Product review (5 stars): >>> THIS IS THE ONE TO GET <<<
I bought this vent after reading many reviews on many different ones.
It replaces the kind that has four plastic flaps that were "supposed" to open during use and close when idle.
The fact of the matter is that, after a few uses, a couple of the flaps always remained open and the other two stayed shut.
Our laundry-room was whatever temperature it was outside; we could feel the cold wind blowing through the dryer.
If we didn't retrieve the dry clothes as soon as the dryer shut off, they would be ice-cold.
Now, for attachment of the new unit:
I left the outer frame of the old unit in place.
I removed and discarded all the plastic flaps.
In order to simply screw the new onto the old, a wee bit of minor modification was necessary.
I marked and drilled four new 3/16 holes in appropriate locations, such that I could screw into the plastic frame of the old unit.
I nipped off each of the four corners of the new unit, so as to clear the four mounting screws of the old unit.
I wiped everything clean and applied a bead of clear silicone caulk.
I opted for washer-headed sheet-metal screws, instead of the pan-headed screws provided.
It has taken me longer to write this review than it did to install the new unit, start to finish, and I did it in the rain --- almost every outside task one does in Kentucky ends up being done in the rain.
I did not screw the upper flange to anything.
Now for a test :
With everything properly assembled, I turned on the dryer.
The little "cup"-thingie immediately shot up to allow the dryer to vent.
Dryer OFF and the cup-thingie immediately dropped down, closing off the opening.
I will monitor the performance of this new vent-cap for such things as trapping too much lint, freezing up, and how well the clothes dry.
If anything negative occurs, I will update this review.