A clogged up dryer vent can contain lint and other items that are a real fire hazard. If you own a dryer, you should clean the vent at least every year, if not more often. Cleaning your dyer vent will help improve the function of the appliance and help to ensure that it's allowing air to escape safely. Here is how you can perform a thorough dryer vent cleaning on your own.

Make Some Room

In order to clean the vent, you will need to get access to it easily. First, unplug the dyer or disconnect or turn off the gas if you have a gas dryer. Then, gently slide the dryer away from the wall so you can easily get behind it and gain access to the vent. A typical dryer vent is about one to two feet long, so slide the dryer out just a couple of feet. If you pull it out too far, it could accidentally cause the vent to come loose and break before you disconnect it properly.

Cleaning

Most dryer vents are attached using a simple "c" clamp. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the clamp in place, and then take the vent off of the back of your dryer. Use your hands to remove any large wads of lint and other debris from inside of the vent and discard them. Then, using a high powered vacuum, suck up all of the remaining lint and dirt from the vent hose as well as the back of the dryer. A shop vac or wet-dry vac has a long hose that you can insert deep into the vent tube to get most of the debris out. If you cannot reach all the way, a plumbing snake is another great way to help you push excess lint out.

Exterior Vent

All dryers have an exterior vent that allows the air to escape outside as it's working. You will need to clean this vent as well. Locate the exterior vent and remove the cover. Using the same process for the interior vent, vacuum out any extra lint and debris. You can also use a damp rag to help clean the outside vent and wipe away excess gunk. Look inside of the vent to make sure you can see through it and that there isn't anything else clogging it, then reattach the cover. Clamp the inside dryer vent back to your appliance, slide it towards the wall, and plug it back in or turn the gas back on. You should now have a dryer vent that's free and clear of anything blocking its way and should notice an improvement in function. This will also help ensure your safety and remove the threat of a possible fire caused by blockage. To learn more, speak with a business like Cape Cod Appliance Service.

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