The Importance of Cleaning Your Dryer Vent
If you have a dryer vent, then you know that you need to clean the dryer vent. It is recommended that you have your dryer vent cleaned at least one time a year. If you have a larger family, or do more laundry than the average household, you may need your vents cleaned more frequently. Unfortunately, most households do not have their dryer cleaned nearly as often as they should. One of the reasons why may be because they do not understand the importance of doing so. Here are a few of the reasons why cleaning your dryer vent regularly is important.
How To Clean Your Dryer Vent
Disconnect Your Dryer
- Before you start cleaning your dryer vent, unplug the power cord attached to your dryer from the outlet or turn off the gas/propane valve if you have a gas dryer. You might need to pull the dryer about a foot away from the wall to reach the cord.
- Detach the dryer duct, located on the back of the dryer, from the wall and the dryer. You might need to use a screwdriver to remove the duct.
- Locate the exterior vent outside your home and remove the cover of the vent from the exit point. This will make it easier to clean with a brush. If you’re not sure where the exterior vent is, turn your dryer on and go outside your home and walk around, listening for the sound of the dryer.
Locate the vent
Dryer vents are easy to find because they typically stand out from the actual dryer. Look for a thick silver or white hose coming from the back of the dryer. It should be about 4 inches in diameter and can be made with flexible white vinyl, thin aluminum foil, semi-rigid aluminum, or completely rigid aluminum piping.
Once you have located the hose at the back of the dryer, just follow it along to the place where it exits the home. It should be held in place by one or more circular brackets that fit over the top of the 4-inch vent hose and tighten around the transition vent pipe that leads outdoors.
Vacuum the Vent
- Attach a hose to your vacuum so that it can reach any lint that the brush didn’t get.
- Insert the vacuum into the vent and remove any leftover lint or dust.
- Vacuum up the lint from the duct and inside the dryer as well.
- Go to the exterior vent outside your home and vacuum it. (If your vacuum is for in-home use only, skip this step and just clean with the brush.)
- Replace the exterior cover on the vent.