DIY Dryer Vent Filters
Dryer vents are vulnerable to the accumulation of lint during the normal drying process. This lint can build up to the point that the vent hose becomes blocked, and the efficiency of the dryer is effected negatively. Accumulated lint can also cause moist air to back up into your home, and in extreme cases it can cause fires. If your dryer is vented inside the home or garage, which is never recommended, the lint which makes its way into the vent hose can then be released into the atmosphere causing further issues. Install a homemade lint trap to reduce the amount of lint that travels into and through your dryer hose. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 4 inch cylindrical to 4-by-4 inch aluminum dryer vent adapter
- Metal screw clamp
- Screwdriver
- 1-by-3 inch lumber
- Circular saw
- Wood glue
- Hammer
- Nails
- Fine wire mesh
- Stapler
- Dish soap
Instructions
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1
Install a 4 inch circular to 4-by-4 inch square adapter at the end of your dryer vent hose. The fitting is typically used to join dryer hoses with the through-wall vents which allow heat and moisture to be released out of doors. Slide the fitting in place and use a metal screw clamp to fasten it. Use your screwdriver to tighten the screw on the bracket until the joint is solid.
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2
Build a small wooden square that measures 4-by-4 in size. The box should be constructed of 1-by-3 inch wooden strips cut to fit with your circular saw. Assemble the square by applying wood glue at each corner joint and using your hammer and nails to fasten it all together permanently.
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3
Attach fine wire mesh to one side of the box. Wrap the mesh over the open end of the square, and use your snips to cut it to fit. Fold the mesh over the outside edge of the square and use your stapler to fasten it to the edge. Tuck the excess at each corner so there are no bulky sections, leave no gaps, and make sure the mesh is taught. Do not extend the mesh past the halfway line of the outside edge of the frame. To do so would block the insertion of the wood frame into the vent hose adapter.
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4
Slide the aluminum adapter over the opposite edge of the wooden frame so the mesh faces away from the vent hose. Insert the wooden frame into the open vent sleeve in your exterior wall if the vent system is to vent outside. Otherwise replace the hose in its normal position.
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5
Run the dryer and inspect the filter. It should catch any lint that makes its way through the factory filter and into the venting system. Remove and clean the hose thoroughly after every use. A fire can result if lint is allowed to build up.
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Tips & Warnings
The best way to prevent lint from entering the dryer vent hose in the first place is to clean your machine's internal lint filter before every use. Wash the filter in soapy water at least twice a year to clean out all of the invisible lint and debris which may block it and reduce your dryer's efficiency.
Clean out your dryer vent hose regularly to ensure that lint does not have the chance to accumulate to dangerous levels. Open the outside cap and use a large pipe cleaning brush to scrape out the lint. Remove the other end of your hose from the rear of the dryer and perform the same maintenance there. Pay special attention to elbows and joints which tend to catch more lint that straight pipes.
Placing the vent filter as far from the dryer as possible helps to reduce the heat it will encounter during normal use.
Although nylon stockings are sometimes used as simple, dryer vent filters, they are a fire hazard. Never place a cloth substance in the dryer vent line since the high heat generated, and the accumulation of lint can result in a highly flammable situation.
Dryers do not come with vent filters because they are considered a fire hazard. They must be kept clean and the dryer should be monitored whenever in use. Never turn on the dryer and leave it to run without a person nearby to monitor the situation.
Dryer vents should never under any circumstances be allowed to vent inside the home.
References
- Photo Credit Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images
