Venting dryer to exterior wall.

jujumlnr

I am doing a remodel on a bath that previously exhausted the dryer through the roof. Since I was gutting and installing a new tub, I thought it would be wise to vent the dryer to the exterior wall beside the tub.
Good idea...I thought, however the contractor had the tub installed BEFORE the venting was put in place. They said it wouldn't be a problem and put a 4" flexible hose behind the tub. They had to crush it to get it through so now it is oval. I am also concerned because there were nails exposed in the wall from the adjoining bedroom wall (probably from base) and I can't be assured that the nails didn't tear the flex hose as they shoved it through to the outside wall. Should I insist that he remove the tub and do it correctly (assuming what he has done is not ). They have put up the concrete board for new tile but have not started tiling. I am terrified of a house fire ( that is why I had them reroute the venting in the first place).

Thanks for any help.

VIPlumber

Flexible hose is the wrong way to go when venting a dryer, smooth 26 ga 4" metal ducting (using tape of the joints, not screws) is the way to go. Definitely have him rip out and redo.

Exactly how did he get it thorough the studs? Do you have an alternative way to get it to the outside other than beside (under?) the tub?

jburd964

If its feasible for the vent line be ran and that's what he was instructed to do in, written contract, that's what he'd do. Personally I'm against bends much less kinks in dryer vent hosing, it's just to big of a problem causer to risk my family. For me it's always a straight short run. I don't like the lite weight flex hose for the same reason but the aluminum flex is suitable. I had used a piece of the tin foil flex recently for a temp repair and wife commented on the inefficiency of the foiled flex after I went back with aluminum flex only confirming it's lack of unimpeded venting.

I did stay at Holiday Inn Express last night.

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Gary in WA

You cannot run flex in a wall cavity, it is a transition duct only- from the dryer to wall, max. 8' as VIPlumber correctly stated.

This will surly cause an in-wall fire due to moist lint over-heating because of the reduced air flow and turns mentioned; http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...up65cYgFwMvULw

Gary

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jujumlnr

Thanks for the reply. There is space between the tub and wall studs. I did ask them when they were roughing in the new tub fixtures, and before the tub was in place, about the dryer venting and was told someone was going to pick up the materials. When I got home it was not in place. I asked the contractor about it and he said his guys would do it later. I happened to be there when they were working on it and questioned the flex hose, but they just brushed me off, saying its just air that blows through. I thought that the purpose of the exhaust system was to allow lint and air to be carried away and out of the house. The worst part is that when the plumbers were installing the tub, they broke off part of the acrylic, claimed it was defective and arrangements were made to replace it, but the contractor and plumbers decided that it would require too much time and had it repaired instead. Not sure what to do now.

jujumlnr

Sorry, I should of responded that there is really no other alternative to venting other that up though the roof, which is what I had before, or behind the tub. We are on concrete slab. He did use a flexible metal duct, heavier that the transistion duct normally used to connect the dryer to wall connection, but it looked like they almost crushed it.

jujumlnr

Thanks, Gary, I should of clarfied that the duct was not the thin transistion type duct, but a heavier metal flexible duct material. Would you recommend redoing the whole thing. I do not want to regrete not pushing the issue now.

ddawg16

I'm in the middle of a 2-story addition to my house right now.
We intentionally put the dryer on a back wall so that we can vent it the whole 6" out of the wall....

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Gary in WA

You cannot run flex ducting outside the room the dryer is in. Flex = "transition duct".

Any duct outside the room (past the interior drywall) is called "exhaust duct" and must be smooth wall construction.

Look carefully and read this: http://www.hcpdc.com/pdf/Dryer%20Ven...quirements.pdf

Have them replace it or call your local Fire Marshall/Building Department. You are asking for a house fire, more than 17k of them annually due to dryer fires.

Gary

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