Dryer vent booster fan
BEFORE PURCHASE
Not all booster fans will move air over the same distance. Make sure that the fan is right for your dryer venting system.
- Before you go out and buy a dryer vent booster fan measure the total length of the dryer venting system in your home as well as the number of elbows installed.
When comparing models look for a fan that:
- Can be installed both in horizontal and vertical running dryer vents.
- Comes with a permanently sealed and lubricated motor. No lint will ever reach the motor.
- Has a propeller that will not clog with lint.
- Is energy efficient. Automatic sensors save energy by turning on and off with the clothes dryer. Some models have a timer that is activated when the dryer stops and let the fan run for a few more minutes to expel the last moisture and lint from the duct to the exterior.

WHERE DO I INSTALL THE FAN?
Always make sure that the booster fan is installed past the secondary lint trap. So the right order is dryer, secondary trap, booster. The fan is needed for longer duct runs to maintain a minimum airflow of 100 cfm.(cubic feet per minute) Installation instructions vary from manufacturers but in general the booster fan should be installed at least 15 feet (4.5 m) from the dryer and 5 feet (1.5 m) back from the exterior dryer vent hood. Carefully read the instructions that come with the booster fan. When I looked for more information on dryer vent booster fan installations I found they are not readily available in major home improvement centers. You may be able to find a local supplier on the Internet by following links on this page.

USFA DOCUMENTED CLOTHES DRYER FIRES
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has released a report stating that clothes dryer fires account for an estimated 12,700 residential fires, 15 deaths and 400 injuries annually. The USFA attributes “Failure to clean” as the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.

KEEP BIRDS AND OTHER PESTS FROM ENTERING THE DRYER VENT
Older dryer vent hoods: The easiest way to keep a bird out of an existing dryer vent is to install a pest guard over the exterior vent cover opening. You can also fashion your own guard from some light weight chicken wire.
Some dryer vent hoods come with a pest guard which, in some models, can be removed for lint cleaning.