Good news! The 4-inch aluminum foil or white plastic exhaust ducting is very easy to install. The hose-like product’s spiraled wire interior is solid and flexible, costing between 50 cents and $1 per foot. However, there are better options than ducting. It can’t exhaust hot air well and can even be dangerous.
The pipes’ ribbed and corrugated surfaces act like speed bumps that slow down the airflow. Drying clothes takes more time, which is a waste of energy and money. The dryer’s interior also traps lint. This reduces airflow and can overload the motor in extreme cases.
A buildup of lint can cause fire hazards. A lint fire in a gas dryer can melt plastic ducting and ignite a fire. Building codes and owners manuals prohibit it.
Which Dryer Vent Hose is Best?
Installing a rigid-metal exhaust pipe is the solution. The dryer’s smooth interior reduces air resistance and discourages lint buildup. An 8-foot-long flex hose made of plastic was replaced with a smooth-metal vent. This reduced drying time by 10 minutes for a full load. This is how it happened.
Step 1: Remove the dryer from the wall
The dryer should be pulled away from the wall. Next, disconnect the power cord. If the dryer is gas-fired, make sure you close the gas valve.
Next, remove the band clamp holding the plastic vent to the exhaust outlet.
Take the dryer’s outlet off and vacuum any lint.
Next, disconnect the other end from the ducting outside.
Use a vacuum to remove lint from the round duct.
Step 2: Secure the clamp
Place a clamp made of metal over the lower end of the periscope box vent, then press it on the exhaust outlet.
Keep the vent steady and tighten the clamp using a screwdriver.
Step 3: Attach your periscope
Grab the upper portion of the periscope, and lift it until it reaches the dryer’s back.
Plug the power cord and turn the gas back on if necessary. Then push the dryer against the wall.
Step 4: Connect the dryer vent kit to the box vent to the duct
The only thing left is to connect the overhead duct to the box vent with the vent kit.
Attach the lower flex vent first to the periscope vent.
Use a band clamp to secure the elbow.
Step 5: Attach a 90° elbow
Next, slip a band clamp onto an overhead duct. Insert the male end from the 90-degree elbow in the chimney. Finally, tighten the clamp.
Step 6: Connect your devices
Next, grab the lower flex vent and pull down on the upper vent. The two vents will meet halfway between the ceiling and the dryer.
The vents’ ends have quick-lock fittings that snap together without using a band clamp.
Once you have made all the connections, testing the new vent system is time. Check that the dryer is on and the airflow is good through the vent hood mounted outside your home.