How to Troubleshoot a Dryer Exhaust Vent
A blocked or clogged exhaust will effect the performance of your dryer. Without proper ventilation, the dryer can overheat or even catch on fire. Maintain the performance of your clothes dryer, and reduce your energy bills by keeping the vent clear and lint free. Clean your dryer exhaust at least once a year. Households that average 6 loads of laundry or more per week should clean their exhaust vents two or three times a year. If your dryer exhaust extends beyond 6 feet or bends at an angle, clean it on a regular basis.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Bucket of water
- Vacuum cleaner with hose attachment
- Clean toothbrush
- Vent brush
-
-
1
Unplug your dryer prior to performing any maintenance on the unit.
-
2
Examine the lint screen in your dryer to see if it needs to be cleaned. Excessively full lint screens will interfere with the proper exhausting of your dryer. Remove the larger clumps of lint by hand. Scrub the lint screen periodically with a clean toothbrush and water to remove any fine lint buildup. Wipe off any excess water with a clean cloth. Allow the screen to dry completely before replacing it in the dryer.
-
3
Carefully pull the dryer away from the wall. Use a screwdriver to remove the dryer vent tubing. This tubing is 4 inches in diameter, and it attaches to both the wall and the dryer unit. Remove the entire vent tubing. Use a small vacuum cleaner attachment to vacuum out any lint that may be clogging the vent tubing. Clogs in the vent tubing can cause your dryer to overheat, using an excessive amount of energy and/or venting excess moisture into your home.
-
4
Vacuum or wipe away any lint buildup at the points where the vent tubing connects to the wall and the dryer to ensure that the vent tubing will securely connect to these fittings.
-
5
Clean the dryer exhaust area between your vent and the opening to outside of your home. Use a specially designed vent brush to reach and clean the full length of the exhaust tybing. You can obtain these brushes for as little as twenty dollars. (See References.) These brushes consist of a soft bristle attachment connected to a 10 or 20 foot snake-like hose.
-
6
Use the vent brush to clean out your dryer. Securely reattach all dryer vent tubing. Push the unit back into place. Go outside, and remove the vent hood exterior cap. Plug in and start your dryer. Remove the dryer lint screen. Start feeding the brush from outside the dryer through the lint screen opening. With the dryer on, continue to snake the brush through your dryer exhaust tubing until it reaches outside of your home. Turn off your dryer. Go outside and retrieve the vent brush. Clean up any lint that has fallen out of the vent or that is caught in the brush. Replace outside vent cap. Slide the lint screen back into your dryer.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The dryer lint screen should be clearned prior to drying each load of your laundry. This will prevent lint from building up in the dryer and through the dryer vents.
Determine what type of dryer tubing you have connected to your dryer. Replace vinyl vent tubing as it is no longer considered to be up to current building code standards in many areas. This vent tubing has been known to cause house fires.Vinyl vent tubing is typically white while the metal flexible vent tubing is most often silver in color.
