Home clothes dryer vent lets cold in

Try one of the inside/outside valves. When the flap is switched so the drier vents inside, it will block incoming air. Once some lint builds up, it may seal even better.

Come to think of it, lint buildup may be preventing the louvers closing all the way. Have you cleaned it lately.

A longer vent pipe that loops up and back down will form a sort of trap for the cold air (like an upsidedown P trap). If your drier vent opening is lower than the wall vent, cold air will fall into the drier.

The best defense might be to close the door to the laundry room.

I got a type of outside vent, that has a big plactic float that drops dowm to seal automaticly, its not perfect but it is the best I could find.

I just installed one of these dryer vents on a clients kitchen exhaust.

Yes Spudnutty, that is what I have the Baticdoor, it works, it must be cleaned of lint once in a while and painted if sun hits it or the plastic will deteriorate. But it is the only thing I saw , its design seals out drafts, but a bit of cold air comes in through convection of the plastic. Mine is 3 years old. got it a Menards.

Thanks to all who offered suggestions. I didn't realize there were so many solutions. :-) The situation is easily solvable.

Dugie

As others have suggested--most of the time the problem is a build up of lint that prevents the louvers from closing completely. Every once in a while I have to take a sharp point and dig the lint out of the hinge points to stop the cold air from getting into the dryer. MLD

Hey, this thing looks good. Does anyone know if a similar thing is available for a 3 1/4 x 10 rectangular duct that comes out of our kitchen exhaust vent? I can't easily change that to any other ducting configuration.

Ken

We don't have a laundry room. :-( Too bad - It would make a great cold room for veggies, wine and beer.

Dugie

Thanks, but I've done that, and do it frequently.

Dugie

Wouldn't a single flapper for the outside vent seal better than those multiple slats?

Unless you have a high efficiency furnace/boiler with outside air supply, did you ever think that maybe your heating system is not getting enough air and is sucking it in through the dryer vent?