Everything You Must Know About How to Clean Dryer Vent
The primary duty of a dryer vent is to remove unwanted lint, moisture, and heat generated during the drying cycle. This highlights the crucial role of the vent in maintaining optimal dryer efficiency. It’s essential to regularly clean the vent to prevent lint and debris buildup in the exhaust pipes, which can pose serious fire hazards. Neglecting the importance of vent cleaning can have detrimental consequences. How to clean the dryer vent? Let’s jump further for a detailed insight!
Clogged Vent – Common Symptoms
The most common symptom of a clogged vent is longer drying times. Other signs include unwanted lint buildup in the lint trap and a burning smell.
What Do You Need to Clean the Dryer Vent?
There is no need to purchase expensive tools to perform this task. You need only a few simple ones to clean the vent. The required tools are;
- Clothes
- Dryer vent pipe brush
- Wire vent brush
- A lubricant like WD-40
- Bucket
- Dishwashing liquid
How to Clean Dryer Vent from Inside?
The first task is to unplug the dryer. Switch off the valve if you use a gas-driven dryer. Then, you should push the dryer away from the wall. Don’t forget to disconnect the vent pipe. Sometimes, duct tape or clamp must be removed based on your dryer model.
Use a hose attachment to eliminate the lint accumulation at the opening of the vent tube. You can also use a store-bought Vac instead of the hose attachment.
How to remove the lint buildup on the sides of the vent pipe?
Use a dryer vent pipe brush to make this task easier. You must apply this brush to the dryer opening, wall piping, and the disconnected vent pipe. Clean thoroughly to remove stubborn impurities.
Then, you can reconnect the duct to the dryer. Place the dryer back into its original position before switching on the power supply.
How to Clean Dryer Vent from Outside?
Turn on the dryer. Monitor the exterior vent to check whether the slats are properly opening and closing. If you notice issues, oil the vent hinges using WD-40 lubricant.
Do you see debris and lint inside the slats? Eliminate them using a wire brush. Then, clean the outer vent cover. You can use a dishwashing liquid, cloth, and warm water to make the cleaning effective. This method removes all impurities, including soil, dust, and dirt. Finally, rinse with water before reconnecting the vent cover.
How Often Should You Clean a Dryer Vent?
Decide on the cleaning frequency based on your usage. Some people use their dryers daily, while others use them once or twice a week. How often do you use it? This aspect determines the cleaning frequency. Clean the dryer vent once every three months if your dependence on the dryer is high. Otherwise, you can clean it once every six months. You should also clean the lint filter after every single drying cycle. This method maintains the airflow and efficiency of the appliance at higher levels.
How to clean the dryer vent? These are the fundamental aspects you must know about dryer vent cleaning. Sometimes, you may need professional help to deep clean the vent. Stubborn lint and dirt accumulation may demand expert intervention. Seek the help of a trusted dryer repair company to get the job done efficiently and affordably.