Introduction
Cleaning your dryer duct annually will make your clothes dry faster, save energy, and could prevent a fire.
Why
Over time, dryer lint and dust accumulate in clothes dryer vents, where it can block air flow out of the dryer, which increases drying times and can cause the dryer to overheat. This trapped dryer lint doesn’t just decrease dryer efficiency; it can also pose a serious fire hazard. Cleaning out the dryer vent can restore air flow greatly increasing your dryer’s ability to dry clothes.
What You'll Need
- Electric Leaf blower or dryer vent cleaning kit and/or vacuum with hose attachment
- Screwdriver
1. Check outside vent.
Find the terminating end of the clothes dryer duct. It should vent to the outside, not into the attic or crawlspace. Make sure the outside vent for the dryer is not obstructed and that the flaps open. The dryer vent cap should have a single flap (Figure 1) or a louvered flap (Figure 2). It should not have a screen over it which could trap lint and block air flow (Figure 3). If you have a louvered flap, you may want to remove the louver cover while cleaning the duct; just make sure to reattach it afterward.
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2. Move dryer to access vent duct.
The dryer vent is located on the back side of your clothes dryer. To access the vent, carefully move the dryer forward (Figure 4). If you need to lay the dryer down to comfortably access the dryer vent, place a blanket or towel on the floor in front of the dryer to avoid damage. Unplug the dryer.
3. Disconnect dryer duct.
Disconnect the dryer duct from the back of the dryer using a screwdriver to loosen the hose clamp (Figure 5).
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4. Clean dryer vent.
Option 1: Leaf blower.
Insert the end of an electric leaf blower into the dryer duct (Figure 6). Ensure that the vent to the outside is clear, so that debris does not accumulate at the exit. Turn the leaf blower on the lowest setting then blow any dryer lint that has built up in the duct to the outside.
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Option 2: Dryer vent cleaning brush
Disconnect the dryer vent at the wall. Insert a dryer vent cleaning brush into the duct that leads into the dryer, rotating it as you go. Some vent cleaning kits can be attached to an electric drill which will rotate rapidly to dislodge debris (Figure 7).
Open the dryer door. Use a shop vac or vacuum with hose attachment to vacuum out the duct as you remove the brush.
Next, insert the cleaning brush into the portion of the dryer exhaust duct that goes into the wall (Figure 8). Add handle sections as needed to extend the reach of the brush. Rotate the brush by hand or using an electric screwdriver as described in the manufacturer’s instructions with the brush cleaning kit. Use a shop vac or vacuum with hose attachment to vacuum up the loosened lint. If you can access the outside end of the vent, repeat the brushing and vacuuming procedure from outdoors.
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5. Reconnect dryer duct.
Using a screwdriver, reattach the dryer duct to the dryer. Re-attach the outside vent cover if previously removed.
6. Reposition dryer.
Plug the dryer back in and put the dryer back into place. Do not crush the dryer vent duct. When moving the dryer back into place, try to position the hose to be as short and direct as possible. Some exhaust ducts are rigid or semirigid metal; these duct types are desirable because they are less likely to kink or get crushed; however, they are also less maneuverable when trying to align the holes in the wall and the back of the dryer with the ducting. Many dryers use a corrugated or accordion pleated type duct. If you have this kind, align the dryer to compress the hose into the shortest, most consolidated position possible (Figure 9). If needed, cut the duct to avoid excessive duct length and looping (Figure 10).
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