A good rule of thumb is to have your dryer exhaust vents inspected and cleaned by a professional at least once per year.
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.
But even with these preventative steps you should clean your dryer vents at least once every 12 months to remove the lint and debris and prevent clogs! If you don't want to do it yourself - hire a Dustless Duct professionals to take care of dryer vent cleaning.
If you haven't cleaned your dryer vent in a while there are some tell-tale signs to look for that will let you know you should check it out: Your dryer takes much longer than a typical 45-minute cycle to dry. Clothes come out of the dryer damp. Your dryer feels very hot to the touch while running.
However, the greatest danger of not regularly cleaning your lint trap and vent is that lint is highly combustible, and if it comes into proximity to the dryer's heating element, it can quickly ignite and start a house fire.
Not only that, but a combination of lint buildup and the heat your clothes dryer puts out can cause a fire, which can, of course, be devastating to your home and family. That's why it's a good idea to hire a professional to clean out your dryer vent from time to time in addition to cleaning them yourself.
Dryer's Life Span
With proper cleaning of dryer vents, they last much longer. Clogged dryer vent results in the machine working harder but the functioning is negatively affected. Once your dryer vent is clear of all foreign particles, it runs smoothly and doesn't need a replacement.
Cleaning the vent from the inside allows you to remove all lint and debris but you'll need to disconnect the dryer from the vent first, which can be awkward. If you clean it from the outside, you won't have to disconnect, which is simpler, but you won't remove all the dirt from inside.
Lint Is Coming Out Of The Vent - If you have lint coming out of your dryer vent, it means that there is lint making its way into your ventilation system at a noticeable rate. This is a good indicator that your vent should be cleaned out.
Your parents probably taught you to clean the lint trap after every load – and they were right! Be sure to pull out all visible lint before you dry a new load and vacuum out any hard-to-reach areas. As far as cleaning the dryer vent, we recommend once per year or more often if: You have a large family.
Dryers generate lint much in the same way that an engine generates electricity. The drum spins and lint comes out. Of course, that lint comes from your clothes – loose threads and fibers that are knocked loose in the tumble.
4. Don't – Try to clean the venting manually with a brush. Manually cleaning the dryer's vent is not recommended because it can cause damage. This could include stretching or tearing of the vent, which leads to lint build-up and reduction in airflow.
If there is no lint on the lint screen after a drying cycle, or if lint is on the wrong side of the screen, it could be a sign that the lint is backing up in your dryer. Further, a lack of lint on the lint trap or screen is a sign of an obstructed dryer vent.
In most states, indoor dryer vents are not legal. Colorado's residential code, for example, initially states that dryers must be vented according to manufacturer instructions, which could allow for indoor or outdoor venting. The next section, however, says that dryer exhaust vents shall convey moisture outdoors.
Dryer vent cleaning increases the lifespan of your dryer. When there is lint or other obstructions stuck within your vent, it generates wear and tear on your appliance. This will cause parts to fail and prematurely shortens the duration of your dryer.
A blocked or clogged dryer vent prevents your machine from working properly and can even cause a house fire. There are local services that can help you maintain a clean, safe dryer vent. However, in order to reap the benefits of their service, you need to have your dryer vent cleaned before a disastrous fire strikes.
By not clearing out the lint, the dryer becomes a fire hazard. Every year, there are more than 3,000 house fires in the United States caused by dryers. A couple seconds is all it takes to clean out your dryer's lint trap. Lint is very combustible.
It is not advisable to vent a dryer through the roof. This is one of the most common mistakes we see from people who are not experienced with air ducts. Dryer vent specialists will tell you that a vertical approach to installing a dryer vent is inefficient and creates a fire risk for a home if it goes unchecked.
Do all dryers "vent-out" of the dryer appliance in the same place? And where is that? Answer Except for the stackable combo washer/dryer units and some European units, most dryer appliances exhaust through a 4" port at the very bottom of the rear back panel, and it is located in the center measured from side to side.