How to Clean Your Dryer Vent & Why it’s Important
Did you know there could be something far more dangerous in your laundry room than bleach? According to the U.S. Fire Administration, a division of FEMA, electrical fires are the #3 cause of destruction in homes every year.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the #1 cause of a dryer malfunction is simply not cleaning out the dryer vent.
Acck! That’s just downright scary. We just want clean, fresh-smelling clothes. We need to worry about our dryer causing harm now too?
Unfortunately, yes. Not only can improperly maintained dryers cause fires, they can also break, costing you money! Do you really want to spend your vacation fund on a new dryer this year?
As Ben Franklin so famously said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
A properly maintained dryer can last quite a long time though and be used safely it’s whole life. There are many reasons a dryer can malfunction, so if you suspect it’s something other than lint build up, make sure you contact a professional to service the dryer.
But for normal, everyday use, never use your dryer without a lint filter and make sure you clean the lint filter before and after each dryer cycle. Make sure the vent pipe (that crinkly silver tube that runs from your dryer to an opening outside) is not restricted or bent so the air can flow freely outside.
Clean lint from the vent pipe at least once a year or if you notice that your clothes are not drying properly.
If you run a load of wet clothes through a normal drying cycle and they are still wet, might be time to clean out the vent pipe. Before you attempt to clean your dryer vents, it is important that you have adequate knowledge of the dryer and how it functions safely
How do you clean the lint from the vent pipe? You need a few special tools or you can hire a Provider on Takl with the proper skills to remove all of the built-up lint from the dryer.
Steps for cleaning out your dryer vent:
- Unplug the dryer and turn gas off if needed.
- Carefully move the dryer away from the wall so you can reach the vent.
- Unscrew the dryer vent clamp where the vent attaches to the dryer and where it attaches to the wall.
- Use a vacuum with a long hose to clean the lint from the ends of the vents where most lint builds up. (You might want to move the vent outside for this part.)
- If lint builds up in the middle, you can use a plumbing snake to push that lint out.
- Replace the vent, secure the clamps and move the dryer back to it’s original position.
- Move to the outside dryer vent and remove the cover.
- Use a vacuum to clean out the dryer exhaust pipe in the wall.
- Before you replace the cover on the outside, turn the dryer back on for a few seconds to allow loose lint particles to be pushed out the open vent.
- Replace the outside vent cover and double check all connections.
If this sounds like too much work or too difficult to accomplish, hire a home repair Provider to help. Your and your family’s safety is worth it!
