Proper Dryer Vent Cleaning

Turn off and unplug dryer.

Proper dryer vent cleaning.

If you have a gas dryer it will also be necessary to turn off the gas before you go any further. Before dryer vent cleaning locate the vent which should be easily found at the back of the dryer. Also locate the dryer exhaust vent at your home s exterior. This is made easier with a vacuum cleaner with a long hose attachment.

In back of most dryer units is a short 4 inch diameter exhaust. The first step on how to clean a dryer vent is to unplug the dryer. Effects of a blocked vent. The lint is caught in a.

In order to properly clean your dryer s ventilation system you have to first know where it is and where it ends. Before you clean a dryer vent on the roof vacuum out the vent behind the dryer since it s easier to clean out the length of the vent from the ground floor. Venting the dryer outside in cold weather wastes a lot of heat. Some amount of lint inevitably passes into the ductwork leading to the outdoor vent and proper maintenance requires that you clean this ductwork regularly.

A home owner can take apart and clean the dryer vent s interior himself. During a home inspection the inspector should try to determine the type of clothes dryer vent material s. What causes a clogged dryer vent. How to clean your dryer.

Routine cleaning is done from the outside by sending an air propelled jet snake through the vent. By taking all the dangers of a clogged dryer vent into consideration it is plain to see it can cost you far more than the average vent cleaning price of 130 a visit so it is smart to understand that the biggest cause of a clogged dryer vent is a lack of maintenance and prevent it. Some hvac professionals and chimney sweeps also offer dryer vent cleaning as a service. To make the dyer more efficient you can buy an inexpensive heat diverter and install it in the exhaust duct of electric dryers only not gas dryers you ll save about 50 worth of heat per load in the winter.

It blows air 360 degrees backwards blasting the lint loose and blowing it outside. Dryer vent cleaning is a very real commercial trade and the contracted work is sometimes described as routine and problem cleaning. To clean the dryer vent first unplug your dryer from the wall socket. If you have a gas dryer turn the supply valve off while cleaning.

If you don t know how to clean a dryer vent or lint screen and trap here s how in eight quick steps. All clothes dryers have different types of filters to catch the lint generated as clothing tumbles inside the dryer but the filters cannot catch all the lint. If the vents are blocked and the dryer can t expel air there will be consequences.