How to hide an outside vent?

Question

I recently had to replace my dryer vent from venting on the other side of the house because how difficult it was to clean/maintain. Plus it was dangerous because it vented into the floor of my garage and was carried along way from the dryer. Point being is that is was replaced with something safer that now vents into my front porch area. I am sure I don't have to explain what a pain that is. Now we have lint traveling all over and making a mess of the area. It comes out in a little patch of dirt which is broken up by the walkway and then another patch of dirt. The front porch is raised a couple inches from the ground. I was thinking of building some sort of planter from pavers so that the lint could just blow into it and I could put some plans on top but I don't know if that is my best option...anyone have any ideas?

Just an addition to the above, with the planter idea I was not going to fill the plater with dirt or anything, I figured the lint could blow inside of it and the air would still be able to escape but I could set decorative pots with plants around the edges to try and hide the opening.

Answer 1

Whatever you choose, you need to make sure you can get to the vent and make sure that critters can not get to it/near it because they may choose to make a home there for the warmth.

I do like the paver planter box, but I would be concerned that you are covering the exit area with plant and dirt, which would prevent proper venting.

What about making a small box/plant stand from lattice or if the location allows it, planting some ornamental grass, which grows quickly but doesn't attract too many critters.

** I would think that an empty planter would look unfinished. What about a rock garden? It's an all season solution that won't die.

Answer 2

I completely understand your problem, and I think I understand the layout. I like your planter with pavers idea. I'm thinking you should build so that they are not tightly packed on their sides, so they can vent. Inside you would place a screen to catch the lint from blowing all over. Of course, you will have to clean or replace this screen at some regular interval.

The top of this would have a painted to match the pavers board with a hole to accept a planter. Something not too difficult to move for the cleaning. (Lift the planter out to inspect, remove the board to clean.)

If you didn't have it right there on the porch a hose hanger, the kind that have a space for accessories might work. Youd have to modify the bottom to vent and lose the storage, but it would have a normal look.

Answer 3

This is a simple fix, just open up the floor and using a 45 just as the pipe clears the bottom floor ceiling run it to the outside wall and then open up the outside wall and using another 45 to get it going straight up again, run the vent up through the wall and out the roof. This will meet code anywhere. Inspectors like to see vent pipes with at least a 1/4 per foot rise and never never running downhill.

Answer 4

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