Like HVAC units and systems, another type of vent your house probably has is a dryer vent. The dryer vent is, as the name suggests, the ones attached to your dryer. The primary purpose of this vent is to release moisture and hot air outside. According to dryer vent cleaning in Norcross GA services, most dryer ducts are round and 4 inches in diameter. However, some are flexible, whereas; others are rigid.
Kinds of ducts and dryer vent cleaning Norcross GA
Usually, all kinds of vents and their dryer come in packs, sold together. You assume they go with every model of the dryer, but that is a mistake. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case, mainly because some ducts are flexible, but some are solid. Additionally, some manufacturer’s specifications for ducts are based explicitly on their model.
Before we discuss the sizes, let’s get you familiar with the hose types. The most common ones used as a dryer vent are:
Aluminum Foil Ducts
It’s the most common one, made of flexible aluminum foil. You might have seen these kinds in movies. These ducts run from the appliance to the central vent, which you found outdoors. According to HVAC cleaning in Norcross GA, these foil ducts are about 1 to 8 feet long, which is enough for most installations. However, double-check the vent if it’s approved for your dryer or not before buying. Try looking for your local code guidelines.
According to building guidelines, the duct should have “listed” or “L and L” (Listed and Labeled) guidelines for all new installations. The best way to ensure this is to look for a product with certification from a national testing laboratory. One such lab is UL (Underwriters Laboratories).
Most transition ducts must not conceal inside walls or other building cavities. It is why they usually have a maximum length of eight feet. Secreting them with clamps or large hose clamps is the best, making them easier to remove. Some people even use metal tape for securing the vent.
Semi-Rigid Metal Ducts
Semi-rigid metal (usually made of aluminum) duct is flexible and is very similar to foil ducting. However, It is more rigid than the foil duct. The use of these types of ducts is for transition ducting. Since it has a more robust and smoother interior, you can find them outside easily. Additionally, clamps are the best to help them securely. The best thing about this duct is it catches less lint than the foil duct. Maybe this is the reason for their listing as foil ducts instead of the semi-rigid duct.
Slim Ducts
Sometimes called periscope by the dryer vent cleaning Norcross GA services, slim ducts are installed in tight spaces. These vents are referred to as close fit or skinny ducts. Its identification can be that it has a wide rectangular shape, other than the two ends where it connects to the dryer and vent outlet. It allows you to push the dryer close to the wall, a great space saver, as long as the dryer and vent are close together. You should know that you can adjust most slim ducts from about 27 inches to about 48 inches in length, which is also adaptable to vertical, horizontal, and diagonal installations.
Rigid Metal Ducts
Till now, you read about ducts you see outside the building. When we talk about the rigid metal duct, this one is only suitable for concealed duct installations. It means the duct runs inside walls, floors, or other areas where the chimney is not fully visible, or you can say, concealed. You can mostly find these in aluminum and galvanized steel. The rigid metal duct is very smooth on its interior, making airflow smooth. Due to its insides with less friction, the chances of lint getting caught inside are meager. Because these ducts are rigid, they can’t be bent. It is why HVAC cleaning Norcross GA services recommend using elbow fittings for assembling it. This way, vents could turn to 45 or 90 degrees depending on the elbow type.
A note to remember
try using metal tape to secure the joints. However, there is a high chance of lint getting caught if you use screws. On the other hand, don’t use regular plastic tapes as it dries out and decorates, resulting in loose joints and extra effort.
Vinyl Ducts
Vinyl ducts or plastic ducts are the same as aluminum foil ducts. The only difference between them is, as the name suggests, plastic made instead of metal foil. Despite their widespread use, they are the most hazardous ones that catch fire very quickly. According to most building codes, referred to by the dryer vent cleaning Norcross GA services, no one uses these ducts anymore. The reason behind it is that the flexible duct’s ribbed interior quickly catches fire or can melt away in high temperatures.
Because lint gets stuck easily in plastic or vinyl ducts, this is another reason why no one uses these ducts anymore. It results in the duct becoming hot and potentially catching fire.
Aren’t all dryer vent hoses the same size?
Well. Dryer vent hoses come in many different lengths and sizes. However, each hose has about the same diameter. Some hoses may not even fit the particular vent you are trying to cover, which is most common. It usually happens if you try to provide an old stocking to a new dryer or the other way around.
Furthermore, another question you may ask, how long should the dryer vent hose be? There are few guidelines which you can follow. HVAC cleaning Norcross GA services states, the vent should have a maximum length of 25 feet. However, if you have to bend the duct at a 45-degree angle, you should remove about 2.5 feet per bend.
Dryer ducts usually take 4 inches of ducting. However, some people use 3-inch ones, which can still work but will add much resistance to the flow. It will take a bit longer and use more electricity to dry your clothes.