How To Clean A Dryer Vent Yourself

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How to clean a dryer vent and how often you lot should do information technology

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Over fourth dimension, you might observe your dryer taking longer than usual to completely dry a load of laundry — maybe ii or three cycles are needed rather than ane. Yous might besides notice the outside of the machine gets quite hot as information technology runs or perhaps you tin can smell something burning. If y'all notice any of the higher up — particularly the latter — yous need to clean the dryer vent.

Every time you run your dryer, lint, dust and dirt is extracted and collected; almost of it ends upwardly in the lint trap filter, but some gets through into the dryer vent. Information technology builds up here, which volition inevitably lead to a blockage. This slows the current of the extracted air from your dryer, which affects its performance.

Not only does this hateful you will be wasting energy and money, but information technology can damage your dryer as well, leading to expensive repairs. Even worse: the combination of lint and heat can cause fires, so it'southward essential that you keep on superlative of this chore.

The good news is that it's like shooting fish in a barrel to exercise yourself. We'll show you how to clean your dryer vent, and how often you should do information technology.

• Check out how to clean a washing machine
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How oftentimes should you clean the dryer vent?

What yous will need

Dedicated cleaning kit

Vacuum cleaner

Dustpan and castor (optional)

Dish soap

Mask and gloves (optional)

If you discover any of the symptoms higher up, so it needs cleaning immediately. If your dryer is functioning effectively, and so twice a year should be enough with regular employ.

It shouldn't have besides long to make clean it — maybe half an hour, tops — but yous might demand someone's help with moving the dryer. You may also want to choose a day when it'southward not raining, as cleaning from the exterior vent might be best.

Tin I clean the dryer vent without professional help?

You tin, but comport in listen that you will need to pull your dryer away from the wall and motility it back into identify at the end. Plus, if you have a gas dryer, you will need to be much more cautious when it comes to disconnecting it and moving it effectually, due to the gas line. If you're not comfy doing this, telephone call in a professional and don't attempt it yourself.

How to make clean a dryer vent

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1. Ready yourself — Chances are, you will exist dealing with a lot of lint, and then wearable a mask if you have allergies. Gloves are a good idea also for protection. Cleaning the vent will likely make a mess, so have your vacuum cleaner or a dustpan and brush on paw.

ii. Go familiar with your motorcar — Pull the dryer abroad from the wall and locate the vent. Accept great care if you have a gas dryer, as moving information technology could damage the gas line. On the dorsum of your dryer, the vent volition wait like a curt 4-inch diameter exhaust pipe which is connected from the dryer to your wall. From there, the vent will probable keep to the exterior of your holding.

3. Disconnect your dryer — Unplug your dryer from the wall outlet. Next, remove any clamps or metal tape which connects the exhaust pipe to the vent on the back of the dryer. You lot need to be gentle as you pull the pipe away, otherwise you could damage it. If information technology's easier, you can alternatively remove the frazzle pipe from the duct in the wall instead. If yous have a gas dryer, you will need to switch off the gas supply and follow the same steps above. However, if you're not certain on what you're doing, call a professional person when it comes to gas.

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four. Utilize the lint trap brush — if your cleaning kit includes a lint trap castor, insert it into the lint trap. You lot may have to move information technology up and downward and side to side a few times to loosen or remove any lint.

5. Vacuum up the excess — Using the scissure tool on your vacuum cleaner or a flexible hose attachment if it's provided, selection up whatsoever firsthand dust and lint you run across in the dryer vent or the exhaust pipe — this is just for the lint you lot tin can see, don't starting time reaching into the duct as yous will get there in a moment. If y'all've got a cordless or handheld vacuum, it's too worth going outside to remove the vent cover and picking up whatsoever firsthand lint on that side too.

six. Castor away the lint — Using your dryer vent cleaning kit, insert the brush into the vent and rotate it as you lot sweep back and forth — be prepared for a mess! You tin do this from the exterior vent every bit well if the brush isn't deep plenty to pass through. Nosotros recommend cleaning from whichever admission betoken is higher, then gravity is on your side. You lot may also need to brush the inside of the frazzle pipe and the back of the vent on your dryer too.

If the vent cleaning brush isn't long plenty to get through the entire vent tube, attach the brush securely to a strong piece of wire; a wire coat hanger should work in a compression. Just make certain there are no abrupt edges or ends, as that could impairment the piping from the within.

(Paradigm credit: Future)

Expert Tip

Some people use leaf blowers so blow out the lint from the inside of the vent, but this tends non to be every bit constructive as our recommended method and can cause a big mess.

6. Wash the vent cover — As you've removed the external vent comprehend, give information technology a wash in warm, soapy water and leave it out to dry earlier replacing.

vii. Make clean up and reassemble — Using your vacuum or dustpan and brush, pick up all of the excess lint from your floors. If your exhaust piping is a soft foil design, make sure you replace it with a 90 degree aluminum elbow piping instead, such every bit the Deflecto Aluminum Dryer Vent Elbow. These are burn-resistant and more durable. Reconnect your exhaust pipe.

eight. Requite your dryer a test run — Try information technology out before pushing it dorsum into place to make sure everything is fitted correctly. This is especially of import for gas dryers, as a leaky ventilation system tin lead to a build-upward of carbon monoxide.

Your dryer should be functioning properly again! If you couldn't dislodge the excess lint using the above method, yous will need to call in a professional person instead.

How to forbid future lint build-upwardly

You can't end lint from building up, but you can slow it down:

• Keep removing and emptying the lint trap filter betwixt cycles
• Remove the lint filter and vacuum around its housing
• Dust and vacuum effectually your dryer
• Make certain no large shrubs are blocking the exit of the vent
• Limit the number of dryer sheets you utilise. These can block upwardly the lint filter

Katie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She likewise covers smart abode products also, so is the best indicate of contact for any household communication! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over six years, so she knows what to look for when finding the best. Her favorite thing to test has to exist stand mixers equally she loves to bake in her spare time.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-clean-a-dryer-vent-and-how-often-you-should-do-it

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