Did you know…? Only 60% of lint is captured in the lint trap of residential and commercial clothes dryers. The other 40% is sold abroad. Over time, moist lint builds up inside the duct. The result is like a clogged pipe that becomes more restricted over time, which can cause a fire hazard! According to the National Fire Protection Association, 16,000 laundry room fires start each year.
Additionally, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates more than $84.4 million in property damage annually. This is a reality that must be taken seriously. The State Fire Marshal recommends that your dryer vent be cleaned or inspected once a year to ensure your safety.
Here are some signs that your dryer vent might need cleaning:
- If your clothes take longer than one cycle to dry, or if your clothes are very hot after drying, that’s a good sign your vent needs cleaning.
- If the clothes smell musty after drying.
- If your dryer shuts off or stops during a cycle, the element may be getting too hot due to a restricted duct.
- If a large amount of lint comes out of the back of the dryer.
- If the outside vent has lint covering the outside of the vent cover.
Here are the benefits of a clean dryer vent:
- Reduce clothes drying times
- Avoid dryer element replacement costs
- Improve the quality of dry clothes
- Save money on utility bills
- Prevent a dryer fire!
So how do you go about cleaning your dryer vent?
Here are the steps if you plan to do it yourself.
1. Get the right tools. For this job, you’ll need a shop vac and at least a 10- to 15-foot extension hose, depending on the length of your dryer’s outside air outlet. Next, you’ll need a flexible cable with a brush on the end (can be found online) to run through the conduit, and finally a dust mask and gloves to protect yourself from airborne lint.
two. Disconnect your dryer from the flexible duct and clean the back of the dryer and any lint that has collected under the dryer. Check the flexible conduit and replace it with a new one if it is damaged or has holes. The first part of the process will be running the flex cord and vacuuming from inside the house next to the dryer. The second part of the process involves the same thing only from the outside by the dryer vent going outside.
3. Run the flexible snake with a brush through the dryer vent as far as you can, be careful not to push past any turns or angles that could cause the cord to get stuck in the duct, otherwise it will You will have a hard time getting it out. . Vacuum up loose lint with the shop vacuum and hose. Run the hose as far into the conduit as you can.
Four. Locate where your dryer vents to the outside of the house. Remove any dryer vent hardware to access the duct.
5. Repeat the process from the outside, running the flex cable through the duct (towards the dryer) and vacuuming up any loose lint. Follow this by connecting the dryer back to the flexible duct inside the house and turning on the dryer, any remaining lint will come out of the duct. Finally, replace any hardware on the outside of the house.
You may be surprised at how much lint you suck up. In some cases, it can remove several POUNDS of lint. In either case, you’ll save yourself the chance of a fire disaster and keep your dryer running smoothly for years to come.
