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 challenge in connecting a dryer vent inside a tight closet
Author: sum (FL)

Anyone tried to connect a stackable inside a closet barely wide enough for this stackable? This is worse as the appliance is an "LG wash tower" and is not designed to be taken apart it was delivered in one piece.

I have it moved out of the closet to fix the washing machine valves and some electrical issues. Now I need to connect the dryer duct.



If it's all the way in, there is barely 2.5" on each side not even wide enough to reach inside.



The back side of the machine looks like this, the dryer vent outlet is right in the middle.



The dryer vent connection on the wall is recessed and to the right, I made the connections on both ends by stretching the duct to full 6' length and got it connected.



When I pushed the tower back inside the closet the duct got kinked and crushed.





I can't figure out how to make it work without crushing the duct.

My next attempt would be to first connect the hose to the tower, leave it unconnected and push it forward half way in. Then climb up and lay on my stomach (there is a space of 9" between the top of tower and bottom of door frame) and try to route the duct away from the congested cord and supply hose and make the connection into the recess box higher up. Is this the way to do it or am I missing something obvious.

I already tried to be on my stomach and I couldn't reach the lower connection on the machine about 8" too short.

If I do it this way, in the future if I need to replace a supply hose by pulling the tower out, it will tear the dryer duct when I do so.



Edited 2 times.

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 Re: challenge in connecting a dryer vent inside a tight closet
Author: steve (CA)

Sum, can you move the wall box to the top of the wall(or ceiling), so the flex duct can be connected from above the machines, after pushing them into the closet?

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 Re: challenge in connecting a dryer vent inside a tight closet
Author: ArthurPeabody (NM)

Will an elbow coming out of the back of the dryer fit?

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 Re: challenge in connecting a dryer vent inside a tight closet
Author: DaveMill (CA)

Sum,

Search "flat dryer duct" for rectangular profile ducts designed to solve this problem. 90º angle at the bottom, straight or 90º at the top. You may need to do a jog at the top because your vent is embedded in the wall.

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 Re: challenge in connecting a dryer vent inside a tight closet
Author: Curly (CA)

In addition to the other suggestions.....search for "dryer vent elbow" and you will see close quarter elbows, offset elbow (similar to Dave suggestion but shorter) and more elbows....something that will let you make lower connection then push machine in and make higher connection, as long as you don't gain any weight !

You might also try using metal foil ducting...a little more forgiving.

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 Re: challenge in connecting a dryer vent inside a tight closet
Author: sum (FL)

couldn't get the flat duct thing to work.

I used it before in other situations but this time it didn't work. The fact that the washing machine hoses and valves, plus the dryer receptacle also in that area made it very congested, also not helping is the rear of the machine has a "bump out" on the right side that made things worse. There isn't a straight path from dryer outlet to recessed wall inlet, and in order to make it work I have to use an extension collar to come out of the dryer to clear the bump, and an offset to connect to the wall box.

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 Re: challenge in connecting a dryer vent inside a tight closet
Author: sum (FL)

Finally got it to work with an 8' semi rigid duct.

Connected the bottom outlet first, than push the machine into the closet 75% of the way, stretch and make the shape to clear all the obstruction the the recessed box, then push in another 20%, connect the upper inlet and tightened the hose clamp with me laying on my stomach on top of the machine.





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 Re: challenge in connecting a dryer vent inside a tight closet
Author: vic (CA)

Sum, thanks for the update and what you had to go through.

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 Re: challenge in connecting a dryer vent inside a tight closet
Author: DaveMill (CA)

Whoever buys that place from you is going to curse you until the end of time, just like you are cursing whoever built it that way.

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 Re: challenge in connecting a dryer vent inside a tight closet
Author: sum (FL)

No doubt.

...and it will be me cursing perhaps 6 months from now, when I want to replace the hot and cold washing machine hoses, I will have to take it all apart so I can move this washtower out of the closet to do so.

what is perplexing to me, is that this appears to be not an isolated situation, many apartments and condos down here even new builds have a tight closet like this made for stackable washing machines, and some of them don't even have the room up top to squeeze in on my stomach. I am not sure how they connect everything.

also a challenge is where to place the dryer vent hookup, washing machine valves, drain, washer and dryer receptacles. Each machine is different so it's difficult to rough them in generically unless you have a specific machine in mind. But in my opinion it's best to not have dryer duct and washing machine valves and drain all on the same side, it's too many things tangled and bunched together.

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 Re: challenge in connecting a dryer vent inside a tight closet
Author: george 7941 (Canada)

Some of the folks who design the interiors of the condos don't give a second thought as to how the machines are to be hooked up. As long as the standard sized stackable unit can squeeze into the closet, it is all good.
Buyers bear part of the responsibility. When buying condos they are more focused on the granite countertops and the shiny cabinets.



Edited 1 times.

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