Dryer Vent Installation – The Wizard of Newport asks, Are your Sure Your Dryer Vent is Safe?

Dryer vent installation, when done properly, will help eliminate many problems, including fire hazard, mold and mildew, carbon monoxide, excess energy use, dryer malfunction and breakdown. An inferior dryer vent system poses many threats.

Replace Inferior Dryer Vent Tubes

The old fashioned flexible foil pipes are no longer deemed safe for use of dryer exhaust venting. This type of dryer vent tube is often crushed behind the dryer, blocking the heat and moisture from escaping. This type is often installed as-is, without cutting it down to size. The excess hose is left coiled up on the floor behind the dryer. The longer length and the twists and turns make your dryer work harder to expel the hot air.

The plastic or vinyl type of system creates the same problems as the flexible foil. In addition, it deteriorates and becomes brittle and cracks. Now, the air that should be vented outdoors is leaking into your home. Moisture builds up in the line and mold and mildew grow here too. If you have a gas dryer you can be concerned about carbon monoxide as well.

Professional Dryer Vent Installation is Recommended

Professional dryer vent installers only use dryer vent tubing made of solid metal pipe with a total run as short and straight as possible. The inside should be smooth; pieces should be joined with metal tape, not screws that protrude to the inside to catch lint.

When the dryer is venting properly, it is working more efficiently. If you notice your dryer taking more than one cycle to dry a load of laundry then it is likely that lint has built up in the dryer ducts. A dryer vent installation specialist will ensure your dryer is operating safely and efficiently.

Maintain your Professionally Installed Dryer Vent

All dryer vents need to be cleaned periodically to remove lint build-up that reduces air-flow and causes your clothes dryer to work harder. When dryer vent cleaning is neglected it becomes a fire hazard.

A professional dryer vent cleaning and repair service can inspect your system to be sure it meets today’s safety standards. Your clothes dryer is one of the most expensive to operate when it is not properly maintained; it is also one of the least expensive to keep maintained. The service fee paid for dryer vent cleaning quickly pays for itself in money saved on energy usage. Make sure your dryer vent system is properly installed and well-maintained.



Ed Rauch, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, provides professional dryer vent installation, dryer vent cleaning and dryer vent repair for consumers and businesses in Northern Kentucky, Boone County, Burlington, Richwood, Walton, Union, Campbell County, Newport, Wilder, Cold Springs, Alexandria, Kenton County, Covington, Villa Hills, Edgewood and neighboring cities and communities.

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Dryer Vent Installation Advice from the Wizard of Newport, Kentucky

Dryer vent installation requires understanding the purpose and function of your dryer vent system. Forced heat produced by natural gas or electricity is blown on your laundry as it tumbles in your dryer. This moist heat must escape through the dryer exhaust ducts to the dryer vent outdoors.

An improperly installed dryer vent system can restrict airflow and cause your dryer to labor excessively as it does its job. Here are some tips from a dryer vent installation specialist.

Dryer Vent Installation Tips from the Wizard of Newport, Kentucky

The dryer vent pipe should be made of rigid or semi-rigid material about 4 inches in diameter. The old flexible foil or vinyl tubing do not meet current dryer vent installation safety codes.

Dryer lint will build up in the dryer exhaust duct over time. To reduce lint build-up, the dryer duct should be very smooth inside. Pieces of ductwork should be connected with foil tape, not screws that protrude to the inside which can catch and trap lint.

By law, all clothes dryers must be vented to the outdoors. If you have a gas dryer, the dryer vent system is responsible for removing gas by-products, like carbon monoxide, from your home.

The dryer vent tube should be installed with as few turns as possible and the shorter the run, the better. The longer the dryer duct, the harder the dryer works to force the hot air to the vent outside.

Use straps to support the duct so that there are no low points for lint to collect and build up. Use a level to set horizontal sections with a slight fall to prevent moisture from collecting.

Dryer Vent Installation in New Homes in Newport, Kentucky

Newer homes are built with convenience for the homeowner in mind; unfortunately, not enough consideration was given to dryer vent safety and efficiency. The laundry area is now located near the center of the home, upstairs between bedrooms where most dirty laundry originates. Now the distance from the dryer to the vent outside is considerably longer. Proper dryer vent installation is most critical for this type of system.

It is more difficult to push air through a longer vent because the air inside has weight and volume. The average clothes dryer can handle venting through about 20 feet of venting pipe before having any difficulty. The motor lacks the strength needed to push the air much further as the weight increases and the flow slows down.

When the air flow is too slow moisture is allowed to accumulate in the venting. When the dryer ducts are moist, lint will stick and accumulate, building up and restricting air flow.

When lint is allowed too build up and block the air duct the system overheats. The normal drum temperature of 175 degrees can quickly increase to 300 degrees or higher, eventually becoming hot enough to ignite.

Dryer Vent Installation Done Right Prevents Problems in Newport, KY

Proper dryer vent installation and following up with annual dryer vent cleaning will save you from many costly problems down the road, including:

• Up to $300 per year in additional utility expenses due to reduced air-flow and longer drying time
• Expensive dryer repair services due to overworked dryer
• Mold and mildew damage to your home; contaminating the air you breathe
• Carbon monoxide poisoning due to improper venting of a gas appliance
• Dryer fire, causing extensive home damage, loss of home, loss of lives

Are you sure your dryer vent system is properly installed? If you have any doubts, you need to call a dryer vent installation specialist for a complete inspection. The fee for this type of service quickly pays for itself as it eliminates all the problems listed above.

Ed Rauch, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, provides professional dryer vent installation, dryer vent cleaning and dryer vent repair for consumers and businesses in Northern Kentucky, Boone County, Burlington, Richwood, Walton, Union, Campbell County, Newport, Wilder, Cold Springs, Alexandria, Kenton County, Covington, Villa Hills, Edgewood and neighboring cities and communities.

41005, 41094, 41091, 41071, 41072, 41073, 41074, 41075, 41076, 41001, 41011, 41014, 41015, 41016, 41017, 41018