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Leave clearance so the dryer hose is not crushed

Dryer vent

When you push the dryer flush to the wall, the transition hose can flatten and choke airflow — leave a little space or use a crush-resistant metal run.

leave clearance so dryer hose not crushed — related household tip photo
Photo: USACE Europe District from Wiesbaden, Germany / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

A hose can look fine while the dryer is pulled into the room and still end up flattened once you shove the cabinet flush to the wall. That hidden crush is a common reason loads need a second cycle even after you cleaned the lint screen.

Unplug the dryer before you pull it forward. For a gas dryer, if you smell gas, stop and call your gas utility or a qualified technician.

Check the hose in its final position

  1. Pull the dryer straight out a few feet so you can see the short run to the wall.
  2. Look for a kink, a coil pressed flat, or a hose pinched between the cabinet and the wall outlet.
  3. Push the dryer back slowly while guiding the hose so it stays open — not folded under the machine.
  4. Leave a little clearance if a soft foil hose keeps crushing. A short rigid or semi-rigid metal transition resists flattening better than thin accordion foil.

After the dryer is parked, run a short empty cycle and confirm the outdoor flap opens with a steady warm puff. See the two-cycle vent checklist if airflow is still weak.

Honest stop

Stacked units, tight closets, or a gas connector you cannot move safely are installer or technician territory. Do not yank a gas line or leave the vent dumped into the room to “buy space.”

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