Emergency venting for dryer?

Question

I have a dryer with a four-inch vent. The vent in my wall is three inches in diameter. I don't want to use a step down since that's a really good way to have a lint fire (and because the hole in the wall is about 20 feet from the dryer), but it's going to take a couple of months before anyone can come out and drill a new hole in the concrete. I'd really like to wash clothes in between then and now, and given that it's rained every single day since June 2 I suspect I won't be air drying much.

Can I stick the end of the vent out of a covered window while I'm drying? (I wouldn't leave it there otherwise: I like my windows closed and locked when I'm asleep.)

Answer 1

Sure.

Answer 2

You can just put a old Nylon Stocking over your discharge from the dryer and secure it with a Zip Strip.  Just keep it cleaned out until you get your new vent pipe in.  

One of those white plastic zip ties if you want to call it that.  It's like what the police use for temporary handcuffs.  Like on COPS.  Go to hardware store and ask, they will get them for you.

And yes, I would just vent out the window.

Answer 3

Maybe he meant a zap strap which is what some people call a cable tie, those plastic things that fasten to themselves to go around things. But sending the damp air from the dryer into your house is a great way to get a soggy house, and if it's rained every day for over 2 weeks it's probably damp enough already. I'd step the hose down, since you won't be using it that way all that long, and if it worries you, just inspect it every couple of weeks and clean out if necessary. You could also use the metal ducting for dryers, which accumulates lint much more slowly than the expanding hoses, and you could step it down gradually towards the 3 inch hole by taping the last section so that it tapers, by using that shiny silver duct tape meant for heating pipes. Once you have the 4-inch hole, it would be easy to cut the tape and then use the duct at its intended size.

Answer 4

a   step down anit that  bad ...... fires   are casued when the vent is blocked . either 4in or 3 in  will casue this  .....

   in the mean time  stick it out the window ...

  

  a zip tie  is a plastice tie used to hold  things in place ,like plastic pipes,   it works o nthe back of the dryer , to hold the  vent pipe the dryer,

    i really recommend you use ,  tin  ,  it stays cleaner, and less trash stays in it ,