Ever since buying a new dryer about a month ago, my wife has complained that the clothes weren't drying as fast as the old one did. I dismissed it as it's just a different machine (the old one was 30 years old, and almost melted the clothes). Yesterday I needed to do a load of laundry, so off I went into the basement. After 2 hours the original load wasn't dry yet, so it was time to troubleshoot. When I installed the dryer I used all new metal vent pipe, so I knew the pipe couldn't be clogged. The dryer was heating fine, so my next thought was the fan had pooped out. I went outside and checked the vent while the dryer was running...it was clogged with lint. How could this be??? The entire system was brand new!
I went back into the house, apologized to my wife, and pulled off the dryer vent to find it was just about totally plugged at the machine. Knowing that's not normal after a month, I checked the lint screen inside the dryer. There was the problem...the entire bottom of the screen had never been attached to the frame. I called the appliance store and they brought a new one 20 minutes later. I cleaned out the venting system and we're back to drying clothes in about 40 minutes.
The tip today is more of a safety issue than a tip, however, this tip can also save you a lot of money on utility bills. Many houses catch fire each year from overheated dryers and lint build-up in the vent. Most people never think to check the dryer vent until there's a problem. This should be checked twice a year.
Unplug your machine before moving it or working on it. Behind your dryer down near the floor, you'll find a large tube (4"). This is the vent tube. Remove the tube from the dryer by pulling straight back after removing the clamp. Look into the tube. A small accumulation of lint is normal and there is no need for concern, but the vent should still be cleaned. If there are clumps of lint, it's really time for a cleaning, and check the lint screen in the dryer for rips.
There are 3 types of dryer vent. 1)white vinyl accordion style tubing 2) flexible foil tubing 3) ridged aluminum pipe.
If your dryer has the white vinyl remove it and throw it away. It has a life expectancy of less than 2 years and is not meant to be cleaned...it's a throw-away product.
If your dryer has the flexible foil tubing, you can try to clean it, but it will most likely rip and get thrown away anyhow.
If you have the rigid aluminum type, you're in luck. Just clean it with a shop vacuum and upholstery brush and reassemble it.
If you have the first 2 types, run down to your local hardware store and purchase some new 4" vent. If possible, try to stay away from the vinyl vent. It has almost NO resistance to fire if your dryer belt were to break or the machine were to overheat. The foil type vent offers a little fire protection and is a better solution for tight spaces. If you have a few extra dollars in your pocket and want to do the best job possible, pick up the rigid aluminum pipe sections and install them. If you need specifics, let me know.
Keeping your dryer vent clean will help avoid fires, cut your utility bills down, and help you finish your laundry a lot faster. This is a very simple project that takes little skill to complete and has huge benefits. |
