My dryer vent hose has a hole the size of a quarter. Can I use duct tape to repair this? Any fire risk?

Question

My dryer vent hose has a hole the size of a quarter. Can I use duct tape to repair this? Any fire risk?

Answer 1

I just replaced my dryer and the repair man took my vent hose off because the older vent tube must be replaced by a newer material

Answer 2

you can fix anything with duct tape use a good brand T-rex made by suretape technologies..........tom

Answer 3

Duct tape would be better than nothing. Dryer vent pipe is less than $10 bucks at a hardware store. By the way, plastic and foil ducting is no longer allowed anyway. Now would be a good time to pick up the new replacement rigid dryer ducting down at the hardware store.Look at the pic below. The stuff on the right is the correct thing to get. It is sold by the foot.

Answer 4

I am no expert on the matter. However I personally know 2 different families who had tragic fires that were related to dryer vents, one resulting in death and the other, horrible maiming. As I result I take NO chances and change my whole vent hose every 2 years, regardless of the condition. 7 bucks every 2 years is worth the peace of mind.

Answer 5

Dryer vent hoses are sooo cheap, buy a new one unless you have enough extra length on the one with a hole in it to cut it off.  

Answer 6

If you HAVE to use duct tape, I'd at least do a couple wraps of aluminum foil around the vent hose first which should help avoid any chance of a fire, then wrap the tape around it all sealing it as good as you can.  Cut the aluminum foil a little wider than the width of the hole and make 2 or 3 wraps.

Answer 7

Gas or electric dryer?

If it's a gas unit get it repaired professionally.

Answer 8

For the time being you can repair it and don't have to worry about the risk of fire. All that's being pushed through the hose is the hot air from the dryer. In time you should replace it before another hole appears. But for now  you can use duct tape.

Answer 9

Trying to patch the hose will likely cause lint blockages in the future.  I recommend you replace the hose instead.

Bert

Answer 10

Your hose should be the metal flex kind, as those plastic ones can catch fire and are outlawd in many cities.    they do make a metal duct tape  that will last better than plain.

Answer 11

you can try duct tape but, contrary to the name, duct tape doesn't do well with the humid heat in ducts. you'll probably find the tape will lose it's adhesive qualities and fall off after a few uses. better off replacing it.