Utilities are expensive enough. Paying more because of clogged ducts is just crazy! Not to mention the increased risk of fire from a dryer duct suddenly igniting. Cleaning a clogged dryer vent should be high on the priority list.
Save Money and Your Home by Cleaning a Clogged Dryer Vent
Let’s check out why it’s so critical to keep your dryer’s ventilation system clean. We’ll also outline how to clean a clogged dryer vent to help you get it done.
How Does a Dryer Vent Get Clogged?
Learning the importance of clean vents may have you wondering, “How does a dryer vent get clogged anyway?” All those little lint fibers that pass through the lint trap (meaning they don’t actually get trapped).
Over time, they’ll build up and clog the inside of the dryer all the way through the duct system that leads to the outside of the house. The more the lint builds up inside the vents, the more lint begins to get trapped and clogged within the ducts.
Why Is Dryer Vent Cleaning Important?
Fabric fibers are flammable! Dryer vent cleaning helps to prevent fires by reducing the flammable material inside the ducts. It also makes your dryer more efficient, which means shorter drying time and lower utility bills.
How to Tell If a Dryer Vent Is Clogged
Here are some clues that your dryer vent is clogged:
- Long dry times from dryer not heating
- Clothes come out hot
- Dryer is hot to the touch
- Lint is coming out of the outside house vent
- Burning smell during operation
- Empty lint trap
If you experience any of these symptoms, then cleaning a clogged dryer vent needs to be first on the to-do list.
How to Clean a Dryer Vent
Vent cleaning is pretty simple and doesn’t take much time. Want a useful cleaning hack? We recommend purchasing an inexpensive dryer vent cleaning kit for cleaning a clogged dryer vent. Here’s what to do:
- Unplug the appliance and pull away from the wall.
- Disconnect the duct to the wall from the dryer.
- Vacuum all vent access from the lint trap and the wall duct.
- Sweep and spin with an appliance brush to loosen and catch clogged lint.
- Vacuum again.
If cleaning the dryer vents is not fixing the problem or if you have lint coming out of the external house vent, contact Northeast Appliance Service for complete duct cleaning and dryer repair.
