Cloths Dryer Exhaust

3 years ago

I am not a professional of any kind having to do with appliances or HVAC.

My cloths dryer is an LG electric Model#DLEX3250V I'm pretty sure its 240v. It was installed by the delivery person I think from Sears. The exhaust is a 4inch round port and located on the dryer itself at the bottom basically floor level. The exhaust exits the house through a hole 30" inches off the floor made through an exterior wall. It has a basic dryer exhaust kit with a one way flap to prevent backflow of air. The dryer is located in my kitchen and the entire length of flexible exhaust duct tube is visible and in the kitchen as well. I think its about 6-8 foot expandable or accordion style flexible hose but the total distance from dryer to wall hole is about 4' ft. I'm guessing. So my question/s or what I've been thinking is whether or not there would be any benefit to making some changes.

#1 Move the exit hole to floor level in line with the exit hole from the rear of dryer.

#2 Replace flexible accordion style duct tube with the same diameter rigid/solid type duct like you would find on say a woodstove. Or whatever would be most appropriate for cloths dryer duct.

Other thought/comment/question:

Does the ribbed inside of the flexible exhaust duct slow down airflow and create many pockets where lint eventually can build up which in turn would put more stress and or wear and tear on the machine plus create a fire hazard?

I'm sure this style of exhaust tube makes installation much easier but I would think that one benefit alone would not make up for all the drawbacks.

Wouldn't solid or rigid tubing with a smooth bore be the longest lasting, most efficient option and also need the least amount of maintenance/replacement despite it not being the easiest to install? Or am I totally overthinking this whole thing HaHa Thanks in advance for any responses and thanks for reading!

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Comments (3)

PRO
User
3 years ago
Rigid ducting is code because of the high fire risk associated with flex duct.
3onthetree
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
A clothes dryer duct can be flexible for the transition piece. That is the portion between the dryer and the permanent duct connection at the wall. It must remain exposed and less than 8' long. It is code allowed. The portion in or through the wall, however, must be solid and smooth.

The kinds of ducts for the transition piece are as follows:

1. plastic flex which is the worst

2. rigid, don't use the aluminum thinwall duct in the dryer section of the big box store, move an aisle over to the sheetmetal in the HVAC section and pick the 25ga, 26ga, or 30ga duct whichever they carry on hand

3. foil flex which is also crapola

4. semi-rigid aluminum flex is the one if you choose flex

If you plan to lower the vent wall cap, that means you'll have to patch the inside and outside walls, not to mention cutting a clean 4 1/8" dia hole. There are some clearances outside you have to meet, like min 36" from any other openings. You can certainly use rigid duct inside instead of the flex - I would suggest only if you can see the duct as you push in the dryer, and can shimmy down there to tighten the screw on the hose clamp. It you are toolless, it also means you'll have to buy some tin snips, and either HVAC tape (foil not duct or "duck") or sealant (no screws into ducts). They do make some fancy dancy kits of plastic magnet couplers and such to supposedly make it easier lining up the dryer, don't know the success of those.
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
3 years ago
"Wouldn't solid or rigid tubing with a smooth bore be the longest lasting, most efficient option and also need the least amount of maintenance/replacement despite it not being the easiest to install?"

Yes.