How To Clean A Dryer Duct
Cleaning A Dryer Vent
When you consider that 15,000 fires start in the laundry room every year and that these fires are mostly due to lint build up in the clothes dryer or a clogged dryer duct it makes you wonder why we don’t do something about it. Annual dryer duct cleaning will ensure you avoid these possible issues.
When you further consider that these fires result in 10 deaths and 310 injuries per year I just shake my head. [stats according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission]
Can you imagine if this happened to your family? Your children? Instead of fretting do something . . . clean your dryer ducts!
Empty Lint Screen Every Time
Many dryer fires are attributed to lint accumulation inside the dryer or dryer duct work. Failure to clean the lint trap is the most likely cause of massive lint build up. You should clean the lint trap EVERY time you use the dryer.
Does Your Dryer Vent Need To Be Cleaned?
Determining if your dryer duct is full of lint and in need of cleaning can be straightforward. The clue is noticing if your clothes dryer is taking longer to dry a load of clothes, actually taking two and three cycles to dry clothes that once dried in one.
If your clothes come out hot after the last cycle then you can usually rule out your your heating element and suspect a blocked duct.
Inspect Exterior Vent Flap
Inspect the exterior vent flap when the dryer is in use. Make sure there are no exterior obstructions like bird, mouse or bee nests. The air velocity should open this vent wide open. If the exterior flapper barely opens then your airflow is minimal and your duct may need to be cleaned or shortened.
Check For Kinked Hose Behind Dryer
When dryers are located a short distance from an outside wall, the short, straight exhaust duct runs worked well, and leaves little need for maintenance and making inspecting easy. Many laundry rooms today are situated deeper inside homes with long runs and several elbows, often resulting in restrictive airflow. Many times these pipes are buried in finished ceilings or floors.
Clues Your Dryer Duct Is Clogged
- Clothes take an unusually long time to dry
- Clothes are hotter than usual at the end of the drying cycle
- Outside of dryer feels unusually hot
- Exterior vent flap barely opens when dryer is on
- Laundry room feels warmer or more humid than normal
- Unexplained moisture stains appear in ceiling below exhaust pipe
- Burnt smell when using machine
