Able FireShield
Ember-resistant wall caps for dryer, bath fan and range hood exhausts, in 4 and 7-inch sizes.
They say: Tested to ASTM E2886, per Able Sheet Metal.
DryerBath fanRange hood
Exhaust wall caps
Exhaust vents push air out, so they need a different fix. Mesh on a dryer vent clogs with lint, which is its own fire risk.
DryerBath fanRange hood
- Price
- $$$
- About $50 to $100 per dryer vent installed
- Ember protection
- Not comparable
- Different job: lets air out and keeps embers from getting in
- Used on
- Dryer, Bath fan, Range hood
Protection is RF1's read of published tests, not a lab rating. Prices are rough ranges based on a 2024 California study, not RF1 quotes.
How it works
What happens when embers hit it.
- 01
IBHS asks for a working louver or flap that closes when the dryer is off, and a metal one for its higher Wildfire Prepared Home Plus level.
- 02
Ember-resistant wall caps use metal construction and ember-blocking designs for exhaust openings.
- 03
Check that any cap you choose still closes. Some ember-rated caps don't have a flap.
Why people choose it
- Fixes an opening most people forget
- Small and inexpensive
- Works for bath fans and range hoods too
What to watch for
- Never add mesh to a dryer vent
- Make sure the cap closes when the fan is off
- Clean dryer lines regularly
Who makes it
The makers, in their own words.
Descriptions are each maker's claims, not RF1 test results. Before buying, confirm the exact model on the State Fire Marshal's Building Materials Listing (vents are category 8165).
What it costs
- Metal dryer vent, installed
- $50 to $100
Rough installed cost, based on the 2024 Headwaters Economics study.
These are rough ranges, not RF1 quotes. Most RF1 jobs land between $500 and $5,000, and your plan prices every vent before anything is booked.
Want every opening on your house checked, including the exhausts?
Compare your mesh to real-size samples, or have Mark check every vent in person, free.
Other ember-resistant vent types
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