Dryer Vent Cleaning

Dryer vent cleaning may seem like a tedious task, but a clean dryer vent can save you money and keep you safe.

A dryer vent clogged with lint can cut the efficiency of your dryer by as much as half. A dirty vent increases the strain on your dryer's motor and hardware, reducing the effective life of a costly appliance. A lint-clogged dryer vent combines hot air with a combustible fuel-a recipe for disaster that leads to an estimated 15,000 fires per year according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Tips
As a homeowner task, dryer vent cleaning is pretty simple. Keep these tips in mind to keep a simple job from getting complicated:

• Love the vent tubing. Avoid bending, tearing or putting holes in the dryer vent tubing. Damaged tubing will need to be replaced-and that's the opposite of saving money.
• Leave things as you found them. Make sure that all clamps are re-secured properly to avoid leaks. Also, take care not to pinch the dryer vent material when you put the dryer back in place.
• Protect your hands. Metal dryer vent ducts can have sharp edges and, potentially, screws or other fasteners projecting inside. Take care when reaching into tubes and ductwork-consider wearing gloves as extra protection.

Dryer Vent Cleaning, Step By Step

• Open the dryer door and grasp the upper edge of the opening.
• Pull the dryer out from the wall to the limits of the dryer vent tubing. Typically, this is about 1 to 2 feet.
• Get behind the dryer and unplug the electrical connection. If you have a gas dryer, be sure to turn off the gas at this time.
• Loosen the hose clamp that attaches the dryer vent tubing to the dryer. Gently pull the tubing away from the dryer.
• With a flashlight, inspect the exhaust tube of the dryer. Carefully remove any obstructions from the tube.
• Vacuum the interior of the dryer's exhaust tube.
• Carefully vacuum the interior of the flexible exhaust tube, using an extension wand to reach in as far as possible.
• Remove the flexible exhaust tube from the dryer vent ductwork at the wall.
• Use the vacuum to clean as much of the interior of the ductwork as you can reach.
• Locate and remove the dryer vent from the exterior of your house. This will be attached by nails or screws and may be caulked around its edges. If you encounter caulking, cut the vent loose with utility knife.
• Clean the inside of the dryer vent and around the vent door.
• Replace the dryer exhaust vent, re-fastening and re-caulking as required.
• Re-attach the flexible exhaust tube to dryer vent ductwork and tighten the hose clamp.
• Re-attach the flexible exhaust tube to the dryer's exhaust tube and tighten the hose clamp.
• Plug the dryer's power cord back into the outlet.
• Move the dryer back in place and rub the dryer on an air fluff setting for 10 minutes.
• Go outside and remove any loose debris that has collected at the dryer vent door.