How to Install a Dryer Vent in 6 Steps

Small amounts of trapped lint in dryer venting are inevitable, so it’s best to get a fresh start by removing build-up to help enhance your dryer’s performance. 

Follow these steps to clean your dryer vent system:

• Disconnect any existing ducting from the dryer exhaust outlet and the wall.

• Remove as much lint by hand as possible, cleaning out the connective ducting as well as the opening to the dryer exhaust outlet and vent hood duct on the wall.

• Use the hose of your vacuum to suck up any remaining lint.

• Remove the vent cover from the exhaust hood on the outside of your home and clean out the dryer venting using a vacuum hose.

Using a measuring tape, measure the distance from the dryer’s exhaust to the location of the vent outlet grill on the exterior wall. Be sure to account for any twists and turns by measuring the exact path the venting will take, rather than cutting up or over diagonally with the measuring tape. 

Venting is most efficient when the vent path is short, straight and direct. Check your dryer product specifications or literature to confirm the required vent length and number of elbows. For example, Maytag^® dryers typically require ducts to be no more than 64 straight feet, with up to 2 elbows. If you notice that the existing vent path seems unnecessarily complicated or indirect, consider contacting a professional to help improve the path for optimized drying performance.

Safely venting a dryer means choosing between rigid and flexible metal venting. We do not recommend other options like plastic or metal foil vents. Both flexible and rigid metal venting come in 4" diameter tubing and can effectively vent dryer exhaust, but each type has its own unique advantages and drawbacks that are worth considering. Be sure to follow the recommendations and requirements in the installation instructions or owner’s manual that came with your dryer for the best option.

Flexible metal ducting is bendable and versatile, which can be ideal when you’re trying to figure out how to hook up a dryer in a tight space. It’s generally cheaper than rigid metal venting, but more prone to kinking and sagging so you’ll have to put more effort into making sure it’s completely supported. 

Rigid ducting is made of a solid material wrapped in insulation and comes in a variety of set shapes and sizes. It tends to stay cleaner, trap less lint and maintain its shape better than flexible ducting, so it’s ideal for more complicated venting paths that require directional changes. Rigid ducting often comes with a slightly higher price tag and can be trickier to work with in tight spaces. 

If you’re laying original ductwork, contact a professional for more information about choosing a location for the vent hood opening and the best ducting to help get you there.

Your vent hose should be short, supported and have very little slack once it’s fully installed behind the dryer. If your ducting is long or snaking back and forth, use the measurements you took in step 2 to determine how much to trim for a snug fit.

Mark the distance between the dryer exhaust outlet and the wall on your dryer’s vent duct using tape or a marker. Be sure to add half an inch or so to ensure some overlap and prevent a cut that’s too short. Then, wearing protective work gloves, use the tin snips to cut your way around the mark.

Determine if you’ll use vent clamps or foil tape to secure the dryer venting to the dryer exhaust outlet and wall vent. Foil tape is the only kind of tape meant to withstand the heat dryer venting delivers during a cycle, so don’t settle for alternatives like duct tape. Avoid using screws or anything that would protrude into the venting to secure the hose, as lint quickly snags on screws and can build up over time. 

To attach the venting with a clamp, place the vent clamp loosely on the edge of the vent hose and slide the edge of the vent hose over the wall outlet. Tighten the vent clamp with a screwdriver and give it a gentle tug to ensure it’s solidly in place. 

Connect a second vent clamp to the opposite end of the vent hose and connect the vent to your dryer exhaust, then tighten the clamp using a screwdriver. If you’ve opted to use foil tape to secure the vent hose, follow the same process outlined above using foil tape in place of the vent clamps.

Carefully slide your dryer back into the desired location, guiding it to avoid causing kinks in the venting. Adjust the dryer until the venting is as straight and sturdy as possible.