Splendide install warning!
Finally got around to installing the washer, a Splendide 2100XC. I had blithely assumed that comments I had read about there being nothing but foam and glass between the vent location (straight out the back of the washer) and the outside were correct. After carefully measuring I started my 4" hole saw drilling from the inside. While drilling I'm thinking...."damn, these Fores are built tough. There must be a heavy inner layer of glass on this thing behind the ply liner. Would have thought I'd been through by now but this is an old dull hole saw...." WAIT A MINUTE, THOSE ARE STEEL SHAVINGS!
Pried out the plywood plug, the inner glass layer and found that I had neatly sawn into a piece of
what looks to be 2X2 steel tubing, the horizontal structure of the wall. The hole wasn't centered on it but the tubing was in the upper third of the cutout. Fortunately I had found this from the inside, had I started outside would have been a blowed toad. I offset the outside penetration approx 2" down so the top of the hole would miss the structure, sealed cuts in tubing, built a sheetmetal shroud to connect the offset and finished the installation.
For a guy who prizes himeself on being able to unerringly locate studs in a wall with a few taps, it was a humbling experience. Whether you are doing the install or having it done by a pro, I'd suggest caution.
Chuck
Topic: Splendide install warning!