Dryer Vents MUST Be Vented to the Outside. It is essential to vent a clothes dryer outside.  If you do not vent the dryer outside, you are subjecting your family to all kinds of fibers and lint that accumulate into the air, causing respiratory and breathing problems.  Also, the hot air in the dryer could contain gasses, like carbon monoxide, which are extremely dangerous.

How to Install a Dryer Vent

Materials and Tools: 

• Power drill
• Hole saw
• Tape measure
• 4 inch rigid sheet metal pipe
• Dryer vent
• Caulking gun and silicon caulking
• Foil tape
• Screw driver and wood screws
• Ladder

Preparation Steps on How to Install a Dryer Vent:

1. Decide where the dryer vent will be placed.  If the dryer is in the basement, drill through the wooden sill plate that sits on your foundation.
2. If your dryer is on the main or second floor, decide where you can cut a hole through the wall.  
3. Drill a small pilot hole and insert a wire coat hanger bent at 90 degrees.  Spin it around.  
4. If the hanger does not hit anything inside the wall, this is a good area to put install a dryer vent.  If something hits in the wall, you will need to find another location.
5. Check the location from the outside, also.  Measure the location (on the inside) from the corner of the foundation or from a window.  Go outside and use the same measurements to verify your location.  Check to make sure the vent will not run into any existing shrubbery or gate posts.

Steps on How to Install a Dryer Vent:

1. Drill a small pilot hole from the inside.  
2. Go outside and cut the hole for the dryer vent pipe with a 4-inch hole saw.  It is possible to use a smaller hole saw and a saber saw to cut the hole.  Be sure to mark the location of the vent pipe with the pilot hole in the center.
3. Using rust resistant wood screws to install the vent hood or shroud.  Caulk around the pipe and shroud.  The vent hood should have a piece of pipe that is 12” long attached to it.
4. From the inside, attach a 90 degree elbow to the protruding end of the vent pipe.  Run sections of the vent pipe back to your dryer.  From the dryer, attach an elbow where the exhaust comes out of the dryer and connect the vent pipe to the elbow.
5. Slide the dryer back into position and make sure it is level.

Tips to Consider BEFORE Installing a Dryer Vent

• When attaching the solid vent pipes to the elbows, use large hose clamps.  
• To seal the joints between the pipe sections, use foil tape.  
• Never use metal screws to join sections together.  They will cut into the pipe and catch hold of lint, which is a fire hazard as lint builds up.
• Do not use flexible plastic hoses.  They are not strong enough to support their own weight and will sag.  Lint will collect in the low spots, also causing a fire hazard.

How to Clean a Dryer Vent

1. Unplug dryer.
2. Use a screwdriver or nut driver to loosen the 4” clamp on back of dryer.
3. Slide vent off the dryer.
4. Pull out any lint from hole on back of dryer.  Use a vacuum for remaining lint.
5. Slide the clamp back over vent. Reattach vent and tighten the clamp.
6. Remove vent on outside of house.  Use your vacuum cleaner tubing to vacuum out as far as you can.
7. Run dryer on air fluff for ten minutes.  

Be sure to clean dryer vents continuously to prevent fires.  Whether you have to replace a dryer vent or install a dryer vent, the steps above will get you through the process.

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