Clothes dryers require proper venting to prevent lint accumulation and for efficiency. Lint is small particles from the laundry that escape via the ductwork and into the outside air. They are hazardous as they can cause a fire when they rub on surfaces. Likewise, lint can accumulate on bends or kinks in a vent.
As such, the venting system should be smooth to allow for an easy emission of lint. You should ensure at least a six-inch allowance between your dryer and the vent opening at the wall in the laundry room. However, this is not always the case, and there’s a danger when the dryer is pushed towards the wall as it can crash the vent. This scenario is extremely dangerous since crashing can cause bends and thereby lead to the accumulation of lint.
Additionally, it can block the free flow of air, and this prolongs the drying period. Your dryer will struggle to operate optimally, and this increases its energy consumption and dramatically escalates your utility bill. There are far-reaching consequences, and mold can build up on surfaces due to moist air and destroy walls, ceilings, and the floor. Likewise, mold can cause allergies when they mix with the indoor air.
A recessed dryer vent box can solve this problem by forming a barrier between the dryer and the vent at the wall. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about insufficient venting since it prevents kinks and bends in the vent duct that connects your dryer to the ductwork. In this discussion, we look at how you can install a recessed dryer vent box on the wall.
Let’s get started.
Gather Materials
Before you get started, you’ll need to have all the materials ready to avoid a return trip to the hardware store.
You’ll need the following items.
- A recessed dryer box
- Aluminum foil tape
- Pencil or marker
- Putty and utility knife
- Rubber mallet for attaching the four brackets on the side of the dryer boxes
- A 4 inches metal duct
- A flexible aluminum vent pipe
- Two wood screws
- Screwdriver
- Safety gear such as glasses and gloves
- Studs or brackets
- Utility knife
- 4-inch clamp
- Cardboard trim
The Installation Process
You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to assemble everything into the place. Indeed, the installation takes approximately 30 minutes, and the instructions are straight to the point.
For safety considerations, it’s essential first to unplug the dryer from the electric connection. For gas dryers, shut off the connection and disconnect the vent exhaust hose from your dryer.
Disconnect the two oval duct adapters from the box by pushing the round tabs on either side of the dryer vent box between the studs. Next, smooth the brackets into the studs and be careful not to overtighten.
I recommend a Dryerbox Model 425 DB-425, a versatile product that you can use on new construction. Also, if you’re planning on remodeling your home, this box is a sure bet.
You can vent it in any direction, and the good thing is that there are straightforward instructions.
What I love about this dryer box is that it saves up to two sq feet of space.
I won’t have to worry about crushing the dryer hose vent, and therefore this ensures energy efficiency. It also increases the drying time for the laundry and overall is a good value for money.
Ensure the dryer vent box is well-positioned at least 1-2 inches from the floor or the baseboard top to allow the trim piece to attach lightly. Then squeeze a four-inch solid metal duct into the oval shape and slide it onto the oval collar of the top of the dryer box.
I recommend Lambro Industries aluminum duct pipe, which features an overall measurement of 4×2 inches. Thus, it’s a suitable size that fits well in the space behind the dryer. Other than that, it’s built like a rock and doesn’t crush easily. It’s also straight and smooth, and there’s no chance of lint accumulation.
Now you can fix the drywall around the dryer vent box. After the installation, you can patch your drywall by caulking, sanding, and painting.
Snap the trim piece into place, and now you can connect the dryer duct to the box thread with the adapter on both sides.
Use a semi-rigid aluminum duct tape and thread in a counterclockwise direction.
Using the gear clamp, snap the adapter piece back into the dryer vent box and push the dryer into the original position.
Another item on my recommendation list is aluminum foil tape which is an excellent alternative to duct tape. The good thing about aluminum is that it doesn’t fold easily and is a good value for money.
Also, it can withstand heat damage and, therefore, will deliver a long-lasting performance.
Be careful not to crush the duct, and when cleaning, pull the dryer gently. You can disconnect the collar gently and pull it downwards to inspect, clean and then reconnect.
Conclusion
As you can see, the installation is simple. You only need to have the right tools and get the job done quickly. Most importantly, you’ll have your dryer box in place, which can save space and energy. It also protects your property from the risk of fire hazards caused by lint.
Hopefully, you can now do the installation yourself and benefit from having a recessed dryer vent box in your laundry.
