Why You Should Use a Short Dryer Vent Hose

A close up on a dryer.

Your dryer vent plays a large role in the effectiveness of your dryer. In fact, a poorly vented dryer is not going to work the way it should. You can spend a lot of money on a high-end dryer, but if it is not vented properly it will never reach its potential.

The shorter the dryer vent, the better. This is because the moist air has to be sucked out through the vent. If the air has a long way to travel, it isn’t as efficient. Therefore, it is best to keep the dryer vent as short as possible. To maximize the power of your dryer, you should consider the length of the hose, the location of the dryer, and the duct route.

Optimum Performance

The fact is, your dryer will perform better if the vent is shorter. A long dryer vent can cause your clothes to dry slower. This may not present a problem for small loads, but when you are drying large comforters and heavy linens you want your dryer to be able to get these loads dry in a reasonable time.

Because using a long dryer vent makes the dryer work harder to release the air, it can shorten the life of your dryer.

Ideal Location

In order to keep the dryer vent as short as possible, it is best to place the dryer near an exterior wall. This will allow you a short duct run. This is one of the reasons that washer and dryer hook-ups are frequently seen in the basement. The basement provides easy access to the outside.

If your dryer is in an inside room and the dryer vent can't be easily routed to the outside, you will have to consider another route. If your dryer is near the attic, you can route it up and out through the roof. Alternatively, you can route the vent through the basement and out through an exterior wall there.

If you have to run a long length of duct, you should consider the local building code. These guidelines will usually provide a maximum length for ductwork venting a dryer. A rule of thumb to follow is that it should have a maximum length of 25 feet. If you have to bend the duct into a 45-degree angle, you should remove 2.5 feet per bend. If you find that you need to create a 90-degree elbow bend, you will need to deduct 5 feet from the maximum length per bend.

Straighter Is Better

It is best to keep the dryer vent running in a straight line. You will experience fewer clogs and lent accumulation when the dryer vent is free from bends and turns. However, even a short dryer vent has to be bent on occasion. If you do have to bend your dryer vent you should check it regularly to make sure that there aren’t any clogs. Unfortunately, 90-degree bends can create a haven for lent. This is all the more important if you have to run a long length to the outside.

That’s it. Remember to keep the ductwork venting in your dryer as short as possible for maximum dryer efficiency.