Did you know that clothes dryers cause more than 15,000 residential fires per year? The majority of these fires are fueled by lint, which is highly flammable. Most of us know to clean the lint screen before each load of laundry, but what about the exhaust vent?
Your dryer’s exhaust vent is the windy aluminum tube that connects to the back of your appliance. It is responsible for venting excess heat and moisture to the outside. After several loads of laundry, stray lint can begin to accumulate in this vent – creating a major fire hazard.
To keep your home safe, experts recommend cleaning your exhaust vent at least once per year. Here is how to clean your dryer exhaust vent:
- Disconnect your dryer from the electrical outlet and cut off the gas line (if applicable).
- Slide the dryer away from the wall.
- Using a screwdriver, loosen the vent clamp on the back of the dryer and slide off the exhaust tube.
- Vacuum any lint around the opening, and use the nozzle attachment to reach inside of the tube. Most of the lint tends to accumulate within 1 foot of the edges, not so much towards the middle.
- Reattach the exhaust vent to your dryer and tighten the clamp. Slide your dryer back into place.
- Locate the exterior vent on the side of your home. Remove the cover.
- Using your hands or a portable vacuum, clean the lint from the exterior vent. Replace the cover.
- Reconnect your dryer to the electrical outlet and gas supply.
- Run the dryer for 15 minutes to clear up any loose lint.
If you lack the tools or expertise needed to clean your own dryer vent, professional help is available from the experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. If you live on Long Island, contact us today for a free dryer vent cleaning estimate at (631) 940-8100.
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