If you had the choice to go up and then out to the outside or go down and then out, which is better and why? With a dryer on the main floor I could go up 2 - 6 feet and then directly to the outside or go down through the main floor and then out the floor rimjoist. Down would be about 1 foot but the vent outside would be close to the ground. I have heard you say that kitchen range vents should go down. I assume I should not go straight out but that is the simplest possiblity (because space behid the dryer could be tight). Could I go out and then up or down on the outside? Sorry for all the questions but if you discribe the general principles that you go by in positioning a dryer vent then may I can choose the best way given other contraints.
Answer:
I would prefer to go straight out and eliminate the need for elbows but short of that, I'd go down and then out making sure not to permit the ductwork to be more than about twenty feet with an absolute maximum of two elbows. Elbows tend to lessen the efficiency of the whole installation. Laundry room clothes dryer venting is often done with corrugated hose causing the machine to work much harder than it should to accomplish only a fraction of what it could. This type of duct also tends to collect inordinate amounts of lint which starts out by restricting airflow and in a worst case scenario becomes a serious fire hazard. Rigid ducting (with all joints and seams taped) is by far preferable to the corrugated product. The clothes washer dumps into the sink rather than into a standpipe. This is a large surface of evaporating water and it is not necessary. Standpipes are among the easiest of fixtures to install.
In the interests of retaining credibility and in fairness to all, I cannot recommend prices, people nor companies for various projects. Courtesy of Ren Molnar, Construction Consultant at HomeFocus.com. I can also be reached at (613) 748-3003 and Home Focus – The Radio Show is broadcast live 8 to 10 A.M. (Ottawa, Ont. time) on Saturdays on www.cfra.com.
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