How to Install a Dryer Vent

Why is having a dryer vent so important? Because it removes moist air from the house that may mix with hazardous gases such as carbon monoxide, a byproduct of combustion (only if you have a gas dryer). It’s important to follow instructions carefully and use the right materials. Vent pipe is normally made of four inch diameter rigid sheet metal. Flexible vinyl should not be used because it doesn’t support its weight and lint that collects in low spots presents a fire hazard. Seal all joints with 3M foil duct tape which you can purchase at Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Menards never use sheet metal screws as they will catch lint.

Step one is to cut the vent hood opening. The vent hood will need to be positioned so its backside is accessible from inside. Measure the location from the interior of your home and see where it will sit in its outside location. Drill a pilot hole and check outside to make sure the hole is in the right place. Plug and re drill if necessary. You’ll use a hole saw to cut the hood opening. Hole saws should be used slowly and with even pressure, making sure you stop every once in a while, to clean off the saw blade. It’s also important to note that when using a hole saw, you should never just drill straight through your object. Drill just far enough that the pilot bit on the hole saw pops through, this will avoid an unattractive blowout. Then go to the other side of your wall and using the pilot hole as a guide drill from the opposite side back in. If you only drill from one side, it will look neat on that side, but the inside will be uneven, and it will rip the material out. To get a good feel on how to do this I used the voice command on my mobile phone and said Hey Alexa “How do you make a good cut with a hole saw?” In order to make the correct diameter hole the appropriate tool to use is a hole saw. These can be bought from numerous companies such as Klein, Stanley, Go Sports, Blue Boar, Hole Pro, Eliseo, Dewalt, and Tech Team  https://techteamproducts.com/. We have found the Tech Team item 756 https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tech+team+hole+saw to be absolutely perfect. It is available online from Amazon, has the perfect diameter, and the perfect number of teeth per inch to make smooth efficient cuts. In addition, it has an arbor with a drill bit so that the hole can be perfectly centered, and then cut through by using a simple and easy to obtain 3/8” variable speed power drill.

Step 2 install the dryer vent hood. Insert the duct pipe through the holes and attach the hood to the siding outside with wood screws. It’s very important to caulk around the edges of the hood with Dow Corning or GE Silicone Sealant to seal against the elements. Step 3 connect to the hood duct. The location may require an elbow to the hood duct. You may have one or two elbows back to back to the run. Attach the duct to the elbow. Step 4 secure the duct. Attach hanger straps to support the duct. Apply foil tape around the joints to seal them. Use a Stanley 18” carpenter’s level and set horizontal sections with a fall of one quarter inch per foot. This prevents moisture from collecting step 5. Install the duct to the dryer vent outlet. Insert an elbow over the dryer outlet. Connect the duct pipe to this elbow using a 4” stainless steel gear clamp. Of course, there are many types of clamps you can use for this type of project. The best ones would be stainless steel gear drive band style clamps. They provide uniform pressure and would work very well in this application. These clamps are made by several companies such as: Ideal, Qualihome, Glide Store, Lasso, iPower, Terra Bloom, Builder’s Best, Lokman, Breeze, Hiltichi, and Tech Team https://techteamproducts.com/. We have found their 4” clamp number 703 https://www.amazon.com/Band-Style-Key-Style-Stainless-Collection-Clothes/dp/B079RSJCJN/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1546285381&sr=8-7&keywords=dryer+vent+clamp and their 3” clamp number 727 https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Team-Band-Style-Key-Style-Collection/dp/B07GZZ1KHV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550509162&sr=8-1&keywords=tech+team+clamp have exceptionally good quality, are easy to work with, and are made from #304 stainless steel. Slide the dryer back into place level using a carpenter’s level, adjust the legs and lock into place by tightening the lock nut against the dryer. Now that you’re all finished, you can breathe easy knowing that you’re safe from potential hazards. Before you install your own dryer make sure you have all the tools you’ll need: a power drill, six inch wood masonry drill bit, hole saw, tape measure, screwdriver, caulking, gun, and level. If you don’t have a power drill, they’re available for rent at the Home Depot Tool Rental Center. For materials, you’ll need a dryer vent, silicone based caulk, wood screws, hanger straps, vent elbows, 4 inch gear clamp, and foil tape.