How To Install A Dryer Vent

It is not difficult to install a dryer vent, but if you've never done it before, it might be a bit daunting at first. However once you've learned how to do it properly, you'll be glad as it will save you money in the long run.

One of the major challenges that people face when they try to install their vent brush is basically how to cut teh vent hole thorugh the side of the house. Once that step is done, the rest is really easy. Read the tips below to learn more about how to do it properly.

First you need to locate the vent hole. This mainly depends on where your dryer is located. For example if you have the dryer in the laundry room, you might not even have an option for proper venting. What you can do is check the outside of your house for a place that is close to where the dryer is placed inside. It should be at least 12 inches off the ground to work properly.

Next you need to test the location of the vent hole. What I mean is that after you have the place where the vent will go outside, check the inside wall for various outlets or any things that might obstruct placing the vent through that spot. The wall should be clear. To check that drill a small hole in the wall and use a wire and while it is bent at 90 degrees, stick the wire through that drilled hole. Rotate the wire and if you find that it rotates easily, then it means the wall is clear.

You might need to cut the hole through wood. You can use a saw to cut it from the outside. Just make sure to keep the saw perpendicular to the wall at all times and take it slow, don't let the blade overheat as it will break. When this is done, do the same from the inside but you need to use a keyhole saw for the inside area.

What about if you have a block of cement or brick and you need to cut through it? This is also easily done but you need some masonry drill bit in order to drill a few holes around the area that is marked where the vent hole will be. Then take a chisel and a hammer and start cutting through the wall between the holes that have been drilled. You can then smooth the hole edges with the chise. Again once this step is done, use a keyhole saw to do the same from the inside.

When the hole is prepared, you need to install the vent and the housing that it came with. First take the short pipe that also came with the vent through the holes and use some galvanized hardware that is good for wall material to fix it to the exterior area. Then you need to install a 90 degree elbow pipe on the vent pipe piece and also antoher one to the exhaust area of the dryer. This might need a bit of matching and turning and rotating until you get a straight line between your dryer and the exhaust vent.

Now you need to measure the length between the elbow segments and the straight pipe pieces and connect them together and to each of the elbow joints.

The last step is sealing the joints in the pope using metal tape. You can find metal tape at most DIY hardware stores.  Also you can addionally secure the pope to the wall by using metal pipe straps and plastic.

While there is a bit of work when you need to install a dryer vent, it is not really difficult to do it. Of course, a bit of DIY knowledge helps but it shouldn't be difficult at all.

Here is a Youtube video that might be of additional help when you want to install your dryer vent. It shows you what not to do when installing it.

To buy at Amazon one the various  dryer vent hose types, click the link.