Periscope Dryer Vent Pros and Cons

Every dryer owner knows how annoying it is to deal with a transition hose. It's easy to break, takes up a lot of space, and if you bend it, your dryer won't work well.

Even worse than that, if you try to squeeze your transition hose behind your dryer, not only are you significantly increasing the distance that air needs to travel, but you also run the chance of a significant amount of lint building up. Lint accumulation is a significant issue since it puts your dryer at risk of catching fire and reduces its efficiency. In fact, the majority of dryer fires are brought on by hot lint that has piled up while your dryer is venting.

Consider installing a periscope dryer vent if you have ever wished to simply take out your transition hose and replace it with a better option. These dryers are designed to fit into small areas and allow you to place your dryer closer to the wall. To make your dryer safer and more effective, all you need is a small piece of HVAC tape and a screwdriver.

A periscope dryer vent is basically an elbow built out of a hard metal pipe, and it has a rectangular shape. The length of a periscope's vent is generally adjustable, depending on the model. A dryer vent periscope is a space-saving alternative to a flexible transition hose that is typically employed when conserving floor area is a priority. A periscope vent is typically far more space-efficient than a hose because of its rectangular shape and its ability to be adjusted. The majority of periscope vents only require 2-1/2′′ of clearance, which is an acceptable amount of space.

Periscope Dryer Vent Pros

For confined or small spaces, periscope dryer vents work best. A periscope duct will be advantageous for those who have little room between the dryer and the wall. It would be less efficient to use a regular foil tube because the dryer might compress it. Periscope cuts are versatile and can be positioned vertically, horizontally, or diagonally in confined places. Most periscope dryer vents typically have a length between 27 and 48 inches. Additionally, the duct can be modified to provide the ideal fit from the dyer to the outside.

An aluminum foil tube with several ridges is commonly employed in dryers. Each ridge increases the surface area of the duct as a whole, which slows the air leaving the dryer. As a result, the dryer operates less effectively, and it can take many cycles for your garments to be completely dry.

With a periscope dryer vent, air travels more quickly to the outside because of the shorter distance it has to cover. In addition, because slender ducts are composed of smooth metal, the air is able to move through them more effectively than it would through any hard foil tube. Lint buildup is also less likely due to the surface's smoothness. Last but not least, a periscope dryer vent makes cleaning much simpler. 

Periscope Dryer Vent Cons

The most significant downside of periscope dryer vents is that they are not suitable for every building. These vents are designed to fit into confined, tiny areas. Because it only requires two inches of space for installation, a periscope duct is an excellent choice for locations that are limited in space. The other bad thing about a periscope dryer duct is that you can't just pick any brand. Certain brands are designed for particular dryer models.