Plastic Dryer Venting Not Recommended

Plastic dryer venting is dangerous. Read warnings about the dangers of flexible vinyl vent pipe used on dryers. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 15,500 fires associated with dryers occur annually. Lack of maintenance is the leading cause of dryer fires, and lint is the leading material to ignite.

Install the rest of the anchors and screws and you are ready to hang the shelves.

Air movement through the dryer to the outside reduces work and helps for a long-lasting dryer. And the vent line should be solid aluminum. Do Not Use Plastic. Seventy percent of service calls for dryers are related to vent lines, somehow.

Flexible plastic tubing restricts the flow of air much more than smooth metal pipe. Over time, the ridges in flexible pipe tend to accumulate lint thus providing fuel for combustion. Add the possibility of a malfunctioning limit switch and you could have a fire.

I recommend starting at the dryer with a four-inch aluminum elbow and three sections of ridged metal duct. Tape the joints together and then tape them to the back of the dryer. This combination should leave the end of the pipe six feet from the floor. Slide the dryer into position and fit the last piece of pipe and elbow to connect to the vent hood.

Do not use screws to connect the pipe and elbows together because over time they will grab lint and cause problems.

Some warning signs that your vent is starting to clog:
* Towels or jeans take a very long time to dry.
* Clothes are very hot at the end of the cycle.