Dryer not drying as well as it should? Then it is time to clean your dryer vent! This is one of those chores that should be on your honey-do list every six months. Cleaning your dryer vent will not only improve your dry time, it may prevent an unsafe situation in your home. The US Fire Administration reports that clothes dryer fires account for about 15,600 structure fires, 15 deaths, and 400 injuries annually. “Failure to clean” is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.
Unplug the clothes dryer from the electrical outlet. (If it's a gas dryer, turn off the gas supply to the dryer at the appliance shutoff valve.) Pull the dryer away from the wall and vacuum behind it. Unhook the tube that leads to the vent and clear as much lint from the tube as you can. Rinse the vent hose in the sink until it is clean or use a shop vacuum to remove as much lint as possible. Check for holes in the hose. If you find any holes replace the vent hose. Take it to any hardware store and make sure to buy the same size and the right length. Grab that shop vac, go outside, and tackle the outside dryer vent as well. Locate the external vent and remove the vent cover. You may have to scrape away some caulk from around the cover. The foot-long vent tube should slide right out. Remove lint from inside the hole. Slide the vent tube back in and replace the cover. Head back inside, plug the dryer back in and run the dryer for a few minutes to make sure air is unobstructed while flowing through the vent.
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