Cleaning your dryer vent is just as important as maintaining your washing machine. Over time, lint and debris can build up in the exhaust pipes, reducing the efficiency of your dryer and posing a fire hazard. In fact, dirty dryer vents are a leading cause of home dryer fires.
To prevent this, it’s recommended to clean your dryer vent at least once a year. Waiting until you smell something burning in your laundry room is definitely not ideal.
The good news is that cleaning your dryer vent is a task you can do yourself, unless you’ve completely neglected it. If that’s the case, you might need professional help to clean the exterior vent.
Regular cleaning will improve your dryer’s performance, ensure your clothes dry completely, keep lint screens cleaner, and most importantly, give you peace of mind knowing you’ve reduced the risk of a house fire.
How can you tell if it’s time to clean your dryer vent?
There are clear signs that indicate you need to deal with a clogged dryer vent. Certain types of dryer ducts, like foil, plastic, or vinyl, are more prone to clogging and can increase the risk of a house fire. Ideally, these ducts should be replaced with rigid metal ones. If that’s not feasible, make sure to keep these vents clean and free of debris. Here are some things homeowners should watch out for:
1. If your clothes are taking longer than usual to dry, it’s a sign that you need to clean out the vents. Your drying cycle shouldn’t exceed the designated time.
2. If your dryer unit feels hot to the touch or emits a burning smell during operation, it’s a warning sign. Your clothes shouldn’t feel excessively hot at the end of the drying cycle.
3. Keep your lint trap clean regularly. A clogged lint trap can worsen the situation.
4. Notice if your laundry room becomes humid or if there’s restricted airflow when the dryer is running. This could indicate that hot air is seeping into the room instead of escaping through the outside vent due to a blockage in the vent hose.
5. Check the lint filter for an unusual amount of lint buildup, even if you use wool dryer balls.
6. If your energy bill is higher than normal, it might mean that your dryer is working harder than it should, possibly due to a clogged vent.
Keeping an eye out for these signs will help you maintain a safe and efficient dryer system.
How often should you clean your dryer vent?
The general recommendation is to clean your dryer vent duct about once a year to ensure it’s free of lint and debris. However, you might need to clean it more frequently if you have pets, a large family, or a lot of laundry to handle, especially if you’re dealing with sports gear from active kids.
It’s important not to overlook cleaning the exterior trap as well. Be cautious not to damage the exterior vent cover or cap while doing this task yourself. If you’re unsure or prefer a thorough job, consider hiring professional dryer vent cleaning services. A professional technician will disconnect your dryer, use flexible connecting rods with a rotating brush, and a powerful vacuum system to clean the entire vent system. They’ll also inspect and clean the lint screen and trap using specialized tools.
If you choose to tackle the cleaning yourself, you can invest in a drill-powered duct cleaning brush, which can reach up to 20 to 40 feet to ensure a comprehensive cleaning.
How to Clean a Dryer Vent
Cleaning your dryer vent yourself shouldn’t take more than an hour if you have the right tools and know-how. Follow these seven simple steps to remove all the lint and debris from your vent:
Step 1: Gather your supplies
You’ll need the following cleaning products and supplies:
- – Cordless vacuum with hose attachment
- – Electrical or duct tape
- – Broom and dustpan
- – Dryer duct cleaning kit
- – Power drill
Step 2: Disconnect the duct
First, unplug your dryer. If it’s a gas dryer, also turn off the gas valve. Then, carefully pull the dryer away from the wall to create enough space for working. Disconnect the dryer duct, which is usually located at the back of the dryer.
Step 3: Vacuum the dryer vent from the entrance
Using a hose attachment, turn on your vacuum cleaner and start suctioning around the entrance of the vent. Insert the hose into the dryer exhaust duct and vacuum out any lint and debris. It’s best to use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter for this task.
Step 4: Connect the rods which are in dryer duct cleaning kit
To tackle deep-seated lint in the hose attachment, consider using a dryer duct cleaning kit, which you can find online or at major home improvement stores. These kits typically include flexible rods that allow you to reach up to 12 feet inside the duct.
Connect the rods together, ensuring they’re securely attached. For extra security, you can wrap each connection with electrical tape to prevent them from coming apart.
The kit also comes with a rotating brush, which you’ll attach to the front end of the rods. Then, connect a power drill to the rod at hand to drive the brush through the duct. Alternatively, if you’ve been diligent with maintenance and the lint isn’t too tightly packed, you can use a toilet brush instead.
Step 5: Turn on the drill
Once everything is connected, switch on the power drill to medium power, rotating it clockwise. It’s crucial to keep the drill rotating in a clockwise direction to prevent the attachments from disassembling and getting stuck inside the dryer duct.
Slowly move the rods and brush back and forth, gradually pulling the brush out of the duct. As you do this, you’ll notice a significant amount of lint and debris being dislodged from the duct.
Step 6: Clean up the mess inside
Before moving to the exterior vent, tidy up the debris left behind from the cleaning process. A handheld vacuum cleaner works well for this task. Sweep up any remaining debris and discard it. If there’s residual lint, you may need to use a mixture of soapy water and dish soap to clean it off.
Once the area is clean, plug the dryer back in and reconnect the duct to the dryer vent. If your dryer runs on gas, don’t forget to turn the gas valve back on if you disconnected it earlier.
Step 7: Inspect the exterior vent
Your exterior vent might be positioned low to the ground or high up near the roof on an outer wall. If it’s high up on a multi-story building, accessing it for cleaning won’t be easy, so you may not be able to clean it from there.
However, if your exterior vent is closer to the ground, you can repeat the process of using flexible rods and a drill brush, but this time from the outside inward.
How to Ensure Your Dryer Vent Stays Safe and Clean?
The key to keeping your dryer exhaust vent consistently clean is paying attention to the lint trap. Make it a habit to remove any lint from the trap every time you run the dryer, especially if you use dryer sheets. This step is crucial. Not only does it help maintain a clean dryer vent, but it also keeps your dryer running smoothly, improves drying time, and reduces the risk of house fires.
Consider installing a lint trap on your washing machine hose as well. By capturing lint before it reaches the clothes dryer, you’re reducing the amount of lint in the system from the start.
Furthermore, never leave your dryer running unattended. Avoid turning on a load and leaving the house. If a dryer fire were to start while you’re away, it could cause significant damage before anyone notices and calls the fire department.
Finally, always ensure your dryer has enough space around it to allow proper ventilation. Placing clutter or storage items on or near the dryer poses a fire hazard that should be avoided at all costs.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you find it difficult to thoroughly clean the vent on your own or if you notice that your dryer is still not working correctly, it’s a sign that you may need to call in a professional. The cost of this service can vary depending on where you live, the material of your vent, and how complex the cleaning process is for your specific situation. Typically, for a simple job like unclogging a vent pipe, you can expect to pay between $100 to $200.
Given that clogged dryer vents can lead to fires, it’s crucial to ensure they are properly maintained. So, if you’re unsure or if the problem persists despite your efforts, it’s wise to seek professional assistance to address the issue effectively and ensure your safety.
