How to Install a Dryer Vent in a Brick Garage
Dryer vents exhaust the warm, humid air from dryers to the outside of the building. Dryers are either electric or gas. Gas dryers have toxic combustion gases from the natural gas they burn. These gases are also exhausted out of the dryer vent. Most dryer vents are easily installed by using a hole saw to core a hole out of a wood frame structure. However, if you need a dryer vent in a brick garage, it is a little more challenging, but certainly achievable. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Dryer vent hood
- 1/4 inch masonry drill bit
- Tape measure
- Chisel
- Hammer
- 4 1/4 inch hole saw
- Drill
- Masonry screws
- Exterior caulk
- Caulk gun
- 4 inch galvanized metal duct
- 4 inch galvanized metal duct elbows
- Aviation snips
- Pipe crimper
- Aluminum foil tape
- 4 inch metal pipe straps
- Cordless screw gun
- Work gloves
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Instructions
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1
Locate where the dryer vent will penetrate the outside brick. Trace a 4 1/2 inch circle on the brick at the penetrating location.
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2
Drill holes through the brick on the entire traced line with a 1/4 inch masonry drill bit. These holes need to be as close together on the line as possible. Use a hammer and cold chisel to break out the brick. You should now have a fairly round circle through the brick.
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3
Drill a 4 1/4 inch hole with a hole saw through the plywood skin of the garage. Slide the pipe stub of the dryer vent hood through the hole and push the dryer vent hood tight to the brick.
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4
Mount the dryer vent hood to the brick with masonry screws. Pre-drill these with the appropriately sized masonry bit (dependent on individual screw selected) and screw the dryer vent hood to the brick.
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5
Caulk the dryer vent hood with an exterior caulk to prevent water from getting behind the hood and into the garage.
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Install the 4 inch galvanized metal ducting from the dryer to the vent stub that is through the brick wall. Cut the ducting as necessary to achieve the appropriate lengths. Crimp one end of the cut joint so it can be joined with the next piece. The pipe is installed with the crimped end being fitted into the non-crimped end. The crimped end should slide in about 1 1/2 inches. Tape the joints with a aluminum foil tape. Do not use any screws in dryer vents because they will collect lint.
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Secure the 4 inch galvanized metal ducting to the wall with 4 inch metal pipe straps to keep the dryer vent duct rigid.
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Tips & Warnings
Use elbows as necessary to make the needed twists and turns.
Check the dryer vent cap frequently to remove any lint build up. Once a year vacuum out the dryer vent pipe by snaking a vacuum hose down the pipe.
Don't use cloth tape or duct tape to join the sections of dryer vent duct together. This tape will degrade over time and the ducting may come loose.
Wear gloves when working with metal ducting. It is extremely sharp, and just merely brushing against it can cause a large cut.
