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Easy Troubleshooting Guide When Your Dryer Vent Is Clogged

Easy Troubleshooting Guide When Your Dryer Vent Is Clogged

When the dryer vent is clogged and duct work that is dirty or blocked affects more than just the efficiency of your dryer. A fire hazard can result from the contact of heat with accumulated dryer lint and dust. Examine your dryer for warning indications of lint build-up, such as laundry taking longer to dry, a dryer that feels hotter to the fingertips, or a burning smell that develops in the laundry room.

In fact, thousands of fires are triggered by clogged dryer vents each year in the US. To keep your house safe and assure that laundry day goes as smoothly as possible, learn how to clean it when your dryer vent is clogged. Do this at least once a year by following the steps described below:

Steps to Clean It When Your Dryer Vent Is Clogged

Unplug the dryer

· Find the vent, which should be simple to locate at the back of the dryer, before cleaning the dryer vent. Check the dryer exhaust vent outside your house as well.

· Unplugging the dryer is the first step in cleaning the clogged dryer vent. Turn the supply valve off while cleaning if you have a gas dryer.

· To start cleaning the dryer vent, pull the dryer about a foot away from the wall.

· Remove the dryer duct from the dryer’s back. The vent clamp may need to be disconnected with a screwdriver.

· Replace any flexible dryer hose made of plastic, vinyl, or foil with ducting that complies with local building requirements because these materials are more likely to clog and catch fire.

Vacuum-clean the Vent

· Lint should be taken out of the dryer’s hole at the back while wearing safety gloves.

· Lint removal from a dryer duct requires the use of a vacuum. To clean in and around the hole at the back of the dryer, use the hose attachment on a vacuum or shop vac.

· If the duct can be detached from the wall where it connects, do so. It will be simpler to clean the clogged dryer vent.

· A dryer duct is simple to clean. After manually removing the lint, vacuum the duct’s interior. To vacuum out as much of the duct as you can, use hose extensions if they are available.

· Step outside the home to remove the exterior vent cover.

· Utilize a vacuum to clean the dryer vent from the outside.

· Some homeowners make use of a leaf blower to blow dust out the vent from inside, although this method is typically less effective.

Clean Which Dryer Vent Is Clogged

· Purchase a dryer vent kit as a backup option if your dryer vent is clogged for too long to effectively remove the lint with a vacuum. For a more thorough cleaning of the vent interior walls, these kits include flexible brushes with extensions that can be utilized similarly to drain snakes.

· The brush should be inserted into the dryer duct and moved back and forth while being slightly rotated as the initial stage in cleaning the duct.

· Continue until the dryer vent is clogged are clear of lint and dust, extending the brush as necessary.

· Determine which side of your home’s opening is higher—the interior or exterior—and start brushing there so that gravity can help the lint loosen.

Reaffix the dryer

· When you’re done cleaning, check the ducts to make sure they are safe and undamaged and that they comply with all regulations. If needed, replace the ducts.

· Re-attach the vent cover and ductwork. Use metal foil duct tape that is UL-listed to seal off ducting sections as necessary.

· Put the dryer back in its usual position, plug it in, or reopen the gas valve.

· To check that all the connections are secure and to clear away any leftover debris, run the dryer for 15 to 20 minutes on the fluff or air-dry setting.

· Consider using a dryer vent cleaning service if the aforementioned methods of clogged dryer vent cleaning are not enough to solve the problem.

Prevent Lint Build-up 

· You might need to clean the dryer vent less frequently if you limit the quantity of dust and lint in and around your dryer.

· Dust and sweep the area near the dryer on a regular basis.

· Before each cycle, take off the lint trap filter and clean it. It’s quick and simple, as well as significantly improves the efficiency of your dryer.

· Regularly remove the lint screen and use the vacuum cleaner’s hose attachment to clean inside and outside the lint filter housing.

· A lint screen may accumulate residue from dryer sheets over time. Use a scrub brush to wash the lint screen in warm, soapy water, then rinse it with clean water before patting it dry with a towel if it is clogged.

· Regular lint removal is necessary to prevent lint accumulation. In the end, clearing dryer lint will also shield your house from fires.

Conclusion

In addition to catching fire from build-up, lint serves as fuel for fires that may start accidentally or as a result of other factors. Not only does cleaning a clogged dryer vent keep your house safe, but it also keeps your dryer operating correctly and effectively. Besides posing a fire risk, a clogged dryer can raise your energy costs by making it essential for your laundry to dry for longer periods. Understanding how to clean a clogged dryer vent can safeguard your home, help you save money, and improve the appearance of your garments. Get everything you require to unclog your dryer vent right away.

If you can’t handle it by yourself, don’t hesitate to get help from an expert appliance repair company to get a hurdle-free, swift dryer repair service.