Dryer Vent Installation in Fredericton New Brunswick
I thought I would provide some information on dryer vent installation. A dryer vent is a critical item in your home management. Some people have a short run of only a couple of feet, and others a very long run of 20 feet or more. Set up can be simple or complicated. If you need a professional dryer vent installation in Fredericton New Brunswick (or surrounding areas) just give me a call.
Why Do I Need to Vent My Dryer?
This may seem like a simple question, but basically, you’ll need to vent your dryer to the outside of your home to prevent moisture buildup in your home. There are other things that come out of a dryer vent, like lint, and possibly burning lint, and small droplets of fabric softener (very sticky). Lint is made up of small clothing fibers and most clothing is synthetic these days. You probably don’t want to be breathing all of these things in, or coating your home and furniture in it. The vent should attach securely to the dryer vent port and have no leaks until it vents to the outside of your home.
What Kind of Venting is Available?
There are many types of venting. Here is a picture of the most basic types:
For a dryer vent installation in Fredericton New Brunswick (Greater Fredericton), these are the types of venting available to you without having to order something in. The first one is plastic. Plastic might be a good short term solution, but it is a terrible long term solution. It’s slinky style sides collect lint easily and the thin plastic deteriorates over time. If lint buildup occurs, and there is a fire in the vent, this type of venting not only does not protect, it actually contributes to the fire.
The second type in the picture is a solid steel or aluminum vent. These are the best type, but they do come in different gauges (thicknesses). The best type would be a 26 gauge thickness. The smooth sides and rigid structure not only prevent lint buildup, but also offer excellent protection in the case of a lint related fire in the ducting. These types of ducting are of course, more time consuming to install, but are the best option and should be the default vent unless there are extreme circumstances.
Number 3 is another type of slinky made out of aluminum. It is marginally better than the plastic type, but not by much. Any type of slinky will collect lint quickly. The foil on this type of venting is very thing, only offering limited fire protection.
The fourth type in the picture is a semi-rigid slinky. It’s not too bad, again for either a short term or emergency situation, but not for a long term dryer vent installation.
Is It Ever OK to Have Flexible Venting?
Often, it is common to have a short piece of flexible dryer vent in between in the dryer and the rest of the rigid ducting. These are OK, and it is usually necessary. There are also other options available for this, like ‘MagVent’ which is a magnetic, self centering dryer vent dock. You can find MagVents online, or at LeeValley and just look up ‘dryer vent’ in their search. This dock makes it easier to pull your dryer away from the wall and put it back in. Also, there are highly fireproof flexible venting options coming on the market, but not readily available yet.
How Should The Venting Be Installed?
The venting leaving your dryer should be as short as possible with as few bends and elbows as possible. Rigid ducting should be used if possible. All of the joints between the various pieces should be taped with metal tape at minimum. Metal, or foil tape as it is called, is available at most hardware stores. Preferably the joints should be screwed together with metal screws and also taped. A Dryer vent installation in Fredericton New Brunswick is subject to minimum standards in new construction, but not on older homes.
All things considered, you should take some minimum precautions to install a dryer vent. If you do, you will have a better working dryer and less wear on your dryer and your clothes. It’s important to get your dryer vent cleaned regularly (cleaning frequency depends on use, for most people it’s once per year). Remember to clean the lint trap on your dryer after every load, and happy drying!
– Mike
See my blog on other home management items.