Published on: January 2, 2022
Written by Eric Devin / Fact-checked by David Rowan

As we know, a dryer vent or duct is a key to the proper functioning of our clothes dryer. Without it, the dryer won’t be able to dry our clothes. It also could cause significant risk of fire in our house.

If you are planning to install a dryer vent, you must know about the proper installation of your Dryer vent to have the desirable service. Properly installed dryer vent helps blow out the evaporated air outside your house in a timely manner.

how to install a dryer vent through a brick wall

After installation, keeping it clean, and fixing minor problems are the key for your Dryer to function efficiently.

Operating a Dryer vent through a brick or brick layer wall could be an intimidating task. For proper installation through the brick wall, you need to use proper tools and materials and comply with all the procedures. In this process, using the right tools like drill and drill bit can make your job viable with minimum efforts and hassles.

With the above note, I have prepared this article with simple steps to show you how to install Dryer vent through a brick wall.

Looking to upgrade & install a new dryer vent? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install a dryer vent. There are also additional note cleaning & maintenance including follow-up.

To facilitate faster and safer drying, it’s crucial to correctly install a dryer vent to direct the air and lint out of a structure. This task may seem daunting if the wall is made of brick through which the Dryer vent needs to be installed by making a hole.

But creating a hole for the vent is fairly simple. Now let’s discuss the installation procedure below.

Follow Step By Step Guide

Step 1: Wear Personal Protection Equipment

Before commencing your project work, you must wear safety goggles; ear plugs; musk, protective clothes and boots as appropriate to prevent injuries, respiratory infections and workplace hazards;

Step 2: Organize tools

A set of Dryer vent;
Vent pipe;
Marker;
Hammer drill with masonry bit;
Cold chisel;
Hammer;
Hole saw, if needed.

Step 3: Determine the Location for Dryer Vent Installation

Choose a strategic location that could be possibly more suitable and convenient for your Dryer vent to be installed. It would be always ideal to have the location outside the house in a visible position. And the location should not be too far from your Dryer inside the house.

During choosing the location for the dryer vent hole, make the path between the dryer and the vent hole direct, with the vent passing through the shortest possible distance with minimal curving.

It won’t be a problem if it needs to go a foot or two in one direction or another. It may include measurement of the interior and exterior walls to be sure that the opening point for the installation of the Dryer vent is properly located. Also make sure that it is between joists and studs.

Step 4: Make a Vent Hole

After determining the location, draw a 4¼ inch diameter hole on the wall to cut for making the hole. Drill a pilot hole using a masonry bit from the interior where the center of the planned vent hole will be. Draw a 4¼ inch circle on the outside using the center hole that you just have drilled.

Check the point of the vent cloak to make sure that it clears the ground appropriately. If it does not, then you can adjust the center hole to accommodate it. In that case, change out the drill bit to a 4¼ inch masonry and brick hole saw kit.

Cut the hole slowly, stopping occasionally to pull out and remove the dust from the bit. Continue until the hole is completely through the wall. Make sure it breached cleanly and encountered no obstacles.

Instead of a proper hole saw kit, you can also use a hammer and chisel to make the holes. Use the hammer and chisel carefully while drilling the holes around the perimeter of your drawn circle until the hole is completely crushed. If it is a bit rough, it will be concealed by the vent cap flange.

Step 5: Install the Vent Hood and Duct

Slide the vent hood through the hole and lock it with the appropriate size screws. You will have to drill pilot holes into the brick for this. Once the vent cap is installed, attach the remaining of the ducting to the dryer from inside.

It is strongly recommended to install rigid metal duct within the wall in compliance with some building code and types of ducting. Because the rigid metal duct has a smooth interior to enhance the flow of air and lint.

Other kinds of flexible ducts like Aluminum Foil Duct, Semi-Rigid Metal Duct and Slim Duct or Periscope etc. are not encouraged to use as they could cause fire or accumulation of rubbish which would turn your dryer inefficient or non-functional. Once widely used, the plastic or vinyl dryer duct is no longer recommended to use as it is a fire hazard material.

However, in case of installing a flexible dryer duct, make sure it does not crush or kink. If not installed properly, kinked or crushed dryer ducts may accumulate lint clog causing the dryer to be inefficient. Even it can cause overheat and fire hazard in your ducting.

Furthermore, some dryer vents are not UL-Approved and should be strictly prohibited. There are a variety of lengths and elbows to use to build appropriate connections.

Step 6: Caulk and Finish Openings

Finally, end your installation process with caulking through the wall with a good waterproof silicone caulk made for indoor and outdoor use.

Additional Notes to Follow

Use large hose clamps to attach the solid vent pipes to the elbows, and use foil tape to seal the joints between the pipe sections. Never use sheet metal screws to join the sections together – they will protrude into the pipe, where they will catch and hold lint that eventually could block the vent pipe.

Flexible plastic hoses were commonly used for venting dryers in the past. However, these hoses aren’t strong enough to support their own weight, so they will drop, and lint will collect in the low spots, creating a possible fire hazard. Don’t use them.

The dryer duct, or tube, is at the heart of dryer venting. But you must consider the important features while choosing the dryer ducts as discussed below:

Aluminum Foil Duct

Inexpensive and easy to find, foil accordion-style ducts are the most common type of dryer duct. Coiled metal wire gives these ducts their cylindrical shape. Since these ducts are metal, they are inflammable. Classified as a transition duct, this product cannot be used within wall assemblies.

Semi-Rigid Metal Duct

This type of dryer duct looks similar to an aluminum foil duct in that it is an accordion-style flexible metal tube. It also is a transition duct that must be used outside of wall assemblies. The difference is that the metal is semi-rigid and less prone to crushing. Since the inside of the duct is smooth, lint and other debris move more freely through the duct.

Slim Duct or Periscope

Constructed of rigid metal, a slim or periscope dryer vent allows you to push the dryer back close to the wall. As a transition duct, it must be kept out of the wall assembly.

Rigid Metal Duct

The only dryer vent that can be installed within a wall, the rigid metal duct has a smooth interior to encourage the flow of air and lint.

Once widely used “the plastic or vinyl dryer duct” is no longer recommended as it is a fire hazard.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Dryer vents filled with lint and other debris could cause fires and hazards. With the vacuum, clear out the tube, clean the vent leading out of the dryer, the vent cap assembly attached to the house. Besides, fixing minor problems is essential to help your dryer function properly. Replace accessories as and when necessary.

Can Cleaning the Dryer Vent Prevent the Need for Installing a New Vent Through a Brick Wall?

Regular cleaning dryer vent maintenance can definitely prevent the need for installing a new vent through a brick wall. By keeping the dryer vent clean, you can avoid blockages and potential damage to the vent system, ultimately extending its lifespan and avoiding the need for costly repairs or replacements.

Concluding Notes

As discussed earlier, a dryer vent or duct is a key to the proper functioning of your clothes dryer. Without it, the dryer won’t be able to dry your clothes. Cloth dryer functions by dipping wet clothing through heated air in a rotating drum. This heated air evaporates the moisture and sends it out of the dryer through the dryer vent.

So, if the dryer vent is not properly installed, it could even cause significant risk of fire in your house. So, take care of all the aspects and follow the installation guidelines of your dryer vent as discussed in the article to have the efficient service by the dryer and the dryer vent.

Cleaning and regular maintenance are key to have safer operation, avoid fire or hazards and keep your dryer efficient and durable.

As usual, we always would love to hear from you if you need any further support from us in accomplishing your project in an efficient manner. Our experts are always there to have your valuable comments and feedback which would help us get prepared to address your issues at the earliest possible time.

How to Install a Dryer Vent Through a Brick Wall