Sign up or log in to customize your list. Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question The best answers are voted up and rise to the top I posted this questions 6 months ago.. Why does it take my dryer 3 hours to dry a load of clothes? I checked the cycling thermostat and thermal fuse. I have seen different ways professionals clean dryer vent ductwork. Coit services used a portable compressor to blow air into the vent the push out lint. There was a good amount that came out. But I have seen another method where they used a rod with rotating brush that push out lint. I am thinking of hiring someone to do it this way. Is this a better way than what Coit did? My tenant last said the timning of drying has improved form 3 hours down to 2 hours. I'm not sure how long of dryer vent ductwork she had at her previous residence. I can understand if she had a dryer close to an exterior wall with a 1 foot of dryer vent. I may have to ask her that. If there is a longer run of duct it should take longer to dry no?

Any feedback would be appreciated. We really want to take care of this tenant because they are nice people. cleaning vent dryer ducts I use a dryer vent brush like this one at Wal Mart: While cleaning out the duct work is a great idea, lint clogging the vent shouldn't be a frequent problem. Once every year or two ought to be overkill. I would inspect the dryer's lint filter for holes and the lint frame for defects. Definitely educate the tenant on the importance of the lint filter's proper use, including cleaning before every load. duct cleaning system for saleIf they are resistant or hard to educate, pay for a professional say once per year. commercial duct cleaning methodsIf the vent needs cleaning more often than that, charge it to the tenants: they have control over how much lint is going into the vent.couch cleaning services lexington ky

Also, you might want to observe usage of the dryer. If it is filled full, then poor performance is to be expected—I would not be surprised by three hours in that case. There needs to be room for air to flow through the dryer during operation. If a "full" load were split into two loads, I bet both "half" loads can be completed in 1.5 hours total, if not faster. I just did this this weekend. I imagine the answer really depends on the particulars of your duct work. Does it have a lot of bends? what is the best method for duct cleaningWhat's it made of? How long is it? In our case, we had smooth vent pipe, but they used 2' pieces to span about 14'. So we had all these tiny pieces with joints which, on top of that, they 'sealed' with duct tape. Needless to say, all of these poorly connected joints were creating spots where lint was collecting and eventually clogging.

I took it all apart and began using the lint brush as shown in another answer, and it worked OK, but much of the lint was caked on to the point I had to scrape it off with a hard tool (screwdriver). In the end, I went out and purchased a brand new 10' section instead, and then put it all back together with proper metallic tape. Dryer works much better now. I figure with an annual check I should be able to keep it fairly clean. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google Sign up using Email and Password Post as a guest By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service. Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged cleaning vent dryer ducts or ask your own question.How often should you? How often you should clean your dryer — and the right way to do it Just like Joni Mitchell tells us, we don’t know what we’ve got until it’s gone — and that goes for the miracle that is a properly working clothes dryer.

Unfortunately, many times our dryers break because we haven’t properly maintained them. Sure, we swipe the thick layer of lint from the filter now and again, but there’s so much more that needs a little TLC. Tim Smith of Chimney Sweeps of America is an Angie’s List recommended dryer vent cleaner, and he’s breaking down what you need to know to properly clean your dryer. Not only will these tips maintain your dryer’s efficiency — but they will also help prevent the appliance from breaking down. Here are his professional tips for maintaining dryer filters, drums and vents. Cleaning filters and drums Let’s tackle the easiest chore first. We all know that dryer filters should be cleaned after each use. However, a clean filter may still be clogged if you use fabric softener sheets in the dryer. Test your dryer filter by clearing it of lint, then pouring a small amount of water onto the filter screen. If the water pools up instead of flowing through the screen, wash the screen in warm, soapy water using a brush.

Rinse, retest and repeat until the water flows through. RELATED: Here's a cheap, eco-friendly fix for a slow-moving drain The dryer drum usually doesn’t need cleaning unless you’re drying a load of hairy, pet items or gritty play clothes. In these cases, try to shake the hair and grit off the articles before tossing them into the dryer. After the load is dry, wipe out the drum with a damp cloth to remove hair and grit. Should lipstick, gum, crayon, etc. accidentally find its way into your dryer, it’s okay to scream. After you cool down, however, follow this advice from Debra Johnson, national home cleaning expert at Merry Maids: “Get the stuff off by warming the dryer a few minutes. (Toss in a couple old towels or rags first.) Remove the excess by scraping it off with a hard rubber spatula. Tackle the remaining residue by wiping the area with a cloth dampened with a small amount of laundry detergent and hot water. Use a dry cloth to remove any excess water or suds.”

Believe it or not, that was the easy part of dryer maintenance. Now it’s time to bring out the big guns. Cleaning the dryer vent Dryer exhaust vents should be inspected and cleaned at least once a year depending on the size of the household and dryer usage. “I have four children and do lots of laundry, so I clean it three times a year,” says Smith. Dryer vents accumulate highly flammable lint, and failure to clean out lint is the leading cause of dryer fires. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, over 15, 000 dryer fires occurred in the U.S. in 2010. A plugged dryer vent can also burn out the heating element. RELATED: How often you should wash your bedding — and the right way to do it A telltale sign that the dryer vent needs cleaning is that clothes take longer and longer to dry. “When it takes 2-3 cycles to dry a load of towels, it’s time to check things out,” says Smith. Another indication of poor or obstructed venting is that the dryer’s external cabinet or it’s control area is hotter than usual.

If that happens, disconnect the dryer and check the vent. RELATED: How often you should clean your refrigerator — and the right way to do it Visually inspect the outside vent opening and remove any obstructions — usually these are animal nests. Vents at ground level are perfect for rodent nests (chipmunks, squirrels and rats). Upper level vents are more attractive to birds. Next, tackle the lint. There are several options for removing lint build-up. A flexible brush with an extendible wand grabs the lint for easy removal (from $17-34 at home improvement stores).An air compressor blows it out.A combination vacuum cleaner and brush sucks it out. (Just make sure the vacuum hose is long enough.) Whichever method you use, it’s important to remove the lint throughout the entire length of the vent.After removing the lint from the vent, remove it also from the area behind the dryer—the floor, under the dryer and the back of the cabinet. “The air being pulled into the dryer comes from behind the dryer,” says Smith.