How Do You Clean The Dryer Vent

A lack of routine maintenance could put your home at run a risk of having a fire if you don't know how to clean a dryer vent.

Clean dryer vent Family Handyman

Practice you know how to make clean a dryer vent? When'south the final time you checked yours?

A lack of routine maintenance could put your home at adventure for a fire if y'all don't regularly clean your lint filter and dryer vent. In fact, the U.S. Burn down Administration reports that every year dress dryers are the crusade of more than than ii,900 home fires. And, bated from being a fire hazard, a dirty dryer vent can increment drying time and spike energy costs.

Hither'south how often you should clean certain items in your domicile.

Here's How To Remove Dryer Lint:

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When'southward the last time you cleaned your dryer vent? A lack of routine maintenance could put your home at risk of having a fire if you don't know how to clean a dryer vent.

Signs of Lint Buildup

Is your laundry taking longer to dry? Do you have to run the aforementioned load twice? Is the pinnacle of your dryer hot to the touch after each use? Rather than a faulty dryer, clogged ductwork may exist the culprit. The removable dryer lint filter catches most of the lint as it passes through a load of laundry. Merely, pieces of lint tin can sneak past the filter and get stuck in crevices along the dryer duct. When in that location'southward a buildup of lint, airflow is restricted, which can lead to overheating. If the air inside the duct gets hot enough, it can ignite the lint and cause a dryer fire.

How to Clean a Dryer Vent Duct

Rather than hire a professional, a DIY cleaning job saves money. The tools and supplies you need to clean a dryer vent duct include a vacuum with a long hose attachment, dryer vent brush kit, screwdrivers and UL-listed metal foil duct tape.

Step one: The kickoff matter you accept to do is locate where the duct begins and ends. Most dryers will have a curt 4-inch diameter exhaust in back that connects to the ductwork through an aluminum elbow. Hot air goes through those pipes and exits your house through an opening on an outside wall.

Footstep two: Safely disconnect your dryer by unplugging the power string from the outlet or turning off the gas or propane valve. Remove any clamps or metallic tape so that you can pull the dryer vent pipe free from the exhaust. If you own a dryer that runs on natural gas, be extremely careful you don't disturb the dryer's gas line when disconnecting the power. A gas leak is serious; call a professional if you're unsure of the procedure.

Footstep three: Pull the vent pipe abroad from the wall duct. And then remove the duct cover from the leave point exterior so that you have clear admission to the entire ductwork. The dryer vent brush kit volition come with a lint brush and flexible segments that you can connect together, depending on the length of your dryer ducts. You practice need special vent brushes in order to effectively clean a dryer vent duct.

Footstep four: Insert the vent brush into the ductwork and spin it counter-clockwise while pushing the brush equally far as yous tin can down the dryer ducts. If you need more length to accomplish the other terminate of the duct, add together another segment from your brush kit. The brush should loosen lint that has get lodged along the ductwork.

Pro tip: enter from the outside of the business firm if it's located college than the dryer. Gravity can help clear lodged debris and it's easier to clean lint on your laundry room floor than have it clutter any landscaped areas. While you accept the vacuum out, recall to clean out the inside of the dryer outlet as well.

Footstep five: Clean all of the lint that comes out of the duct work with a vacuum. (Heads up: It may be a lot!) Use the flexible hose zipper to clear out the openings on both ends, as well as the lint trap housing. Repeat every bit needed until there is no more existing lint that needs to be removed.

Stride six: Put all of the dryer components back together and plug it in. Then give it a trial run before sliding it back into identify, recommends Vince Christofora, owner of Woodstock Hardware, a full-service, family-owned shop in Woodstock, NY. "Check to make sure all of the venting remains connected and there are no gas leaks, if your dryer runs on natural gas," he says. "Bad connections can lead to problems subsequently on."

While y'all're at it, Christofora recommends checking to ensure that your outside dryer vent is in skillful working society, too. "Make sure it's well fastened or caulked to the edifice," he says. "A poor installation can lead to extra heat or air conditioning costs and allow pests to enter your dwelling house."

Safe Precautions to Consider

When y'all hook your dryer back upwardly, avert using a soft foil-way vent that connects to the wall duct, equally these are a known fire hazard. These and other flexible plastic tubes are forbidden by about building codes. Go with an adjustable, rigid, 90-degree elbow at the exhaust end of the dryer instead.