Dryer Vent Cleaning and Maintenance 

A clothes dryer doesn’t always look so scary or appear to be dangerous. However, it can cause house fires totalling in millions of dollars in damages. By doing regular cleaning and maintenance  you can be proactive to protect your family and your investment!

Cleaning Lint In Dryer

If you use either a gas or electric dryer you will have lint.Lint builds up in the venting and lint trap but also inside the dryer too which can block or reduce air flow and also prematurely wear down your dryer.

Removing the lint is rather a easy job. Cleaning the lint trap is the first easy job and it should be cleaned after each load. If the lint screen is clogged just rinse the screen under warm water and then carefully scrub with bristle brush to remove the build up from the fabric softener.

Removing Lint From Dryer Vents

At least every 4-6 months, unplug your dryer and check the exhaust venting that connects to the back of your dryer.

This hose may be held together by a steel clamp, loosen it by pliers. After removal of pipe, reach inside the vent and pull out any loose lint. Another alternative is to run a shop vac hose inside the vent to remove lint caught further inside the venting.

If you should have a silver flexible plastic vent duct hose, it should be removed and replaced immediately. This material is flammable and can and might burn and cause a house fire. Ideally, you should use a rigid steel vent tube between the dryer and the outside vent. Steel rigid material does a better job of heat resistance and also link doesn’t get built up as inside as much as flexible venting.

Installing Your Dryer Correctly

When your dryer is installed it should not vent into the attic or home. Any exhaust from the dryer is hot and humid and this in turn can and will cause mold and mildew to appear which can be hazardous to you and your family.

Ideally the maximum length of a dryer vent duct should be 25 feet from the dryer to the wall or roof termination point. Any 90 degree turns can reduce the air flow substantially and in turn restrict air flow.

Dryer should always be wired for 220v and grounded. All gas feed dryers should be installed by professionals.