How to Replace a Through the Wall Louvered Dryer Vent
Louvered dryer vents have flaps that open when the dryer is running and close when there is not air blowing out of the dryer. This prevents bugs and small birds from entering the dryer vent when the dryer is not in use. Louvered dryer vents can be installed through the wall in a few different ways. The type that goes through the wall may be installed as a single unit or have a face plate attached to the dryer exhaust pipe in the wall. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Utility knife
- 4-inch putty knife
- Flat pry bar
- New louvered dryer vent
- New pipe section
- Squeeze tube of exterior grade caulk
- Foil tape
Instructions
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1
Inspect the area around the existing louvered dryer vent. If there is caulk around the assembly, use a utility knife to cut the caulk between the wall and the louvered dryer vent. If there are screws on the face plate, unscrew them by turning them in a counter-clockwise direction.
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2
Slide a 4-inch putty knife between the dryer vent and the wall to cut caulk that may be between the face plate and the wall.
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3
Pull the louvered dryer vent off the tube. If it will not pull out of position easily, go in the house and disconnect the dryer pipe from the part of the pipe that goes through the wall.
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4
Go back outside, place a flat pry bar between the back of the dryer vent and the wall, and gently pull the louvered dryer vent out of the wall.
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5
Place a bead of caulk around the new louvered dryer vent on the collar. Slide the new pipe over the collar on the new vent and push the pipe through the wall. If the vent pulled out of the pipe easily and the entire pipe was not removed, apply a bead of caulk to the collar of the new louvered dryer vent and push the vent onto the pipe in the wall.
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6
Reattach the dryer hose to the vent pipe that goes through the wall, if needed. Always secure dryer hose connections with foil tape, with the pipe on the dryer side of the connection going into the next pipe in the connection.
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Tips & Warnings
Clean the outside louvered dryer vent at least twice a year to prevent lint from collecting on the dryer vent. This reduces risk of fires as well as improves performance of the dryer.
Overheated clothes dryers cause a large number of house fires. Please keep lint filters clean, inspect the entire exhaust system at least once a year and do not block the area around the bottom of the dryer for optimal air flow to prevent overheating.
References
- Photo Credit dirty laundry image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
