DIY Dryer Exhaust Duct Cleaning
The U.S. Fire Association states that dryer related fires account for over 15,000 structure fires annually. In the same report, they say that "failure to clean" is the leading cause of dryer fires.
Don't just clean the dryer and the dryer vent; your dryer duct work needs to be cleaned. How to clean your dryer exhaust duct depends on the location of your dryer in relation to the vent exhaust.
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Tools
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You will need to have a good lint brush to clean your lint trap and dryer vent. You'll need a dryer duct brush if you have extended duct work, especially if it runs through a wall. It has a long flexible neck with a brush attached to one end and a handle on the other. If you are working with duct work that is in a wall, you will also need electricians fish tape, used by electricians to run electrical wires inside walls.
Disconnect Duct Work
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Unplug the clothes dryer from the wall outlet. Move the dryer away from the wall so that you have room to work. Disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer by unscrewing the clamp that holds it to the exhaust port.
Find the connection between your duct work and the outside dryer vent. Disconnect the duct from the dryer vent.
Clean the Duct Work
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If your duct work is short, or does not run through a wall, you can simply insert the duct brush and remove the lint. A longer section of duct work will take a little more effort.
Starting at the lowest connecting point of your duct work, feed the electricians fish tape through the duct until it comes out the other side. On the other end, attach the dryer vent brush to the fish tape. Go back to the low end and slowly pull the fish tape with the brush attached back through the duct.
You may encounter some resistance going around bends and corners. When this happens, gently work the tape up and down until the brush moves through the bend. As you are pulling the fish tape, remove any lint and debris that falls out. Keep pulling the tape and brush through until they come out.
Reconnect
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Before reconnecting the duct work, clean the outside dryer vent and the exhaust port on the dryer. Reconnect the duct work to both and move your dryer back into position. Plug the dryer back in and you are finished.
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