be tricky to hook up as there is not much play in them. They make magnetic clamping systems apparently, that make this a lot easier, but I've only heard about them, never tried them.
pretty unlikely that a dirty vent tube caused the spark
I'm open to other ideas as well! That's just what Google mentioned the most. We've got a call out to a repair guy but I'm obviously clueless about this stuff
If it's actually a hose (i.e. it's flexible duct) then yeah, it's crappy. Best to replace it with rigid aluminum duct with minimal turns and elbows. If that's what you have, that's the best thing, it's thin aluminum, but there is no reason for it to be any heavier, and is explicitly designed for this application. The important thing with either type is to minimize the length and, especially, the number of elbows or curves it has to make. BTW, the rigid ducts can be tricky to hook up as there is not much play in them. They make magnetic clamping systems apparently, that make this a lot easier, but I've only heard about them, never tried them.
Thank you, this is super helpful. I'll try and find something shorter and more rigid.