Insulating Dryer Vent In Attic

In these cases it may be necessary to vent your dryer through the attic.

Insulating dryer vent in attic. The international residential code allows you to run a dryer vent through the attic but you can t terminate it there. 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. Improve the heat efficiency of your dryer vent by sealing around it with caulking or foam insulation. Sometimes such as in town homes or condos it s not possible to vent a dryer through a wall outside.

When venting dryers for long distances use rigid metal pipe with as few elbows as possible. Attach insulation with foil based duct tape and caulk where pipe exits the house. In some cases only a swinging metal flapper separates interior from exterior. Be careful you don t cut through any studs electrical wires or pipes in the process.

Your dryer exhaust may be set in a sheet of metal or plywood. You can also install a vacuum seal that will prevent backdrafts of cold air when the dryer is off. This reduces the chance of the water condensing inside your house or dryer vent. Wrapping the vent pipe with insulation is a good idea.

Not all dryers will allow for this so be sure to check the owners manual to ensure it can be vented in this manner. A dryer vent should be vented outside. Doing so would fill your attic with warm moist air that could rot the framing.