
Secure the cap with the provided screws, and don’t forget to caulk around the edges for protection against the elements.
#Plaster rings for around hood duct install#
Install the dryer vent cap against the side of your house, being sure that its attached pipe fits through the wall opening you have made. Photo: STEP 3: Secure the dryer vent cap on the home exterior. To penetrate stucco or concrete, it’s easier to use a masonry bit ( view on Amazon) to drill multiple holes around the circumference of the desired opening before manually chiseling out its interior. If there’s no impediment, and you’re boring through wood, proceed to outfit your drill with a hole-saw attachment ( view on Amazon). I suggest drilling a pilot hole first, then going outside to double-check its position. In most cases, the opening must be four and a quarter inches wide (for confirmation, consult the instructions provided by the manufacturer). Now comes the most challenging part of dryer vent installation: putting a hole in the exterior wall. STEP 2: Open up a small, 4-1/4″ hole in the exterior wall. From that maximum, deduct five feet for 90-degree bends, and two and a half feet for 45-degree ones.

To complicate matters, the total length of the run should not exceed 25 feet-and that’s for a straight shot. If, say, your dryer sits in the basement, then the hose needs to make at least one turn. STEP 1: Determine the path of the ventilation duct.ĭryer vent installation begins with a decision: By what route will the duct travel from your appliance to your home’s exterior? The shorter, the better.Ī straight path is the shortest possible route, but not always practical. The ridged design of these ducts, however, tends to pose a fire hazard: In short, they trap lint.įor that reason, experts now instead recommend the use of rigid or semirigid hose either can be found easily and purchased inexpensively in the diameter appropriate for your appliance (for most dryers, the correct duct size is four inches).

In recent decades, it’s been common practice for homeowners to use flexible vinyl or metal tubing in dryer vent installation.
