How to Clean Dryer Vent: Step by Step Guide

Speed up your clothes drying time and reduce the risk of a fire with this easy task.

A lot of people see a clothes dryer as a must-have in their homes. It lets you avoid the hassle of waiting for clothes to air-dry after washing, and using heat in the drying process can also help eliminate viruses and bacteria. But, when you use a dryer, tiny fibers tend to gather in the lint trap over time.

In an ideal situation, the lint trap catches all the debris before letting the air out. But, usually, some of those tiny fiber bits get through the screen and end up in the dryer vent. If you don’t clean the dryer vent regularly, lint builds up, making the dryer less efficient and increasing the chance of a fire.

Ensure your home stays safe and your appliance stays in good shape by following this guide on how to clean your dryer vent, both inside and outside.

Why Dryer Ducts Need to Be Cleaned

Cleaning your dryer vent has additional advantages beyond saving your life, including as boosting the longevity and efficiency of your dryer and increasing your general health. I want to go into each of them in more detail.

1. To Maintain a Healthy Life

A clogged dryer vent poses a risk not just to your house but also to your life. Neglected dryers can lead to major issues, such as hazardous gas emissions and fire hazards. Homeowners must thus take precautions to keep themselves safe from potentially fatal scenarios and clean their vents on a regular basis.

2. To Keep the Efficiency of Your Dryer

Your dryer vent will function at its peak efficiency if you remove any debris and dust. Your garments remain in top condition and dry more quickly. It’s time to contact a professional if you notice that your laundry requires many cycles to dry.

3. To Increase the Dryers Lifespan

Cleaning your dryer vents on a regular basis greatly increases their longevity. A blocked vent reduces the machine’s efficiency by making it work harder. Maintaining an unobstructed dryer vent ensures optimal operation and minimizes the need for repair.

4. Save Money

Maintaining the cleanliness of your equipment will make it last longer and need fewer repairs. Vents function at maximum efficiency and reduce component wear and tear when they are clean. This lowers the cost of repairs in addition to saving you money on a new machine. A clean dryer uses less energy than a clogged one, so there’s an extra benefit of decreased power expenses.

Signs of Blocked Dryer Vents

A blocked dryer vent can lead to a number of issues that affect your dryer’s performance. The main symptoms and indicators of a clogged dryer vent are as follows:

1. Longer Time to Dry Clothes

You should be concerned if your dryer is suddenly taking longer to dry your garments. Over time, even the greatest dryers may lose some of their efficiency; however, a clog in the dryer vent can hasten this process. After calling in a dryer professional, a few people found out that the dryer’s incapacity to release moisture and air out the vent was the primary cause of the efficiency decline.

2. Burning Smell Around the Dryer

It’s a worrying indication if you smell burning next to your dryer. It is imperative that you switch off the dryer immediately if you believe that it is the source. Dryer vent lint and debris are very combustible; thus, leaving them uncleaned may constitute a fire danger. Furthermore, it’s never a good idea to combine heat with combustible materials. One should never let anything as easy as a burned scent be a red flag for when it’s time to clean your dryer vent and get your dryer serviced.

3. Dryer or Clothes Are Hot to the Touch

Poor ventilation is indicated if your dryer feels very hot to the touch or if your garments are overheated after the cycle is over. For the dryer to keep up the right temperature and remove moisture from the garments, there has to be efficient air circulation. The dryer may overheat if there is insufficient air exchange, which might result in malfunctions, a shorter lifetime, or, in the worst case, a fire.

4. Issues with the Flap on the Duct Hood

Your dryer may be having issues if the flap on the duct hood isn’t opening as it usually does. Look around for any lint or debris. The accumulation of lint around the dryer hose or vent aperture may sometimes obstruct airflow. Don’t let the problem persist. To have your dryer cleaned and returned to normal, get expert help. While cleaning the plastic wire mesh may fix the issue, seeking outside assistance helps prevent unneeded difficulties.

How Much to Clean Dryer Vent

You can clean out dryer vent using the following methods every three to six months, depending on how often you use your dryer. Furthermore, remember to remove the lint filter after every usage.

If the vent is longer, clean it more often. In contemporary houses, dryers are often situated close to living areas after formerly being mostly found in basements or outside laundry rooms. This implies that in order to go outside, they could need a longer vent. In residential spaces, clogged vents from gas dryers may cause harmful carbon monoxide to back up into the house.

Choose a straight vent channel; the fewer curves, the slower the lint accumulates and the fewer cleanings required.

Tinier or older dryers are often less effective and might accumulate a little bit more lint.

Safety Considerations

Dryer vents are very combustible, often used as campfire kindling, and may quickly spread fire throughout your house if they catch fire due to lint accumulation.

Here is a checklist to help you make sure your dryer is secure and reduce your risk of fire:

1. Inspect the Dryer Vent Outside

Feel the exterior dryer exhaust vent while your dryer is operating to be sure hot air is leaving. In the event that there is no air movement, cleaning the dryer vent ductwork is advised since this might be a sign of a lint accumulation.

2. Dust the Lint Trap

A frequent source of dryer fires is lint. To lower the danger, clean the lint screen both before and after each wash cycle. To eliminate extra lint that the screen may have missed, also clean the dryer’s inside. The lint trap protects against lint buildup in more hazardous regions, so never use the dryer without it.

3. Examine the Area Around the Dryer

Under and beneath the dryer, lint may gather. Make sure there is no lint or debris in the vicinity of your dryer.

4. Learn Fire Safety Regulations

When upgrading or installing your dryer, be sure to follow all local fire safety regulations. The exhaust duct should be no longer than 25 feet, the dryer vent shall have a minimum diameter of 4 inches, and it should exhaust outside. To stop exhaust from seeping into your house, make sure the fittings are tight.

5. Maintain a functional fire extinguisher close by

For the protection of your dryer vent, have a fire extinguisher in your laundry room. It could be very important to put out a fire before it becomes bigger.

6. Never Leave the Dryer Running While Leaving the House

To avoid house fires caused by appliances, always be present while the dryer is operating.

7. Use Ductwork for Metal Dryers

To preserve appropriate airflow and lower the possibility of lint accumulation, replace accordion-style dryer ducts with flexible or stiff metal ducts.

8. Keep Items That Can Catch Fire Away

Make sure that nothing combustible, such as paint, lint, dust, clothes baskets, or cleaning supplies, is near your dryer.

9. Keep Combustible Materials Out of the Dryer

Avoid using the dryer to dry clothing that has come into touch with gasoline or that contains flammable materials. Avoid plastic and rubber products as well, since they may get damaged or even catch fire in extreme heat.

Other Guidelines

Make sure that the diameter of the dryer vent and the dryer duct match.

If the duct is concealed, use a semi-rigid, non-flammable metal material. Don’t use foil or accordion plastic.

Outside is the best place to vent the dryer—not into an attic, crawl space, chimney, or other vent.

Avoid using screws or non-metal tape to secure the dryer duct; instead, use metal tape.

Prior to drying every new load of laundry, make sure the lint filter is clean.

How To Clean Dryer Vent From Outside

It’s better to utilize a dryer vent cleaning kit together with a shop vacuum for a complete clean. These kits are inexpensive and come with firm bristles to help remove lint and dust. The lengthy, curved tubing makes it easier to thread the brush through the whole system of ducts. Although they work best when used in conjunction with a drill for a deeper clean, you may get good results even without one.

To clean your dryer vent from the outside, you’ll need the following:

Essentials

Screwdriver

Wipes and rags for cleaning

Dryer vent cleaning kit (comes with a long, flexible stick with a stiff brush inside)

Cleaner vacuum

Extra tools:

Shop-Vac 

Drill

Take these easy steps to clean the exterior of your dryer vent!

Step 1: Find the External Vent

Turn on your dryer and explore the outside of your house to locate the vent that needs cleaning. You should be able to hear the machine, feel the heated air, and perhaps even smell your detergent.

Step 2: Unplug the Dryer

Please disconnect your machine to ensure safety. While working, shut off the gas valve on your gas dryer if you have one.

Step 3: Remove the Lid and Outside Vent Grille

To get access to the vent’s interior, remove the grille with a screwdriver.

Step 4: Clean the Inside with the Brush

To remove dust and lint, feed the brush into the vent. For a cleaner and easier approach, connect the kit to the vent’s mouth if you’re using a shop vac and drill.

Step 5: Gather the Lint with the Vacuum

Remove the brush and use a vacuum to gather the lint. When compared to cleaning inside, this reduces cleanup.

Step 6: Clean the Vent Cover 

Wipes or soap and water are good options for removing stubborn dirt from the vent cover. Remove any obstructions obstructed inside the grille.

Step 7: Replace the Vent Cap with a Screw

You’re almost finished! Reinstall the vent cover and fasten it firmly with screws.

Learn to Clean Your Dryer Vent from the Outside

Here you have it: A simple how-to for cleaning the exterior of your dryer vent. It’s not too difficult, and in the long term, it will have a big effect on the efficiency and safety of your dryer. Cleaning your dryer vent from the outside is an important home maintenance task that’s often disregarded, but it may significantly reduce your house’s danger of fire.

How To Clean Dryer Vent From Inside

Step 1: Remove and Cleanse the Lint Trap

Locate the lint trap on your dryer, which is often located at the bottom or on top of the door. For particular areas, see the manufacturer’s information or the handbook. Take out the lint trap, clear away any big lint particles, then clean the interior of the lint trap housing with a shop vacuum. To access the bottom of the housing, use a tiny hose attachment.

Alternately, thoroughly clean the interior of the lint trap housing using the brush included in a dryer duct cleaning kit.

Step 2: Find the Dryer Vent

Determine the dryer vent’s two ends. The outdoor vent end is often located on the outside of the house, next to the laundry room, while the internal vent end is generally located behind or above the dryer.

Step 3: Unplug the Dryer

If applicable, disconnect the dryer and close the gas supply valve. To reach the indoor vent end, slide the dryer away from the wall by one or two feet. Ask for help if it’s too heavy. Unplug the dryer from the vent; some hoses fit in easily, while others need screws to tighten.

Step 4: Vent for a Vacuum Dryer

Attach the lengthy hose to a shop vacuum and use it to reach into the dryer vent. To gather trash, place the hose into the dry exhaust vent after turning on the vacuum and sucking up any loose lint around the vent hole.

Step 5: Clean the Dryer Vent

Use a dryer duct cleaning kit with extensions and a flexible brush if necessary. To get to the end of the vent, feed the brush into it and add extensions. For powered cleaning, you may also use a drill bit attached to the brush.

To clean, carefully remove the brush from the vent and rotate it. To dryer clean vent without using a drill, move the brush back and forth.

Step 6: Take a Vacuum to the Outside Dryer Vent

Go outside and see whether there is any free movement in the vent aperture. Spray lubricant on the slats if they get stuck. To clean the area surrounding the vent entry, connect and turn on the vacuum. To gather loose debris, place a thin hose connection into the vent.

Step 7: Clean the External Dryer Vent

Set up a vent cleaning brush. Feed the brush into the vent, making any required extensions. For effective cleaning, either manually rotate the brush or use a drill attachment. When you remove the brush, expect some debris to fall out.

Step 8: Clean Up Any Garbage

Use warm, soapy water and a microfiber cloth to clean the outside vent cover. Clear the dryer vent of any loose dirt by vacuuming or sweeping.

Step 9: Reconnect the Dryer

Reattach the dryer to the vent, plug it in, and, if necessary, activate the gas valve. Verify the connections once again and reposition the dryer, making sure the ducting is not bent.

Step 10: Check the Dryer

Reinstall the lint screen, switch on the dryer, and make sure hot air is properly vented outside.

How to Stop Dryer Vent Buildups and Clogs from Happening Again

Cleaning your dryer vent can save not only costs but also lives. It safeguards not only your clothing but also your health. Thus, pay attention to these cleanups. These days, folks may even clean things up by following an easy do-it-yourself method.

First, take the dryer out and unplug it.

When you get to the vent duct, remove the clamp holding the vent pipe in place.

Examine the clamp for any damage, and replace it right once you find any cracks. If not, look for obstructions throughout the remainder of the vent.

To remove all of the lint and dirt that has accumulated within the dryer, use a hoover. It’s a good idea to look around for anything that could be obstructing the passageway.

Reinstall all the screws and switch on the machine after cleaning.

If you do this once a year, your dryers will last longer.

FAQs

Conclusion

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, each year, clothes dryers cause close to 3,000 fires, resulting in five fatalities and more than $35 million worth of property damage. A quick but essential way to improve your family’s and your home’s safety is to make sure your dryer vent is clear.

In addition to raising the danger of fire, blocked vents reduce the efficiency of your dryer and raise the cost of power and malfunctions. Your dryer may have a lint blockage in its vent if it is taking longer to dry a load.

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