How to vent dryer when rim joist is close to ground

LucknowPaul · 08-06-2012, 09:05 AM

I started this question in my post here How would you fix this? but it's more of a separate question.

Our house is low in the ground, such that a straight vent through the rim joist would only be a couple inches above the ground, not nearly enough for snow clearance. The previous owner installed an elbow at the ground, then went up 18 inches, then had another elbow to the flapper. Besides looking awful, I can only imagine how much moisture condensed in the vertical section of pipe on a cold winter day.

What options are available to bring the dryer vent up?

a few thoughts I had:
-run vent up into kitchen cabinet then out through wall (kitchen is above dryer so this is the easiest for us and leaves all piping accessible, but does mean drilling though the brick)
-frame wall thicker and run vent up through wall then out (we have a short section, 18" long, where this could be done, but would be hard to make it look nice)
-run vent up to roof (hard to get up to the roof and makes a long run)

joecaption · 08-06-2012, 09:31 AM

Post a picture of the outside of the house in that area and one of the outside wall area in the laundry room.

It's not that big a deal to have to make a hole in the brick. It's done all the time.

OKDrew63 · 08-06-2012, 02:50 PM

Would you need a diamond tipped hole saw to cut through the brick?

joecaption · 08-06-2012, 03:00 PM

Nope, just a hammer drill and at least a 3/8 bit. (I use a 1/2")
The holes going to have to be slightly bigger then the largest diam. of the back side of the new vent.
If you look at it your going to see a ring that's bigger then the main tube.
I try for 4 1/4. I try to hold the drill at a slight angle so the wall area is smaller then the back side. It just makes it easer to get the plug out when you finish drilling.
Mark the circle and just make a series of holes, then just tap the middle and it should pop out.

TarheelTerp · 08-06-2012, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucknowPaul

Our house is low in the ground, such that a straight vent through the rim joist would only be a couple inches above the ground, not nearly enough for snow clearance.

This sounds like a grading issue.
Do you get water in that basement?

LucknowPaul · 08-07-2012, 07:25 AM

No water in basement, the ground drops a lot a little ways out from the house. No way to regrade enough without redoing the entire back yard.

Here are pictures of the outside and inside:

TarheelTerp · 08-07-2012, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucknowPaul

...the ground drops off a lot a little ways out from the house.
No way to regrade enough without redoing the entire back yard.

That's where the solution lies.

You may be able to get away with adding a window well
where you need to penetrate the wall.

08-06-2012, 09:05 AM	#1
LucknowPaul Newbie Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: ON Canada Posts: 8	How to vent dryer when rim joist is close to ground I started this question in my post here How would you fix this? but it's more of a separate question. Our house is low in the ground, such that a straight vent through the rim joist would only be a couple inches above the ground, not nearly enough for snow clearance. The previous owner installed an elbow at the ground, then went up 18 inches, then had another elbow to the flapper. Besides looking awful, I can only imagine how much moisture condensed in the vertical section of pipe on a cold winter day. What options are available to bring the dryer vent up? a few thoughts I had: -run vent up into kitchen cabinet then out through wall (kitchen is above dryer so this is the easiest for us and leaves all piping accessible, but does mean drilling though the brick) -frame wall thicker and run vent up through wall then out (we have a short section, 18" long, where this could be done, but would be hard to make it look nice) -run vent up to roof (hard to get up to the roof and makes a long run)

08-06-2012, 09:31 AM	#2
joecaption Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Hartfield VA Posts: 18,822	How to vent dryer when rim joist is close to ground Post a picture of the outside of the house in that area and one of the outside wall area in the laundry room. It's not that big a deal to have to make a hole in the brick. It's done all the time.

08-06-2012, 02:50 PM	#3
OKDrew63 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: OKC, Oklahoma Posts: 69	How to vent dryer when rim joist is close to ground Would you need a diamond tipped hole saw to cut through the brick?

08-06-2012, 03:00 PM	#4
joecaption Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Hartfield VA Posts: 18,822	How to vent dryer when rim joist is close to ground Nope, just a hammer drill and at least a 3/8 bit. (I use a 1/2") The holes going to have to be slightly bigger then the largest diam. of the back side of the new vent. If you look at it your going to see a ring that's bigger then the main tube. I try for 4 1/4. I try to hold the drill at a slight angle so the wall area is smaller then the back side. It just makes it easer to get the plug out when you finish drilling. Mark the circle and just make a series of holes, then just tap the middle and it should pop out.

08-07-2012, 07:25 AM	#6
LucknowPaul Newbie Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: ON Canada Posts: 8	How to vent dryer when rim joist is close to ground No water in basement, the ground drops a lot a little ways out from the house. No way to regrade enough without redoing the entire back yard. Here are pictures of the outside and inside: Attached Thumbnails

How to vent dryer when rim joist is close to ground