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Installing A Clothes Dryer Vent - Part 2

Part 1

  1. Use metal ducting rather than plastic.
  2. Any vent piping which is buried in walls or ceiling cavities should be metal.
  3. Seal the duct pipe joints with HVAC grade metalized silver duct tape - do not use the home handyman's general purpose grey "duct" tape.
HVAC grade duct tape
Figure 7 - HVAC grade duct tape
  1. When joining duct pipe sections, ensure that the end farthest from the dryer goes inside the next portion of pipe, see Figures 8 and 9. This will help to prevent lint buildup at pipe joints and allows the air to move through the piping as freely as possible.
incorrect method of joining dryer vent pipe
Figure 8 - Incorrect method of joining dryer vent pipes.
correct method of joining dryer vent pipe
Figure 9 - Correct method of joining dryer vent pipes.
4″, worm drive, dryer vent pipe clamp
Figure 10 - 4″, worm drive, dryer vent pipe clamp
Self tapping screws inserted through dryer vent pipe
Figure 11 - Self tapping screws inserted through dryer vent pipe
  1. One very common problem occurs is that the first piece of dryer vent pipe or elbow that is connected to the dryer comes apart when the dryer is pushed back into position against the wall.
  2. It is critical that the joint between the dryer and the first piece of vent piping is solidly attached. There are numerous alternatives that can be used to help to ensure that the pipe stays attached to the dryer.

  • Use a worm drive, dryer vent pipe clamp, as shown in Figure 10.
  • Use HVAC grade metalized silver duct tape, as shown in Figure 7.
  • Insert two or three #6 self tapping screws through the dryer vent pipe and into the dryer vent pipe flange on the clothes dryer, see Figure 11. Apply the metalized silver duct tape over the screws to make the joint air tight.

    Self tapping screws can also be used at any and all other dryer pipe vent joints to ensure that the connections do not come apart due to vibration or fatigue.

  1. Ensure that the duct running directly out of the back of the dryer is not crushed when the dryer is moved back into its permanent position. This is also not an uncommon problem as most homeowners would like to have the dryer as close to the back wall as possible.
  2. close clearance dryer vent (also called tight fit or space saver), see Figures 12 and 13. These pre-formed dryer vent pipes allow the clothes dryer to sit closer to the back wall.

Space saver, close clearance dryer vent
Figure 12 - Space saver dryer vent
tight fit dryer vent pipe
Figure 13 - Close clearance dryer vent
Secondary clothes dryer lint trap
Figure 14 - Secondary clothes dryer lint trap
  1. When installing your clothes dryer vent system you should also consider lint. Excessive lint will clog up the vent system and reduce the efficiency of the clothes dryer. Enough lint and you can damage the dryer and event worse cause a fire.
  2. If you have excessive lint consider the installation of a secondary lint trap, as shown in Figure 14. These devices mount in the dryer vent line. They are easy to install and do not require any power. They should however, be mounted in a convenient position as the internal link screens need to be cleaned regularly.

  3. The last item that must be considered is the dryer vent hood. There are numerous style and mounting configurations available, with the most common being a wall mount vent hoods, as shown in Figure 15. Under eave dryer vent hoods, as shown in Figure 16, make venting the clothes dryer through the attic relatively easy and if necessary dryer vent pipes can be taken through the roof using a roof vent, as shown in Figure 17.
  4. It is important to consider the ingress of small creatures such as rodents when installing the vent hoods. Remember that screens of any size inhibit the free flow of exhaust air and as well, the smaller the screen mesh the more often the vent hood should be cleaned.

Thru-wall dryer vent hood with rodent screen
Figure 15 - Thru-wall dryer vent hood with rodent screen
Under eave dryer vent hood
Figure 16 - Eave Dryer Vent Hood
Roof mount dryer vent hood
Figure 17 - Roof mount dryer vent hood

Some companies are manufacturing indoor dryer vents. Many dryer manufacturers will void the clothes dryer's warranty if the dryer is not vented to the outside.