What Everyone Should Know About Dryer Vent Cleaning

By Tara Daniels


By keeping a clothes dryer and its venting system clean, it will allow the machine to operate more efficiently and safely. When the airflow is unobstructed it ultimately consumes less power, increases the life the appliance, and most importantly can prevent fires. Routine dryer vent cleaning is something every home owner needs to be mindful of.

The most common cause of reduced airflow is an accumulation of lint, which can become worse if there is a longer venting system with multiple bends in it. When this happens it takes the machine longer to dry clothes, consuming more electricity. The lint trap does not catch all the lint, a portion of it will become lodged within the appliance and will adhere to the warm and moist venting system.

The primary cause of fires, is not cleaning the vents. Removing lint from the venting system alone is not sufficient since built up lint can also accumulate within and nearby the appliance. It is necessary to ensure that all of these places also be routinely cleared of debris since they pose a fire hazard.

In order for cleaning to be effective it must include a thorough brushing out of the inner surfaces of the venting system and the inside workings of the machine, this includes its blower, motor, wiring, and such. The back panel of the appliance must be taken off to allow access to these areas and clean them properly. Making sure the floor beneath the machine and the wall behind it are clean is also advisable.

How often lint-removal is required depends on a number of factors. The number of loads dried every week, length of the vent system, how many bends it has, the type of transition hose used, if the seams in the vent are fastened with screws rather than tape, type or laundry detergent used, and if there are pets in the home, all play a role in determining the frequency of cleaning. Generally most dryer vent systems will need cleaning every one to three years.

Homes which have been built within the last thirty years or less are even more likely to develop a build-up of lint as they often have centrally located laundry facilities with longer and less straight venting systems. While older houses usually have a laundry room which is situated closer to its outside walls, with a shorter vent that is much easier to access and clean.

One mistake many homeowners make is to use transition hoses which are made from tin foil or plastic. These pliable, corrugated are not safe for a number of reasons, they can easily lose their shape, don't expand well, and encourage lint accumulation in their corrugated grooves, all of which impede the airflow leaving the appliance. It's recommended that they be replaced with metal vents with a minimal diameter of 4 inches.

Dryer vent cleaning can either be done by a professional service or using a do-it-yourself kit. Those who have longer venting hoses may want to consider hiring a company since it is more difficult to access the entire system and do a thorough job without special equipment. Whereas those who have straightforward, shorter vent systems can usually handle the task themselves efficiently enough.




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