Question from Cheryl3
Hello Debra and all,
We’ve been told that dryer vents should be cleaned, otherwise they can be a fire hazard. We have been here seven years and clothes are beginning to come out a bit damp, so I think we need to do it. Though we were able to get at part of it with a long dryer vent brush, the type of dryer we have does not permit us to accees the entire area to be cleaned ourselves and my husband is leary of prodding any further, not wanting to damage the dryer etc. We plan to call in a company to have this done. However, knowing that duct cleaning is unnecessary and sometimes harmful,we’ve put it off. I’d like to know if there are any caveats to be aware of, or questions to ask when contracting with a company to just clean the dryer vent. Also, does anyone recommend such a company? We’re in Wesley Chapel, near Tampa. Thank you all so much for any ideas on this.
Debra’s Answer
I’ve never had my dryer vent cleaned so I don’t have personal experience with this, though your question has prompted me to take a look at my own dryer vent.
Here’s a good summary of how clogged dryer vents can cause fires and force your dryer to use more energy than necessary to get clothes dry: How to Clean a Dryer Vent
I would ask them if they use any chemicals or sprays in the cleaning. I recently had my air conditioner checked and they sprayed something in the air ducts without telling me, so just ask ahead of time and stand right next to them while they are working so you can stop anything that seems toxic to you.
Readers, and experience with cleaning dryer vents, and warnings?
In terms of regular maintenance, it’s important to clean the lint out of your dryer from the little lint basket every time you use it. That will keep the exhaust vent from getting lint build-up and reduce the need for cleaning.
You could try using your vacuum cleaner hose, so that you are pulling stuff out rather than pushing lint further into the vent-hose or prodding into the dryer. I have a gas dryer and clean my dryer hose, which connects to the vent, at least once a year. (The goal is every six months, since that’s the recommendation that I read for fire prevention, but I rarely “get around to it” as soon as the reminder pops up on my PC.) The vent itself has never needed to be cleaned; just the hose that connects the dryer to it. I clean the lint out of the dryer lint-basket every time I use the dryer, but there’s still always a goodly amount of accumulated lint in the hose. My dryer hose is only 6 feet long, so I’m able to clean the whole thing with a long brush and my vacuum cleaner. I disconnect the hose from the dryer. It’s attached with a large hose clamp.
A friend recently moved to an apartment. The clothes took forever to dry when she hooked up her dryer, so she asked them to check the vent. The hose ran behind a wall for a considerable distance. The maintenance man used a leaf blower, from indoors, to blow through the hose. That blew a considerable amount of accumulated lint out of the vent. He then went outside to make sure the vent had closed on its own after he finished with the blower. Is that an option for you? (DON’T try to use a hair dryer; it’s not powerful enough, plus the heat could ignite the lint.) After the hose and vent are cleaned this time, cleaning it at least once a year will probably be doable on your own, because the lint won’t have so much time to accumulate. You might ask the professional, if you hire one, how to clean it yourself next time. The worst he/she could say is, “You can’t.” Or, if you have an owners manual or can find one online, it might give instructions for cleaning the vent. If not you could try calling customer service of the company.
Ideally, dryer vents should be checked and cleaned once each year if they are made of rigid metal. (I do not recommmend flexible dryer vents because they trap dust in each little depression, which can increse energy costs, create a fire hazard and get mouldy with moisture from exhaust and ambient air. Dryer manufacturers recommend rigid metal vents because they minimize theses issues.
For your outside vent hood, I heartily recommend the Heartland Vent (see Ms. Google) whcih minimizes backdraft and humidity issues. (No financial interest. Your mileage may vary.)
Routine dryer vent cleaning is an easy DIY task for most (including handymen for those of us who lack the stamina or flexibility to do it ourselves). Not only is it much more expensive to hire a washer/dryer repair service to do this task, they are more likely to use their standard operating procedure (which may be more show than go), and may not meet your health needs.
Here the simple steps to clean dryer vents.
1. Clean your lint screen after each and every wash. Invest a long narrow lint brush to reach under the screen and poke around with it each Spring and Fall to draw any dropped lint out.
2. If possible, choose a good weather day, since part of the task will (ideally) be done outside, and set aside 20 to 30 minutes to complete it.
3. Disconnect the dryer vent from the wall and the back of the dryer.
4. Take the removed piece of vent outside and tap gently to dislodge loose dust..Use an electric leaf blower or a vacuum that has been reversed so that it blows air to remove the remaining dust. Wash, if you prefer, and run air trhough it again to dry it out.
5. While outside, check your exterior dryer vent hood to make sure excess dust is not trapped there and that it is closing smoothly.
6. Use the same electric leaf blower or reversed vacuum in the vent in the wall inside your home.
7. Check the exterior vent hood again, to see what has been dislodged and ensure that the damper can close smoothly.
8. If there is significant lint on the dryer side of the vent, take one side off (see repairclinic.com for ininstructions with diagrams) and vaccuum the interior of the dryer. (Properly maintained dryers in small households may never need to do this. Larger households may only need to do this step once in the dryer’s life time.)
9. Reassemble.
10. Bravo! That’s all there is to it!
k2