In a year, you will need a professional dryer vent repair and cleaning once or twice. One time before the cold seasons begin and the dryers are in their peak usage. Then, next is probably around springtime to summer when the sun is out and sufficient and the dryers are not so much in use. Let’s see about dryer vent maintenance: definitive DIY guide.
During these times when the dryers are unused and under the covers, the machine and its vents are often neglected. That only means that maintenance is much in need.
The next question is, who should clean my dryer vents? Can I clean the dryer vent myself? Today’s post answers all your questions in terms of keeping your dryer vents in good shape. Here is your dryer vent cleaning definitive DIY guide.
Here are essential factors to consider if you plan to have your vent tubes and vent outlet cleaned:
- Am I aware of the do’s and dont’s of dryer cleaning
- What are the tools I need? Do I have them
- Do I have the time to clean?
- Am I familiar with the dryer and vent parts?
- What do Ido if the vent parts need replacement?
- What are signs that my dryer vent needs a major repair?
- How much will it cost me to hire professional dryer vent cleaners?
Knowing the Dryer Vent Parts which you can Clean
Be the chief of cleaning and do the maintenance like the pros. You won’t have to call expensive services once you figure out the ins and outs of the dryer vents. Here are the parts which you can DIY clean.
- The dryer vent exhaust tube.
The main part that you must keep in check is the vent tube. Usually, an aluminum foil wraps around it. From here is where the warm air gets out or exhausted from the machine, and it’s usually located at the back of the machine.
- Exhaust hose.
While the vent exhaust is where the warm air flows out, the dryer hose drips out water.
- Dryer clothes drum.
This is the basket where you basically put the clothes in to dry.
- Lint trap and lint screen.
Here, you’ll realize if you know your appliance well. There are dryers where the lint trap is located inside the machine. If this is the case for you, opening the dryer machine will be a challenge and require the pros’ help.
Some dryers will locate the lint trap outside. In this case, it will be easy for you to clean the lint trap. This part should be detachable for the user’s DIY cleaning.
At least have these parts checked and maintained regularly. When you make sure that the dryer exteriors are free from dirt, lint, animal hairs, then it is sure to have your dryers free of excessive clogs.
Tips to Unclog The Dryer Vents
The best way for you to clean the dryer vents yourself is to unclog them from lint, dirt, dust, and other debris that may have flown in from the outside.
Keep in mind that you need to unclog the vents, for it is the leading cause of fires among homes. In the US alone, there are about 7,000 dryer-related fire accidents.
Now here are tips for you:
Tip- 1: First, check out the signs of a clogged dryer vent. See if the following occurs:
- Clothes do not dry and come out of the dryer still damp.
- A tumbling sound rings while you spin the dryer. This means the air gets stuck inside the drum instead of it being exhausted.
- A musty smell dispersed while using the dryer.
Tip- 2: Know your dryer parts. Know which ones you can replace or fix and which are those that need the experts to handle.
Tip- 3: Whenever you use the dryer, make sure that it generates the right amount of heat. If not, then probably the vents are clogged.
Tip- 4: Know what materials clog the vent.
There will be various reasons why the vents are clogged. For one, pests may breed through the gaps and narrow openings around the walls of your homes. The vent tube and duct systems will often be a victim of infestations.
Here is a list of different causes of clogged vents.
- Lint build-up.
- Animal hairs entering the tubes of the vent when an owner got pets in the house.
- Vermin infestation from the ground outside. Worms may found an opening through the event windows.
- Rats and other pests crawled through the vent tubes and bred inside.
- Soil erosion and debris slide in the vent tubes.
