Insulating Dryer Vent In Attic

A dryer vent should be vented outside.

Insulating dryer vent in attic.

Sometimes such as in town homes or condos it s not possible to vent a dryer through a wall outside. Be careful you don t cut through any studs electrical wires or pipes in the process. In these cases it may be necessary to vent your dryer through the attic. So the air remains warm until it exits the house.

You can also install a vacuum seal that will prevent backdrafts of cold air when the dryer is off. The international residential code allows you to run a dryer vent through the attic but you can t terminate it there. Leaks and what to do about them every inch of the metal surface of the dryer vent must be protected in order for the insulation to do its job. Doing so would fill your attic with warm moist air that could rot the framing.

If venting outside isn t an option you can vent the dryer out of the attic through the roof using a special roof vent to keep rain out. When venting dryers for long distances use rigid metal pipe with as few elbows as possible. Wrapping the vent pipe with insulation is a good idea. This reduces the chance of the water condensing inside your house or dryer vent.

Your dryer exhaust may be set in a sheet of metal or plywood. Improve the heat efficiency of your dryer vent by sealing around it with caulking or foam insulation. Not all dryers will allow for this so be sure to check the owners manual to ensure it can be vented in this manner.