| Installing a Dryer Vent |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-707 |
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No outside vent for the dryer? You can install one yourself.
Q: We recently moved into a home and discovered that there's no vent for the dryer in the laundry room. Can you tell me how to install one? A: (James Young, DIY's Home Repair expert) A dryer that vents outside can be a useful addition to any home, and it's really not difficult to do this project yourself. Placement is the first thing you need to think about, and you also have to take into consideration the type of materials that compose the house, inside and out. In our example we'll be installing a vent in a home that has a brick exterior and a cinderblock interior, and we'll have to keep in mind that we need to do the installation without disturbing either. Tip: Be sure to check state and local codes to learn what length hose you can use and how many bends it can have -- codes vary according to location. Safety tip: Be sure to wear eye protection and work gloves for this project. - Place the vent in the middle of a cinderblock. On the inside of the house, find a reference point, such as the middle of a window, and then measure down from the windowsill to the bottom of the point at which you want to place the vent. Next, go outside and repeat this step (figure A).
- Use the vent sleeve to mark the area that you will be cutting away. Place it against the exterior wall and trace around it with a pen to mark the placement of the hole to be drilled (figure B).
With a hammer drill and a masonry bit, drill holes in the circle, then use a mason chisel to chisel away the remainder of the area within the circle. Inside the house, clean out the hole with a hammer and chisel. Fit the sleeve into the hole, louvered side out (figure C). Use an exterior acrylic latex caulk with silicone for sealing (figure D).
On the inside, fit the hose over the sleeve (figure E) and tighten the screw in the clamp to hold it in place.Fit the hose into the opening in the back of the dryer, being careful not to mash the hose as you work. Tighten the screw in the clamp on that end too (figure F).
Dryer maintenance tips: - Clean the lint trap every time you do laundry--it will help your dryer run more efficiently.
- Check the hose periodically inside and outside the house to make sure there's no lint buildup: lint is flammable.
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