Dryer vent tubes exhaust moist air from a clothes dryer's drum to the outside of the house. Moving a dryer or pushing a dryer against a wall can dislodge the end of the tube from the back of the dryer. When this happens, moist air blows into the laundry room or laundry closet. Over time, lint and moisture can accumulate and cause problems. Reattaching a dryer vent tube is not difficult. In most cases, a do-it-yourself homeowner can do the job in a relatively short time.
Ask an assistant to help move the dryer away from the wall to access the flexible gas line on a gas dryer. Shut off the valve at the gas pipe. Disconnect the fitting where the line connects to the valve, using an adjustable wrench. For an electric dryer, unplug the power cord from the outlet.
Move the dryer as necessary for room to access the back and the circular exhaust pipe where the vent tube attaches. The disconnected flexible vent tube should be nearby, and the open end may have the clamp still attached.
Loosen the bolt on the clamp counterclockwise with a nut driver. Pull the clamp off the end of the vent tube.
Slide a new vent clamp onto the tube, 3/4 inch from the open end. Hold the tube near the open end and fit it fully onto the circular exhaust pipe. Tighten the bolt on the clamp to secure the vent pipe to the dryer exhaust.
Reposition the dryer, as necessary, to reattach the flexible gas line fitting to the natural gas valve. Tighten the fitting securely with the wrench. Open the valve. For an electric dryer, plug the cord into the electrical outlet.
Move the dryer into position for use, taking care not to compress the vent tube between the wall and back of the dryer.
Things You Will Need
- Adjustable wrench
- Nut driver
- Dryer vent clamp
- Vent tubes work more efficiently when they have a gentle bend at the back of the dryer instead of a sharp bend.