How To Reroute A Dryer Vent From The Garage To Outside [Step By Step Guide]

Dryers are appliances that greatly help dry our clothes within the shortest time possible. For your dryer to operate optimally, it needs to be vented. However, venting it into the garage can cause more harm than good. Hence it may be a good idea to reroute it away from your garage to the outside. What are the reasons for doing this, and what are the steps to take? We researched to inform you of this and much more.

To reroute your vent from the garage to the outside, moving your dryer from its current room to another one may be necessary. After doing this, follow the steps below to vent to the outside successfully:

  • Mark and drill the pilot hole
  • Drill the vent hole through the wall
  • Install your outer vent
  • Install the aluminum vent hose

Continue reading to know the steps you need to follow to vent your dryer to the outside instead of the garage. Also, learn why your dryer vent should not be in the garage. Included are the costs of venting your dryer to the outside.

Garage interior with shelves in the corner, How To Reroute A Dryer Vent From The Garage To Outside [Step By Step Guide]

How To Reroute Dryer Vent From The Garage To The Outside

It is not advisable to vent your dryer in the garage. There are several reasons for this, which we shall tackle later in this post. You can vent your dryer through the wall, basement, or roof. Venting through the basement means drilling through the wall and joists onto the outside. To vent to the outside through the wall only requires drilling a hole. 

Venting via the roof should be your last option. This is because the project will require you to run it through the attic and roof, which can be costly. The job can also be quite complicated.

Below are the steps to take when rerouting your dryer vent from the garage to the outside through the wall:

Mark And Drill The Pilot Hole

A man builder marks a line on the wall with a building level

  1. Identify the location where you want the vent to be.
  2. Mark the center hole, where you will drill the pilot hole.
  3. Measure the diameter of your vent from this hole. This will guide you in marking the circumference around the marked pilot hole, where the vent will be installed.
  4. The diameter and circumference are the guides to creating the bigger hole where you will install the vent. 
  5. Drill a pilot hole from the interior of your house to the exterior

Drill The Vent Hole Through The Wall

Man is holding hand drill in hands. Worker installing the wall bathroom vent works renovation

  1. Go outside and see the pilot hole you had earlier drilled from the interior. Mark around the hole or the circumference where you will install the vent.
  2. Drill slightly into the wall along the whole circumference. 
  3. Use a hammer and chisel to knock out the brick inside the circumference until you create a hole the size of your vent through the wall.

Install Your Outer Vent

You can find this vent cover on Amazon.

  1. Install the outer vent and ensure the cover is well-leveled. With a 3/16 inch, drill the holes where you will fix the screws in each corner. 
  2. Drill the screws, and caulk around the vent cover to seal the gaps. This prevents water from seeping through into your vent.

Air ventilation in concrete wall

Install The Aluminum Vent Hose

This is a dryer vent kit that is in Amazon.

  1. Go back into the house, and attach one end of the aluminum hose to the vent you installed from the outside.
  2. Clasp the hose and the vent using a clamp. 
  3. Tighten the clamp using a 5/16-inch drill bit, though you can still use a regular screwdriver. Ensure it fits snugly. 
  4. Slide the clamp on the other end of the aluminum hose and attach it to the dryer vent outlet. Tighten the clamp.
  5. Caulk around the aluminum hose, which is the point it joins to the dryer vent outlet. 

Dryer duct

The video below provides a visual presentation of the steps explained above:

Reasons Not To Vent Your Dryer Into The Garage

It can be dangerous, harmful, or negatively impact if you vent your dryer into the garage. You should not due to the following reasons:

Violation Of The Building Codes

You may be contravening the building codes if your dryer vents into the garage. The International Residential Code (IRC) states that the exhaust ducts, including the one from your dryer, should exit outside. You may find it hard to sell your home at an attractive price if you go against this building code. Furthermore, you could attract fines. 

Potential Hazard From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

You can put your family in danger if your dryer uses gas to operate and it vents into your garage. It’s important to know that this type of dryer emits tiny amounts of carbon monoxide, which are harmful to your health. Carbon monoxide can cause confusion, dizziness, and nausea, and at very high concentrations, it can be fatal

Growth Of Mold

Mold grows and thrives in warm and humid environments. This can be created by venting indoors, like in your garage. Mold not only releases foul odors but can also be a health hazard to you. It can cause allergies. That is why the hot air should exit outside to minimize mold growth as much as possible. 

Risk Of Fire

This is an air filter that you can find on Amazon.

Your dryer vent has a filter that prevents the lint from passing through the vent. However, tiny amounts will always find their way out. So, if you have vented to the garage, lint can build up slowly and may catch fire since it’s highly flammable. 

For example, lint can get into the car or any other machine, which, if turned on, can ignite a fire. In a worst-case scenario, exposed wires in an unfinished garage can cause a fire. This can happen when the electrical current passing through the wires ignites the lint causing a fire. 

According to the United States Fire Administration, there are 2,900 home fires yearly caused by dryers. They have indicated that one of the causes is the accumulation of lint, which can easily ignite. 

Structural Damage To Your Garage

Your dryer vent contributes to the high humidity levels in your garage. This can cause the degradation of timber and rust of metal. The insulation efficiency in your garage can be significantly impeded by the humid air, leading to higher energy bills. The hot air emitted can also cause damage to the car or machine. Some metals may bend or warp due to the heat. 

Respiratory Issues

Lint emitted from your dryer vent can cause health issues when inhaled. The lint is not harmful, but the tiny particles can find their way into your respiratory system, causing problems such as allergies. 

Cost Of Repairing A Dryer Vent

Repairing or installing a dryer vent costs between $80 and $200, including materials and labor. Sometimes, the price can escalate to $1,000 depending on the quality of the duct material and how complex it is to install the vent.

Semi-rigid dryer ducts made from aluminum cost between $200 and $250. And, to install a dryer vent in a wall, you will likely spend from $100 to $300. A contractor will charge you between $50 and $150 to drill a hole through a brick or concrete wall. 

If you are up to the task, you will not pay a dime except for the materials. But, as usual, it is reiterated that you use the services of a professional. They are more skilled and are highly unlikely to make costly mistakes. 

To hire a professional, expect to pay between $20 and $35 per hour. An installation usually takes between two and four hours. Therefore, you will likely spend a total of $40 to $140 for labor. 

In Closing

Garage interior with shelves in the corner

There are several disadvantages to installing the dryer vent in your garage. And, hence you should vent it to the outside. You can vent your dryer through the roof, wall, or basement. The roof should be your last option due to the high costs involved. Both the wall and basement are perfect for venting to the outside. 

The cost of installing or repairing a dryer vent mainly depends on the quality of materials used, installation difficulty, and the place your vent will exit. 

You can read more about dryer vents by clicking on our previous posts below:

Do HVAC Companies Clean Dryer Vents

Does An Electric Dryer Need A Vent

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