Installing a Dryer Vent Under your Home

  • 2-4 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 50-125
What You'll Need
Screwdriver
Wrench
Pipework
Hammer
Nails
What You'll Need
Screwdriver
Wrench
Pipework
Hammer
Nails

Fitting a new dryer vent under your home can mean that you get the best advantages of having your own home dryer without having to worry about leaks and problems with damp. A dryer vent under the house can get rid of your hot air without releasing it against the roof or other problems. If you have a crawl space under your home, then you should be able to complete this task yourself without relying upon any assistance.

Fitting a dryer vent is relatively easy and can be done in a day if you have the right equipment. Getting this job done doesn’t need the assistance of a professional if you have some basic home improvement skills. All you have to do is follow a few simple guidelines to get the job done quickly and easily.

Step 1 – Opening the Floorboards

The first step in installing your new dryer vent is to open up the floorboards and have a look at the space underneath. If there is a large amount of crawl space, then you will be able to fit your dryer vent underneath the boards without too much trouble, but if you have only a narrow gap, you may need to dig into the earth before you can install the pipe work.

Decide where you want your vent to reach the outside air and pull up the floorboards which you will need to access the floor. Not all boards need to be lifted up, as the pipes can be slid underneath some once the basic area has been mapped out.

Step 2 – Fitting the Vent and Pipes

Next you will have to fit the vent at the point that it touches the outside air. Make a hole in the brickwork with a hammer and the tip of a screwdriver. Remove the brick and insert the vent. Take the first pipe that connects to this vent and install it using the wrench. You should then screw in most of the pipes until you get to the side of the dryer.

Step 3 – Fit the Pipes to the Dryer

Once that is completed, you will have to fit the pipes to the dryer. The last pipe you should install is an elbow joint, which will bend upwards towards the dryer. Fit another elbow joint to the back of the dryer, and then attach using the correct length of pipe. Tighten all the connections using your wrench.

Step 4 – Finishing

Before you finish the project you will have to close up all of the floorboards that you have opened. Take your hammer, and either the nails that were previously in the boards, or some new ones, and hammer the boards down until they are flat. Your pipes will have to be deep enough under the crawl space for the boards to fit over the top and lie flat. Once this is done, you should be ready to use the dryer as previously.