Overview
A clothes dryer heats and tumbles wet clothes to dry the fabric after a wash. This process creates heat and water vapor. If these two elements were to remain in the cylinder the drying process could not happen. So, clothes dryers are equipped with a vent. The actual vent on the dryer is merely a metal collar surrounding the vent hole, to which you attach the dryer vent hose. The hose then runs straight through a wall or into the attic before it runs outside. Never end the vent in your attic as this poses a fire hazard.
Things You’ll Need
Drop cloth
Razor knife
Drill with a 1/4 inch bit
4 inch hole saw
Flex vent for a clothes dryer
2 pipe clamps
Screwdriver
Plastic, louvered dryer vent
Silicone
Expanding foam
Work gloves
Safety glasses
Step 1
Lay a drop cloth down over your dryer. Cut a 4 inch hole above your dryer with a razor knife. Be careful not to cut through any electrical wires.
Step 2
Drill a 1/4 inch hole in the outer wall of the house. Widen the hole with a 4 inch hole saw.
Step 3
Connect a flex vent to the back of your dryer. Secure the connection with a pipe clamp. Tighten the clamp with a screw driver. Stretch the vent up through the hole in the ceiling. Push the flex vent through the hole in the outer wall.
Step 4
Go outside and connect the flex vent to your plastic dryer vent with a pipe clamp. Coat the back of the vent with a thick layer of silicone. Push the vent into the wall with the outlet openings pointing down.
Step 5
Fill the gaps in the outside wall and the inside ceiling with expansion foam. Let the foam and silicone cure completely before using your dryer.
Tips
If the outer wall of your house is too far to run your flex hose you should vent through the roof. A vent roof is nailed in place and sealed with silicone.
Warnings
Work gloves and safety glasses are required when using hand tools.
Never terminate your vent inside of your attic. The heat pumped through the vent hose poses a fire hazard. The water vapor carried by the vent will settle in the drywall, insulation and wood in your attic promoting the growth of mold. This mold poses an inhalation hazard to the home’s occupants.
Reference
Expert Advice on Home Improvement; Venting Dryers in the Attic