Yes, you can vent a dryer through the roof, but it requires careful consideration. This method is often used when traditional wall venting isn’t an option. Venting through the roof can be effective, but it’s important to ensure proper installation to avoid issues like moisture damage or reduced efficiency.
A roof dryer vent is a type of venting system for your clothes dryer that exits through the roof of your home. Unlike the more common side-wall vents, a roof vent directs the hot air and lint from your dryer straight upwards.
This setup is particularly useful in homes where side-wall venting is not possible or practical due to the layout or design of the building.
Why Vent Your Dryer?
When you use a clothes dryer, you must vent it outside. This is because the dryer creates a lot of warm, wet air and fluff from your clothes. When you dry your clothes, the water in them turns to steam. This steam needs to go out of your house, or it can make everything damp. Also, the small bits of fabric, which we call lint, need to go outside. If lint stays inside, it can catch fire very easily. So, a good vent stops your house from getting moist and stops fires.
When you vent through the roof, the air does not have to travel as far. This keeps your dryer working well and can look nicer on your house. But putting a vent on the roof needs to be done right. If you make a mistake, it can cause leaks or blockages. With blockages, the air can’t get out, and this is very bad. You must make sure the vent goes straight up and that nothing can block it, like bird nests or leaves.
When is Roof Venting the Right Choice?
Limited wall space
Houses sometimes come with little to no room on their exterior walls for installing vents. This situation is common in homes with many windows or when other structural elements take up the available space. When you find yourself with this problem, you must look upwards—yes, to your roof. Roof venting becomes the smart choice in such cases. By opting for roof vent installation, you can effectively manage the air and exhaust flow from your appliances, like dryers, without the need to clear or create space on your crowded walls. It’s a straightforward solution that ensures adequate functionality without major alterations to your existing home layout.
Aesthetic concerns
Running ductwork on the outside of your house for venting purposes may not be visually pleasing. Sometimes, it can be an eyesore that you wish to avoid. Here is where roof venting steps in as a savior for your home’s beauty. It hides the ductwork by routing it through the attic and out the roof. This means no visible pipes or vents disrupt the clean lines of your home’s exterior. Roof venting keeps your home looking tidy and smooth, maintaining the exterior charm that you value so much.
Dryers
Especially those that fall into the high-efficiency category, manufacturers often suggest roof venting to get the best performance. This is because these advanced machines work differently from traditional models and may need a more direct venting route to operate at their peak. Roof venting can provide a shorter and more efficient path for the hot air to escape, reducing the chances of lint buildup and the risk of fire.
If your dryer’s manual specifies roof venting, it’s crucial to follow these guidelines to ensure not only the optimal functionality of your appliance but also your safety. It is the right choice for getting the most out of the technology you invested in.
Before You Start Installing a Dryer Roof Vent
Check Building Rules: Some places say no to putting dryer vents on roofs. If needed, get permits.
Pick the Right Spot: Find a place 25 feet or less from where your dryer hooks up. Stay away from things like chimneys or other vents on the roof. Also, keep it away from where power lines are and the edge of the roof.
Get What You Need: Buy a kit for putting a vent on the roof. It should have flashing (that’s the metal piece that goes around the vent) and something to seal it tight so water doesn’t get in. You need straight ducts, the kind made of metal is best.
Also, get elbow pieces for turns, clamps to hold stuff together, and tools. You need a drill, something to cut a hole in the roof, and a tool to put the sealant on.
Installing Your Dryer Roof Vent – Step by Step
#1 Penetrating the Roof
- Mark Where Vent Goes: Draw around the bottom of the vent on your roof shingles.
- Cut Hole in Roof: Use a tool made to cut roofs or a saw to make the hole. Do it like the vent maker says.
- Put on Flashing: Fix the metal flashing over the hole. Make sure it’s watertight by using the sealant.
#2Connecting the Ductwork
- Put on Elbow: Hook up a 90-degree elbow to the dryer where air comes out. Make the vent point up.
- Lay the Ductwork: Use metal ducts that don’t bend easy. Fix them to the wooden parts of the roof (joists) with clamps. The ducts should tilt up a little, so water doesn’t stay in them.
- Join to Roof Vent: Attach the ducts’ other end to the bottom of the vent on the roof. Use the fasteners that come with it and put on sealant.
#3 Final Touches
- Seal Everything: Use a lot of strong sealant on all duct joints and where you cut the roof.
- Check Air Moves Right: Turn on the dryer to see if air goes through the vent the right way. Air should not leak or let small cloth pieces (lint) out where the vent opens on the roof.
Advantages of Roof Venting
1. Shorter Vent Run
A roof vent often means a shorter duct run. This can make your dryer more efficient and reduce drying times. With less ductwork, the air flows better, making drying faster.
2. No Visible Ductwork
Roof venting means no ducts running along the side of your house. This keeps your home looking neat and tidy. It’s good for the look of your home because you don’t see any pipes on the outside.
3. Other Potential Benefits
Roof venting might also improve airflow in certain setups. This can depend on your home’s design and the placement of your dryer.
Disadvantages of Roof Venting
1. Installation Complexity
Installing a vent through the roof can be hard. You might need to make holes in the roof and attic. Often, you need a professional to do this safely.
2. Maintenance Challenges
Cleaning and checking a roof vent is tough. It can be risky to climb up high on a ladder to reach the vent.
3. Snow and Ice Buildup
In cold places, snow and ice can block the vent on the roof. This can stop it from working right.
4. Fire Hazard
Roof vents can get clogged with lint more easily. This increases the risk of fire.
5. Building Code Restrictions
Some local building codes might not allow vents on the roof. You need to check these rules before installing one.
Conclusion
So, can you let dryer air out through the roof? Yes, you can, but you must do it right. First, check the rules where you live about putting vents on roofs. You might need a permit. Pick a place to cut the roof that’s safe and close to your dryer. Buy a kit that’s made for roof vents and has all you need, like metal ducts and sealant.