DIY: What to Expect When Installing a New Dryer
When it comes to installing a new dryer, it may not be as simple as dropping it into your existing laundry room, plugging it in, and using it right away. Complications can arise whenever renovations are considered, especially the older the home is, even for ones as relatively minor as updating outdated appliances. Before allocating your entire budget to a new washer/dryer combo only to discover that your home will soon need hundreds of thousands more in repairs and/or renovations to get everything to even work properly, here is what to expect and what to look out for while you are installing a new dryer.
Disconnect the power cable and dryer vent tube from the floor.
Before moving the dryer, disconnect the power cable from the wall, and then gently pull the dryer away from the wall, taking care not to tear or otherwise put strain on the dryer vent tube. Loosen the clamp securing the tube to the floor and inspect the tube and floor intake themselves for excess lint build-up. An excess amount of lint could be indicative of a clogged dryer vent, which could cause dryer inefficiency in the short-term and danger of fire in the long-term. Inspect the outside dryer vent for lint build-up as well, and contact a cleaning service ASAP if clogged.
Measure the area BEFORE buying a new dryer.
Using a tape measure, measure the length, width, and depth of the laundry room in question and choose to work within those confines or perform renovations to accommodate larger laundry appliances. Should you choose to upgrade your entire laundry room, we recommend updating your dryer vents as well.
Reattach the dryer vent tube and power cable.
Once the new dryer is there and ready to be installed, reattach the dryer vent tube to the floor vent, then attach the dryer vent tube to the back of the dryer. Plug in the power cable and put the dryer in its final place. Test for power and efficiency.
Why Clear Dryer Vents are Important
Lint is merely an accumulation of textile fibers that are unfortunately flammable. When allowed to clog up a dryer vent, lint can pose a serious fire risk that far outweighs the mildly annoying lead-up side effect of our dryers simply not drying our clothes as well as they used to. While it is important to keep up on regular dryer vent maintenance regardless of how old your dryer is, newer dryers run more efficiently, and would easily overwhelm an old clogged dryer vent.
Once your new dryer and dryer vent is installed though, you will have both energy savings and peace of mind. When you get the job done right the first time, the benefit is that you don’t have to come back and fix it later.
How FAMCO Can Help
We are one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of HVAC supplies and accessories in the Pacific Northwest. We take pride in crafting high-quality dryer vents that look amazing and keep your family safe. If you have any questions about our products or services, please give us a call. We’ll be more than happy to help.
