User ReviewedHow to Clean a Clothes Dryer Vent If your dryer vent hasn't been cleaned in the past year or two, it probably needs it. How do you clean it? Unplug the dryer from both gas and electric. Pull the dryer out just to the extension of your vent.112 Using a screwdriver or nut driver, loosen the 4" clamp (vent clamp) on the back of the dryer. Slide the vent off the dryer. Reach into the hole on the back of the dryer, and pull out any lint and buildup. Reach into the vent tubing you just took off and pull out lint from there, as well. Look at the ends. Slide the clamp back over the vent. Remove the vent on the outside of the house as well. Reach in and clean out the lint or insert your vacuum cleaner tubing into the dryer exhaust tubing. Look into the vent to see if you missed anything. Turn on gas and plug unit back in. Run dryer on air fluff for 10 minutes. Recheck the outside vent for obstructions and reattach the outside vent.

If your dryer vent is very long with several bends, and you have a leaf blower, you can buy a rubber hose adapter that fits onto both the leaf blower end and the vent piece sticking out of the wall (mine was a 3" to 4" adapter - found in the outdoor PVC pipe area of a home and garden box store), along with some hose clamps. Clamp everything down tightly, and turn leaf blower on. It might surprise you how much lint comes out of the vent even after cleaning it with conventional methods. Some vacuum cleaners also reverse to blow air. If you can't find a fitting, you may be able to improvise one. Clean the lint filter every time you run your dryer. It will help keep lint from building up in the vent (but not prevent it completely). It will also help your dryer run as efficiently as it can. While cleaning the vents, you may also want to remove the bottom front panel of the dryer and clean there also. Pay attention to the area around the lint filter, too. By removing the lint filter frame, easier access to lint deposits can be gained & a vac nozzle can be slipped in for a more thorough cleaning.

Vent hoods (terminations) styles: Roof, wall and soffit. Vent hood styles and features vary greatly and can make a huge difference in how efficient your dryer runs and how fast the duct pipe fills up with lint. In many instances a termination is used that exhibits a grate or screen with small openings. dryer vent clean out kitIt can take only a few months before this opening is clogged. best vacuum cleaner india 2015Louver types or popular but do not keep small birds from lifting the louver and using the warm pipe as a nest. best stick vacuum cleaners ukSome of the old 22 degree vents do not open enough and are inefficient in design. best review upright vacuum cleaner

Be suspicious of vents with grills or grates. Vent locations: In most cases, the shortest, least restrictive run determines the termination location, but other factors like windows, doors, AC compressors should be considered. best lightweight vacuum cleanerRoof vents are very popular in the south and work well for laundry rooms located in the middle of the house. best way to clean microfiber furniturePushing hot air upwards uses about the same effort as pushing air horizontally or down. If you have adequate soffit width, a soffit vent works well. Your dryer outlet may not be on the roof, but sticking out the side of the house. It will always vent directly to the outdoors. If you have a shop vac of some type, they are perfect for cleaning the exhaust tube. The diameter and length of the shop vac hose is long enough, and the hose ridges give a great reaming to break any lint on the sides of the hose.

First Vacuum by inserting the shop vac hose in the exhaust hose and slide it briskly back and forth... then blow out the rest. Clean as the day you bought it. There are devices available to clean out the entire tube—from dryer to final termination; basically a brush on a flexible pole. These are most appropriate for long duct runs, usually include 12 feet (3.7 m) of flexible shaft, connect to a cordless drill and come with several brush styles. Reach in and out of the vent slowly. There are many sharp screws and edges inside the vent. Wear gloves and use tools wherever possible. Clean the vent every year or two. Buildup can cause a fire. In some older homes, small homes, converted apartments, etc, it may be impossible and or impractical to duct the dryer to the exterior. This is a serious health issue and you should consider the ill consequences of using an Indoor Lint Trap Kit (tub of water) or venting directly into the attic or crawlspace. Moisture and lint are byproducts of a tumble dryer.

Expecting the tub of water to eliminate the moisture and lint is unlikely. Health related articles regarding this issue are numerous and can be found easily online. Mold, allergies, illness, paint peeling off the wall, heavy dust accumulation… Please avoid or minimize the use of these lint traps. An alternative may be a condensation type of dryer or a HVAC contractor that can install ductwork to the exterior.Clothes dryer fire safety outreach materialsFacts about home clothes dryer fires2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss.The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them (34 percent).More home clothes dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months, peaking in January.To learn more about the causes and incidence of home clothes dryer fires, download our free report Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings 2008-2010 PDF 612 Kb.Outreach materials from the U.S. Fire AdministrationThe leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them.

Help increase awareness about clothes dryer fires in your community with these messages and free materials.Clothes dryer fire safety posterDownload Clothes Dryer Fire Safety Poster Clothes dryer fire safety messagesIt is important for community residents to know the steps they can take to stay safe from fire. Put these fire safety messages into your own words when talking to people about clothes dryer fire safety.Clothes dryer do’sInstallationHave your clothes dryer installed by a professional.Make sure the correct electrical plug and outlet are used and that the dryer is connected properly.Read manufacturers' instructions and warnings in use and care manuals that come with new dryers.CleaningClean the lint filter before and after each load of laundry. Don’t forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint can build up. In addition, clean the lint filter with a nylon brush at least every six months or more often if it becomes clogged.Clean lint out of the vent pipe every three months.

Have your dryer cleaned regularly by a professional, especially if it is taking longer than normal for clothes to dry.MaintenanceInspect the venting system behind the dryer to ensure it is not damaged or restricted.Put a covering on outside wall dampers to keep out rain, snow and dirt.Make sure the outdoor vent covering opens when the dryer is on.Replace coiled-wire foil or plastic venting with rigid, non-ribbed metal duct.Have gas-powered dryers inspected every year by a professional to ensure that the gas line and connection are together and free of leaks.Check regularly to make sure nests of small animals and insects are not blocking the outside vent.Keep the area around the clothes dryer free of items that can burn.If you will be away from home for an extended time, unplug or disconnect the dryer.Clothes dryer don’t'sDon’t use a clothes dryer without a lint filter or with a lint filter that is loose, damaged or clogged.Don’t overload the dryer.Don’t use a wire screen or cloth to cover the wall damper.

They can collect lint and clog the dryer vent.Don’t dry anything containing foam, rubber or plastic. An example of an item not to place in a dryer is a bathroom rug with a rubber backing.Don’t dry any item for which manufacturers' instructions state “dry away from heat.”Don’t dry glass fiber materials (unless manufacturers' instructions allow).Don’t dry items that have come into contact with anything flammable like alcohol, cooking oils or gasoline. Dry them outdoors or in a well-ventilated room, away from heat.Don’t leave a clothes dryer running if you leave home or when you go to bed.Social media messages and images to shareCopy and paste these messages to your social media accounts and ask your followers to share.Select the buttons below to display the images at their full sizes and save them to your device. Images are sized to fit your Facebook timeline or Twitter feed. Facebook Twitter Outreach materials from other organizationsThe U.S. Fire Administration recommends the following organizations as trusted and reliable sources for free outreach materials you can use to help increase awareness about home clothes dryer fires in your community.