Your dryer’s efficiency may be significantly reduced if some treacherous lint starts to clog up slowly in the dryer venting. This build up can gradually become a fire hazard if it isnot cleaned out regularly. If you have been cleaning up the dryer filter thinking that everything is all set, then think again.
When water is removed during a drying process, lint is always deposited slowly especially on the crevices inside the lint filter trap which also extents along the dryer vent hose. So, if you just cleaned up the filter trap, then a whole load of lint awaits deep inside the dryer vent hose. The following are tips on how to clean dryer vent.
How To Clean a Dryer Vent - Preparation
Cleaning up a dryer venting requires a set of equipment that can allow you to effectively get rid of all the clogging inside it. Before beginning any cleaning procedure, make sure that the following are right inside your toolbox:
- Duct tape
- Screwdriver
- Soapy water (it is recommended to use warm water)
- Toilet brush (clean it first)
- Old towel
- Gloves
- Broomstick
Once you have the above in place, then you are ready to go.
The Cleaning Procedure
1. If your dryer is gas powered, then detach the horse. On an electric dryer, unplug power supply cable from the wall socket. Always do this before doing anything.
2. Turn off the main gas supply. After detaching the gas hose from the dryer, remember to turn off the gas supply as a safety measure. In case you experience any problem in turning off the gas, just get some assistance from the gas company or call a specialist to assist. Do not clean the dryer until the gas supply is fully turned off.
3. Unhook the vent by pulling the dyer about 2 feet from the wall.
4. Detach the vent from the dryer by unscrewing the clamp holder.
5. Slowly lay the vent on the floor right beside the dryer after detaching it from the wall.
6. Use the toilet brush to gently remove the lint buildup inside the flexible vent. If you have a vacuum cleaner, you can still use it as long as it has a wand attachment. Using a vacuum cleaner would require you to seek some assistance from another person. Note that coat hanger or any other pointed objects should not be used at least not for this step because you might easily poke a hole on the vent.
7. Take the old towel and wrap it around the broomstick. Then use it to slide into the vent back and forth until it is cleaned up.
8. Locate the covering louver of the vent outside the house and unscrew it. Clean it up and be careful as some wasps may sting you.
9. You can then wash the louver with warm soapy water before replacing it back.
10. You can now start reassembling the dryer back at the house. Take the precautions the same way as you were detaching the dryer vent hose.
Generally, learning how to clean dryer vent is not a difficult task and anyone can learn it quite easily.