How to Clean a Dryer Vent
It is a fact of life that dryer vents become dirty or clogged relatively easily. This significantly reduces the performance of your dryer, and it can also become a dangerous fire hazard. Regularly cleaning your dryer vent can actually make your home safer and more efficient.
These are some of the steps an appliance maintenance professional will take when they clean your dryer vent or steps you can take to take care of the problem yourself.
Disconnect Your Dryer
Not only does your dryer need to be disconnected from the electricity, but you also need to disconnect the dryer duct from the back of the dryer. Make sure that you can get the dryer safely away from the wall so that you can perform the tasks you need to do.
Vacuum the Dryer Vent
When you get the vent loose, you need to bring your vacuum over with the hose attachment to suck out the debris. Remove as much lint as you can see. Every bit will help prevent a house fire or damage to your dryer.
You may also want to break out a brush to reach further back into the vent. A brush will help you gather the lint and any other debris that may have accumulated. Additionally, make sure that you clean out the lint filter in the dryer regularly. You should clean it out between each drying session to prevent debris from getting into the vents.
Check Out the Exterior Vent
Outside your home, you may find an exterior vent cover for the dryer. You should also vacuum this part of the vent out as well. Cleaning out the vents to prevent fires and other hazards means incorporating all parts of the ventilation.
Connect the Dryer
Before you connect the dryer again, take another look at the ducts. If you see any damage, replace ducts before you reattach and cover them with another vent. Plug the system back in and make sure the dryer turns on. You can run it for a few minutes to dislodge anything else that might still be inside.
If These Steps Don't Work
If you find it too difficult to clean your vents or are not able to do it yourself, a professional can clean your vents on your behalf. Appliance maintenance services are available to help you through the next steps. If you have been worried about appliance maintenance, now is a great time to speak with a maintenance service provider, such as Golden State Equipment Repair.
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