Cleaning these hoses are crucial for more reasons than just your clothing and time. Lint can build up over months and years in these ducts, combine with heated air, and catch fire, posing a fire hazard. So, why not to avoid these just by cleaning your dryer vent hose?
That’s the real question, whether you are new into it or trying to efficiently clean them, you always need a guide from an expert. So, we are here to tell you how you can clean your dryer vent hose in just few easy steps without leaving your space. So, let’s start with the topic now.
Why It's Important to Clean Dryer Vent hose?
Starting over, when your dryer first starts to malfunction, it's simple to take it for granted. Thus, regular cleaning of the vent is simply one of the benefits of routine maintenance. The entire machine has to work harder when the vent hose gets clogged. As a result, parts might wear out more quickly and the dryer as a whole can malfunction far earlier than it would have otherwise.
Additionally, regular vent cleanings can keep you, your loved ones, and your house safe. High-flammability lint is created and accumulated by dryers. This lint accumulates if it isn't cleaned properly, preventing the dryer from fully draining. Either that buildup will be contained in the housing or it will leak back into the dryer.
Meanwhile, a buildup of lint and the intense heat a dryer produces make for the ideal conditions for a fire.
How To Clean Your Dryer Vent Hose?
What you'll need
1.A dryer vent cleaning kit
2.Broom and dustpan or a vacuum
Step-by-Step Guide to Clean Dryer Vent Hose
Step 1: Locate your hose
You'll need to locate your dryer vent hose first so that you can clean it. Dryers are often attached to a short exhaust pipe with a 4-inch diameter that connects to ductwork within a wall. Through this pipe, hot air from your dryer is sent out through a vent on the exterior wall of your house.
Once you have located your exterior dryer exhaust vent, examine inside to see if there is any dust, lint, or even dead insects. Remove any obvious obstacles and clean any displays.
Step 2: Unplug your dryer
You're prepared to unplug your dryer once you've understood how your ducts function. Once you've finished, take off any metal clamps or tape holding your dryer vent pipe to the exhaust. To avoid breaking the vent pipe, be cautious to draw it out of the wall duct with mild pressure.
Step 3: Clean up the lint
You should now be able to clearly see through your dryer vent while standing within your laundry room (or nook). Any lint inside or around the hole should be removed using a shop vac or vacuum with a hose attachment.
Use a handheld vacuum to complete this operation on the exterior duct if you have one. Otherwise, try to manually remove debris from the outside.
Step 4: Apply a brush to the area
With the power drill attached to the dryer brush from your vent cleaning kit, enter your duct with the brush end of the rod. Push the brush back as much as you can while keeping in mind that you might need to carefully move the hose.
Try inserting the brush head in the outside duct as well if you are unable to thread the brush through the complete length of your duct or if your brush simply doesn't stretch that far.
Step 5: Refresh and connect
You've probably discovered a treasure trove of lint by this point. You should sweep your new fluffy pals away with a broom and dustpan or a vacuum cleaner. After that, reconnect your wall duct and plug in your dryer.
One caution, though: if your dryer connects to its wall duct via a soft foil-style vent, you'll need to replace it with something more durable. It is sufficient to use a 90-degree, fire-resistant aluminium elbow that also has better ventilation.
Step 6: Have a party
You succeeded! Even if cleaning a dryer vent isn't the most glamorous job, you succeeded and deserve a celebration. The smooth sound of accomplishment can be heard when you turn on your dryer and listen to the air flowing out the vent. There will be no more wet clothing or endless cycles. You handled everything by yourself.
Top 4 Hazards of not cleaning the dryer vent hose
What could happen if you skip cleaning your dryer vent hose on a regular basis? Find out by reading on.
1.Buildup of Carbon Monoxide
Failure to do routine dryer vent cleaning on a gas dryer might be disastrous. Lint and other debris buildup in the vent can prevent heat from escaping through it, which also prevent hose carbon monoxide from escaping through the vent. In the room where your dryer is placed, colorless and odorless carbon monoxide may accumulate to potentially dangerous amounts while it is operating.
Clean the vent at least once a year to shield yourself and your loved ones from a potentially dangerous situation. You must have a dryer vent if you don't have the equipment to clean the entire length of the vent hose. You must hire a dryer vent cleaning specialist to complete the job for you if you lack the equipment to clean the entire length of the vent.
2.Bug Invasion
Even though you might not think it is possible, pests can live inside your dryer vent. Without a doubt, we've seen it before and we'll see it again. Bugs, mice, rats, and other outdoor animals can dwell safely in a warm, snug, and protected dryer vent. You won't notice they are residing there if you don't periodically clean the vent.
Annual dryer vent cleaning can help prevent both bug and animal visitors from settling in your vent.
3.Dwelling fire
You have a severe fire risk on your hands if your dryer vent is so clogged with lint and other material that heat cannot escape to the outside effectively. Yes, dryer fires do happen, and each year in the US, about 2,900 households experience their effects. It's preferable to arrange for expert dryer vent cleaning at least once a year to keep the chance of a dryer fire as low as possible.
4.Dryer abrasion
Your dryer will not be able to dry anything effectively if the vent is blocked with lint and debris. Because hot, humid air cannot properly exit the vent, air becomes trapped inside the dryer drum, keeping your garments wet longer than is required. When this happens, the appliance has to run longer than it should to finish drying your clothes and linens, which can quickly reduce the lifespan of the appliance.
Tips for Dryer Safety: Cleaning Your Dryer Vent and More
1. Lint traps hold the key to continuously maintaining a clean dryer exhaust vent. Every time you run the dryer while doing a load of laundry, make sure to clean out any dryer lint from it. This will not only keep your dryer vent clean, but it will also enhance the drying time of your machine and lessen the possibility of house fires.
2. It's advised to never leave a dryer running alone in addition to just keeping it clean. Never start a load and then go outside the house.
3. When a dryer fire starts while you're away from home, it may cause major damage before anybody sees and calls the fire department.
How frequently should dryer vent hose be cleaned?
1. Your clothing either take longer than expected to dry or aren't totally dry when the drying cycle is finished.
2. You can feel the heat from the dryer machine. When the cycle is over, your garments are really heated (hotter than usual).
3. When the dryer is running, your laundry area becomes humid. If there is a blockage in the vent hose, the hot air can be seeping into the room rather than leaving through the outside vent.
4. There is more lint in your lint filter than usual. For example, people should hire a professional to clean their dryer vent hose to maintain the machine's performance and help protect their houses from a potential fire.
5. However, if your family uses the dryer frequently, as is frequently the case with kids and/or pets, you'll be better off having the vent cleaned around every six months.
Simply observing the dryer will reveal whether a professional cleaning is necessary. The vent hose is probably blocked if clothing takes longer to dry, requiring a second cycle.
Conclusion:
Basically, cleaning a dryer vent correctly is important for safety reasons as well as cleanliness: Domestic dryer fires are most commonly caused by dirty dryer vents. But that’s not going to happen ever with you if you have read the complete article, as I have discussed each and everything in great detail.
Ither than that, if you get any question the comment box under here is always open to ask!