Your dryer uses heat to get your clothes dry, but it shouldn't make your home feel warmer. If you've noticed that your home gets hotter when your dryer is on, that means it's time to clean the vents. Learn more about dryer hazards that can occur when you have clogged vents and how you can prevent these from happening.
More than likely your dryer is not venting to the outside of the house. The vent ducting is probably clogged causing the air to back up into the room or a joint has come loose.
Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and that the machine is connected properly. Follow the manufacturer's operating instructions and don't over-load your dryer. Do not leave a dryer running if you leave home or when you go to bed.
Two quick things that you can check are to first look behind the dryer, and make sure that the venting is attached to the dryer vent system at the wall, and secondly, go outside to where the termination point is for the dryer vent system, and see if you can feel hot, humid air coming out while the dryer is running.
There is a flexible hose that is attached to your dryer's back with the other end connected to the outside vent. If the hose is loosely connected, hot, humid air from the dryer will leak into your basement and not go outside. Check to see if this hose is correctly attached to the back of the dryer.
A basement laundry requires proper venting of the washing machine and the dryer. Otherwise, leaks and moisture can build up and cause problems.
Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.
A good rule of thumb is to have your dryer exhaust vents inspected and cleaned by a professional at least once per year. However, if you have a household that uses your dryer often, such as one with a lot of children, you may want to consider increasing that amount to every six months.
The lint trap collects lint from the inside of your dryer. If it becomes full and isn't emptied, the temperature in your dryer can become too hot or cold and cause condensation. Cleaning the trap should be done after every cycle to prevent this problem from happening.
Typically, a gas or electric dryer should take about 30 to 45 minutes to dry a full load of clothes. Dense fabrics—like a quilt or a load of thick bath towels—may take up to an hour to dry.
It is okay to leave clothes in the dryer overnight provided you dry them first. Otherwise, you can get mold if you leave them wet. The next morning, before taking the clothes out of the drier, just give them a few minutes of tumbling to get out some of the wrinkles and make it easier to iron if necessary..
Install an Exhaust Fan
In addition, it will pull all the heat and humidity caused by the appliances from the room. This is done when the fan is turned on. The angle of blade rotation draws hot air to the fan to expel it out. Vents or windows then allow the cool, fresh air to enter the laundry room.
How Hot Does a Dryer Get. The temperature a dryer reaches depends on the make and model of the dryer, as well as the setting at which the dryer is running. Your dryer uses heat to warm the water in your clothes and turn it into vapor. On average, most dryers can get around 125 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keeping humidity in the laundry room below fifty percent will deter mold growth, keep your dryer from working harder, and make you feel more comfortable. Humidity can be reduced with a dehumidifier, an open window, or a good ventilation system with a ceiling vent.
Gas dryers emit fumes that are extremely dangerous. If the dryer exhaust duct becomes clogged at any time, the fumes are not able to escape to the outside and subsequently will build up inside your home. This creates a serious risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Another possible cause of smells coming from your dryer vents is a dirty vent duct. Over time, lint and debris can build up in the ductwork, leading to odors escaping your home. To clean it out, you'll need to disconnect the vent from the dryer and use a vacuum or brush to remove any buildup.
Vacuum Out the Vent
While wearing safety gloves, remove lint from the hole at the back of the dryer. Cleaning lint from a dryer duct requires a vacuum. Use the hose attachment of a vacuum cleaner or shop vac to clean in and around the hole at the back of the dryer.
So if you are thinking about cleaning your dryer vent yourself, we would recommend tackling this project only if your dryer is located on an exterior wall and the vent is less than a few feet long.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 15,000 home fires per year are caused by clothes dryers. And SO MANY of these could have been prevented, according to firefighters.
Clothes dryer fires are more common than you might think. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that dryers and washing machines cause an average of 15,970 fires each year, with dryers causing 92% of them and an average of $200 million in property damage.