The other day, while doing laundry, I discovered that the clothes were taking longer to dry than usual. If you experience the same, I have a solution to your problem. And the answer is right in your laundry room. A blocked dryer vent might cause a longer drying cycle, but it can also cause a more serious problem — a dryer fire hazard. Clogged dryer vents are one of the leading causes of dryer fires; therefore, knowing how to clean a dryer vent is critical. Continue reading to discover how to clean and maintain a dryer vent and use a Dryer vent cleaner.
Tools you will need to clean a dryer vent
- Flexible Crevice Tool
Source: Amazon
Description:
Attaching your flexible crevice tool to the vacuum should be simple as well. Ensure that the vacuum you bought is compatible with this flexible crevice tool. You’ll be able to go to work and complete your cleaning after all the specifics have been ironed out. Clearing out your dryer vent will be simple, and you will feel more secure washing your laundry.
- Nylon Brush Rod
Source:Amazon
Description:
You’ll need one of these nylon brush rods when cleaning out your dryer vent. It’s critical to reach as far into the vent as possible. These nylon brush rods are lightweight and rather lengthy. You’ll be able to fit them into the dryer vent and work them through to remove anything clogging it.
- Dryer Vent Vacuum
Source: Amazon
Description:
When your dryer vent becomes clogged, a dryer vent vacuum might come in handy. If you want to clean out your dryer vent quickly, you may do it by using a vacuum. A strong vacuum can easily remove all the lint clogging your vent. It may also suck up any additional trash accumulated in the vent.
- Powerful Air Compressor
Source: Amazon
Description:
A solid air compressor to remove lint and blockages from your dryer vent might be effective. You can pump out air rapidly by connecting a hose to an air compressor like this. You may go with your day after removing the debris clogging your dryer vent. Overall, this works quite well, but whether or not it is a practical solution is entirely up to you.
- Dryer Lint Brush
Source: Amazon
Description:
This is perhaps the market’s most widely used dryer vent cleaning gadget. Investing in a decent dryer lint cleaner brush can make removing most lint from your vent easy. If you have lint in your vent, you should be able to wipe it out quickly with this brush. The brush will be less helpful when there is a substantial obstruction in the vent.
- Nest Removal Tool
Source: Amazon
Description:
Depending on where your dryer vent is located, you may have issues with different forms of debris clogging it. It might be challenging to find out how to cope with this situation when it arises. You could even discover a nest of birds in your dryer vent. They were probably lured to the warmth of the vent, and you want to get rid of them as soon as possible.
How to clean a dryer vent?
- 1. Find your outlet
Before you can clean your dryer vent, you must first determine its location. Dryers are often attached to a 4-inch diameter exhaust pipe, which connects to ductwork within a wall. Hot air from your dryer is sent through this pipe and exits via a vent on your home’s exterior wall.
- 2. Disconnect your dryer with caution.
You’re ready to disconnect your dryer after discovering how your ducts function. Remove any metal tape or clamps that connect your dryer vent pipe to its exhaust. To avoid breaking the pipe, use delicate pressure while removing the vent pipe from the wall duct.
- 3. The lint should be vacuumed.
You should now be able to see into your dryer vent from within your laundry room (or nook). Suck up any lint trap in or around the hole with the hose attachment of a vacuum cleaner or shop vac.
- 4. Enter the room with a brush.
Attach your vent cleaning kit’s dryer brush to your power drill and put the brush end of the rod into your duct. Push the brush as far back as you can, keeping in mind that depending on the direction your duct travels, you may need to manipulate the hose connection cautiously.
- 5. Reconnect and clean up
You’ve probably discovered a wealth of lint at this time. You may use a vacuum cleaner, a broom, and a dustpan to get rid of your new fluffy friends. Next, plug in your dryer and reattach your wall duct.
- 6. Celebrate
You succeeded! Cleaning out a dryer vent isn’t a glamorous job, but you rose to the occasion and earned a victory lap. Turn on your dryer and listen for the lovely sound of accomplishment as the air travels gently out the vent.
Why do you need to clean your dryer vent?
Aside from the obvious benefit of saving your life by cleaning the dryer vent, there are numerous additional advantages to doing so. Your health, for example, or the efficiency and lifespan of your dryer. Let’s look at each argument in more detail.
- 1. Your Life and Health
Clogged dryer vents are not only dangerous to your house, but they are also dangerous to your life. A poorly maintained dryer may cause various problems, including the release of poisonous gases and the danger of a fire. To avert a potentially fatal catastrophe, homemakers should carefully clean vents.
- 2. The Efficiency of Your Dryer
Clearing dust and grime enables the dryer vent to function correctly. Clothes will dry more quickly and keep their sheen for longer. If it takes many cycles to dry your wet items, it’s time to contact a professional.
- 3. The lifespan of a Dryer
Dryer vents last considerably longer when adequately cleaned. A clogged dryer vent causes the machine to work harder, but its performance suffers. Once your dryer vent is free of foreign particles, it will function smoothly and will not need to be replaced.
- 4. Spending Less
A cleaner machine operates for a more extended period. As a result, it will not need to be changed for a more extended period. When the vents aren’t clogged, they work perfectly and don’t produce wear and strain on the equipment.
How often do you need to clean the dryer vent?
Cleaning the dryer vent once a year is a good rule of thumb to eliminate any lint accumulation. However, if you have a lengthy dryer duct with several twists, you may wish to clean the vent every six months if you use the dryer often.
If you don’t use the dryer often and your dryer duct isn’t too lengthy, you may need to clean it every few years.
Turn on the dryer and examine the air movement via the outer vent hood to see whether your dryer vent needs to be cleaned. The dryer vent should be cleaned if the air movement is slow or sluggish.
It is essential to clean your dryer vent regularly to avoid fires and other potentially dangerous situations. The frequency you should clean depends on how often you use your dryer, but we suggest examining it at least once a year.