How To Clean A Dryer Duct Vent

How to make clean a dryer vent and how often you should do it

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Over fourth dimension, you might notice your dryer taking longer than usual to completely dry a load of laundry — maybe two or iii cycles are needed rather than one. Y'all might too notice the exterior of the machine gets quite hot every bit information technology runs or perhaps y'all can odor something burning. If you notice any of the above — particularly the latter — you lot need to make clean the dryer vent.

Every time you run your dryer, lint, dust and dirt is extracted and nerveless; most of information technology ends upward in the lint trap filter, but some gets through into the dryer vent. It builds upward hither, which will inevitably lead to a blockage. This slows the current of the extracted air from your dryer, which affects its performance.

Not only does this mean you will be wasting energy and money, but it tin can damage your dryer as well, leading to expensive repairs. Even worse: the combination of lint and heat can cause fires, and so it'south essential that you lot go on on top of this chore.

The good news is that it'due south piece of cake to do yourself. Nosotros'll evidence you how to make clean your dryer vent, and how often yous should practice it.

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How often should you make clean the dryer vent?

What you volition demand

Dedicated cleaning kit

Vacuum cleaner

Dustpan and brush (optional)

Dish soap

Mask and gloves (optional)

If you lot notice whatever of the symptoms above, and then it needs cleaning immediately. If your dryer is functioning effectively, so twice a yr should be enough with regular utilise.

It shouldn't accept also long to clean information technology — maybe one-half an hour, tops — but y'all might need someone'due south assistance with moving the dryer. You may also desire to cull a day when it's non raining, as cleaning from the exterior vent might exist best.

Can I clean the dryer vent without professional help?

You can, but comport in mind that you will need to pull your dryer away from the wall and move information technology back into place at the end. Plus, if you have a gas dryer, y'all will demand to be much more than cautious when it comes to disconnecting it and moving it around, due to the gas line. If you're not comfortable doing this, call in a professional and don't attempt it yourself.

How to clean a dryer vent

1. Prepare yourself — Chances are, you will exist dealing with a lot of lint, so wear a mask if you have allergies. Gloves are a good idea too for protection. Cleaning the vent will probable make a mess, so have your vacuum cleaner or a dustpan and brush on manus.

2. Become familiar with your machine — Pull the dryer away from the wall and locate the vent. Have great care if you have a gas dryer, every bit moving it could damage the gas line. On the back of your dryer, the vent will wait like a curt four-inch diameter exhaust pipage which is connected from the dryer to your wall. From in that location, the vent will likely continue to the outside of your property.

3. Disconnect your dryer — Unplug your dryer from the wall outlet. Side by side, remove any clamps or metallic tape which connects the exhaust piping to the vent on the back of the dryer. You need to be gentle as you pull the piping away, otherwise you could impairment information technology. If information technology'due south easier, yous can alternatively remove the exhaust pipe from the duct in the wall instead. If you lot have a gas dryer, yous will need to switch off the gas supply and follow the same steps above. However, if y'all're not sure on what you're doing, telephone call a professional when it comes to gas.

Brush in lint trap — (Image credit: Time to come)

4. Use the lint trap brush — if your cleaning kit includes a lint trap castor, insert it into the lint trap. Y'all may have to move it upwardly and downward and side to side a few times to loosen or remove any lint.

5. Vacuum up the excess — Using the crevice tool on your vacuum cleaner or a flexible hose attachment if it's provided, pick upward any immediate dust and lint y'all encounter in the dryer vent or the exhaust pipe — this is just for the lint y'all tin can see, don't showtime reaching into the duct as you will get there in a moment. If you've got a cordless or handheld vacuum, information technology's also worth going outside to remove the vent cover and picking up any firsthand lint on that side as well.

vi. Brush 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 — exist prepared for a mess! You can do this from the outside vent likewise if the castor isn't deep enough to pass through. Nosotros recommend cleaning from whichever access bespeak is higher, so gravity is on your side. You may also need to castor the inside of the exhaust pipe and the dorsum of the vent on your dryer too.

If the vent cleaning brush isn't long enough to get through the unabridged vent tube, attach the brush deeply to a stiff slice of wire; a wire coat hanger should work in a pinch. Just make sure there are no sharp edges or ends, equally that could damage the pipage from the within.

Dryer vent being cleaned by brush — (Image credit: Future)

Expert Tip

Some people utilize leaf blowers so blow out the lint from the inside of the vent, but this tends not to exist as effective every bit our recommended method and can crusade a big mess.

6. Launder the vent cover — Equally you've removed the external vent encompass, give it a wash in warm, soapy water and go out it out to dry before replacing.

seven. Clean upwardly and reassemble — Using your vacuum or dustpan and brush, pick up all of the excess lint from your floors. If your exhaust pipe is a soft foil design, brand certain you replace information technology with a 90 degree aluminum elbow pipage instead, such equally the Deflecto Aluminum Dryer Vent Elbow. These are burn down-resistant and more durable. Reconnect your exhaust pipe.

8. Give your dryer a test run — Attempt it out before pushing it dorsum into identify to make sure everything is fitted correctly. This is especially of import for gas dryers, as a leaky ventilation organisation can lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide.

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

How to preclude futurity lint build-up

You lot tin can't stop lint from building upward, simply yous tin slow information technology down:

Proceed removing and emptying the lint trap filter betwixt cycles
Remove the lint filter and vacuum around its housing
Dust and vacuum around your dryer
Make sure no big shrubs are blocking the exit of the vent
Limit the number of dryer sheets yous use. These tin block up the lint filter

Katie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She also covers smart domicile products too, so is the best point of contact for whatever household advice! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over half-dozen years, and so she knows what to await for when finding the all-time. Her favorite thing to examination has to be stand up mixers as she loves to bake in her spare time.