# I have a dryer not attached to a vent and I’m inexperienced and physically weak… **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 14, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577 "2025-03-14T20:27:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/61 "2025-03-18T01:57:42Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > You might have better luck purchasing a dryer from someplace like Home Depot or Best Buy who have people more knowledgeable about these things than Costco does. They have the exact same business model that Costco does when it comes to appliances (as opposed to some electronics for Best Buy). They hire sub-contractors to do all/most/many of the installs. Same time I got the above mentioned range/over-range microwave I ordered a new dishwasher from Best Buy because they had the specific model I wanted and Costco did not. It was not installed by Best Buy employees. So it isn’t Costco vs Best Buy vs Home Depot so much as it is the specific subcontractors contracted locally by disparate box stores in any given area. I wouldn’t be surprised if they even use the same local subcontractor at times in some places. It’s all a crap shoot. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/62 "2025-03-18T02:45:53Z")
You need to have A Guy. Everyone needs A Guy. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/63 "2025-03-18T02:50:39Z")
I hate to say this but I’d want someone who knows what they’re doing install the vent. I’d want someone competent examine what is in the wall. It needs to be a proper metal pipe going to the outdoors and it should be inspected to see if it’s clear of debris. I’ve seen all manner of stupid involving dryer vents that were major fire hazards. Don’t feel bad if you have trouble wrestling a dryer around. They’re bulky and difficult to maneuver in a tight fit. I have some wiggle room where mine is and it was still a PITA to work on. Based on your pictures you have 2 different width adapters that are both 90 deg fittings. The straight one is sleeved so the parts rotate into different angles. In theory you shouldn’t need anything else. You can Google “handyman for dryer vent installation” and find someone who knows what they’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/64 "2025-03-18T04:48:00Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > You might have better luck purchasing a dryer from someplace like Home Depot or Best Buy who have people more knowledgeable about these things than Costco does Nope, nope, nope. They use the same hapless contracted guys to do the installations. Sometime literally the same guys. The experience will be much the same but without the expansive return and return policies of Costco or the extended warranty they offer. Me? I’d take the ducting to my closest local Ace hardware store and ask them if they can cut it to right length for you or do they sell or can they order the right length? With the ducting in hand they can no doubt demonstrate how you can cut to length with a pair of kitchen shears and then they can sell you the foil tape to finish the edge with. A quick trip to your mom and pop local hardware store is a heck of a lot less trouble then arranging to have a dryer picked up and returned, then shopping for and staying home for a day to have a different store deliver the dryer and have the same damn doofuses attempt to hook it up, verse 3. Hardware store, then call Costco back and have them send back the clown crew one last time. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/65 "2025-03-18T22:30:41Z")
Heck, in some small towns the Ace guy would want your address so he can stop by on his way home to do the five minute install for you. For free. At least you could ask at the hardware store who could come out and finish the job. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/66 "2025-03-18T22:36:34Z")
One slightly out-of-left-field idea… You’re inexperienced and not physically strong. But how interested might you be in DIY’ing this?? I ask because … > **[MILWAUKEE HAND TRUCKS Appliance Dolly Rental HDA700 - The Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/MILWAUKEE-HAND-TRUCKS-Appliance-Dolly-Rental-HDA700/316821536)** > > Rent a Appliance Dolly Rental from one of our over 1,200 THD rental locations. > Call your local store for same day pickup availability. If you have a clear ‘lane’ to access the dryer, get the appliance dolly under it, get the strap around the dryer, and back the dryer out of its spot … you could _easily_ verify exactly what you need, pick it up yourself, hook it up yourself, and then put the dryer back in place. For only a couple bucks, and a couple trips to the Home Depot. You’d want to verify that the one near you has appliance dollies for rent, but it’s a common gizmo. If this either causes you anxiety or simply Does Not Interest You At All … that’s cool. But there’s nothing either complicated or difficult in this task. Promise. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/67 "2025-03-19T03:27:30Z")
I got the @$&!\* 2 foot long duct tube. Hopefully this works. Now all I have to do is decide how to try it out. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/68 "2025-03-19T21:48:26Z")
FYI, took some advice and called Costco and scheduled for Friday. This is their last chance. Either they’ll leave with the dryer connected or I’ll be finding another option. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/69 "2025-03-21T19:09:36Z")
Okay, well, round 3 just happened. It didn’t begin well. The guys came over an hour before the delivery window and tried to inform me through a call with no ID, which I almost ignored. I also almost ignored the door knocking because I wasn’t sure it was my door being knocked on. Okay… One of the guys was apparently a trainee, and was being instructed by the other. Ooookay. It took them a bit, but the hose SEEMS attached to the wall now and the dryer installation test didn’t register anything. The dryer is a couple of inches more away from the wall than the washer, but the closet door closes. I think…HOPE this is the end of it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/70 "2025-03-21T19:13:18Z")
I’m glad it’s apparently over. Do you have access to the spot on the outside wall where the dryer vent terminates? When the dryer is running, do you see the moist air from it exiting there? That would be a good check that they hooked up everything properly. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/71 "2025-03-21T19:41:12Z")
I think so? I don’t know which it is, but I’ll look for it when I do my test runs. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/72 "2025-03-22T01:01:26Z")
It’s raining moderately right now, so I couldn’t see anything coming out of what I think is my dryer vent. Honestly, this whole situation has left me wondering if the hose is actually on properly. Since the dryer is new, I don’t have a baseline for its operation. Maybe the next time this condo complex has vent cleaning, I can ask the guy to check. I assume they have to know how to reattach things properly, right? And just out of curiosity, do dryers today need to be further from the wall than they did in 2017? I’m wondering if the dryer really does need to be further forward and if I should have known. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/73 "2025-03-22T02:10:09Z")
If you have a 4" dryer vent hose ‘trapped’ between the dryer and the wall, then your dryer is _plenty_ far enough away from the wall. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/74 "2025-03-22T02:23:30Z")
If it wasn’t attached, it would be a steam room right now where the dryer is ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/75 "2025-03-22T11:45:35Z")
There’s “attached” as in his dryer hose to the bit of pipe sticking out of his interior wall. Then there’s “attached” as in, the whole system in the wall s connected and not clogged and actually vents to the outside world. Big difference between the two. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/76 "2025-03-22T12:48:35Z")
I’m late to this thread and read quickly, so apologies if I’m repeating what’s been said. But, since the dryer is electric, the good news is that any leaks don’t pose a threat to you. In fact, they sell lint traps for people who want to vent the warm humid air into the living space in the winter. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/77 "2025-03-22T13:24:52Z")
Our vent came loose and the symptom was a large puddle on the floor in the winter. We thought one of the water pipes was leaking. But i looked around and was able to shove the vent pieces back together, and the problem resolved. A visiting plumber since decided that vent had reached its end of life and replaced it. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/78 "2025-03-22T18:02:19Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > And just out of curiosity, do dryers today need to be further from the wall than they did in 2017? I’m wondering if the dryer really does need to be further forward and if I should have known. You can look over the back of the dryer and see how much room there is for the hose if it bothers you. If it’s as far as it will go then you can always pull your washer out to match up and make it pretty. Good to hear you finally got it taken care of. It’s hard to imagine an installation company couldn’t handle such a simple issue. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577/79 "2025-03-22T18:34:44Z")
Yeah, they sound truly incompetent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dryer-not-attached-to-a-vent-and-i-m-inexperienced-and-physically-weak/1015577.md?page=3)