How To Clean Dryer Vent Without Going On The Roof
Dryer vents are an essential part of the laundry room setup of your home. Correctly cleaned vents maintain fire safety and help your dryer to perform up to its full capacity. You will sometimes have to clean out this vent but you might not want to have to go up on the roof to do so.
You can clean out your dryer vent without going on your roof by moving your dryer away from the wall and accessing the vent tube from the dryer. You will need to turn off the electricity to the room and then vacuum out the entrance to the tube. You can then use a leaf blower to push the remaining lint out of the dryer vent on the roof side.
If this process sounds like the perfect solution for your dryer vent cleaning needs, you need to read on to learn more about it!
Contents
What Causes A Clogged Dryer Vent
Being proactive is easy:
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Always empty the smaller lint trap before starting every load. This will pull most of the debris out of the equation before it can drop into the vent pipes.
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Check the length of the exhaust vent at least once a year to verify debris is not building up. If it is, schedule your dryer vent cleaning service to prevent a partial or full blockage of the vent pipes.
Other factors influencing dryer vent functionality include dryer placement, long and winding vents, and installation issues.
Importance Of Dryer Vent Cleaning
Failing to regularly clean your dryer vent can put you, your loved ones, and your home at risk, as the build-up of lint can lead to a fire. The high heat from your dryer can cause the lint trapped in your vent to burst into flames without much warning. Cleanup costs for fire and smoke damage can run between $3,200 and $28,000. Even if a fire doesnt break out, the electrical system might short-circuit, creating major electrical problem costs.
Dirty dryers are less effective at drying your clothes. Youll know this to be the case when your energy bills tick higher. And paying out for the cost of a new appliance is much more expensive than a simple cleaning. In addition, a serious build-up of lint can force the outside vent cover open, which can create pest infestation problems.
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How To Clean A Dryer Vent That Goes To The Roof
A lot of people arent aware that the vents to their dryer need to be cleaned on a somewhat regular basis. The vents can clog up with lint, compromising the efficiency of the dryer and even starting a fire in some of the worst cases.
But what happens when your dryer vents go through the roof? Follow this step-by-step guide to keep your vents clean and clear. This will keep your dryer running efficiently for a long time to come and will prevent house fires.
How To Clean An Outside Dryer Vent
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
When was the last time you walked outside and took a look at the dryer vent cover and how well it is opening on an outside wall of your home? It’s probably not on a list of the chores you do regularly, but it should be.
Fires that begin from clothes dryers that are clogged with lint are second only to kitchen fires as the leading cause of home fire damage. Accumulated lint and dust lead the list of why laundry room fires occur, far ahead of wiring problems or other issues. While emptying the dryer lint screen after every load is essential to helping your dryer perform more efficiently and preventing fires, a properly installed and maintained dryer vent system is also key.
The majority of installed dryer vent systems that meet building code standards lead to an exhaust escape vent on an exterior wall or roofline. Keeping the outside dryer vent clean is essential to dryer safety and efficiency and in preventing structural moisture problems. Most outside dryer vents have hinged slats or “doors” that are forced open when the dryer is running to allow moisture and lint to escape. If these become clogged with lint, the moisture will remain in the dryer venting, making your dryer work harder. If your dryer is taking longer and longer to complete a load, check the outside vent. The moisture and presence of lint will also allow mold and mildew to grow in laundry area walls and floor.
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Cons To Using This Method To Clean Your Dryer Vent
- The lint that you have blown out of the vent will end up all over your yard and roof and can be time-consuming to clean up.
- You might not get all of the lint out due to the angle of the tube and the power of your leaf blower.
Nomatter which method of cleaning you use, there will be some drawbacks, so you will need to consider which method causes you the least hassle overall.
First Clean The Dryer Vent From The Inside
Before you climb up the roof, you need to clean the dryer vent from inside the house.
Pull the dryer from the wall and unscrew the locks that connect the duct to the exhaust pipe. Attach a lint brush using the lint brush attachment to the vacuum cleaner. Clear the debris on the surface of the dryer duct and gently lower the vacuum tube inside the vent. Next, switch on the power to trigger the rotating brush or the vent brush. Allow the device to suck the lint and other debris.
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Reasons For Roof Dryer Vent Maintenance
- Clean up to 40 feet of dryer vent pipe
- Use with or without a drill
Dryer Duct Cleaning Cost Factors
The total cost to clean a dryer vent depends on the duct conditions, additional services, and the size, type, and location of the dryer vent:
- Vent location Roof vents are harder to clean and cost more.
- Vent length and type Long vent and wire-coil vents take longer to clean.
- Turns Cleaning difficulty increases with multiple 90-degree vent turns.
- Obstructions Bird nest removal costs $120 to $250 and typically includes dryer vent cleaning.
- Bird guard Installing a bird guard costs $30 to $100 on average.
- Package deals Cleaners may offer discounts when combining cleaning with other services or signing up for annual dryer vent maintenance. Air duct cleaning costs$300 to $700 on average.
- System monitors Lint Alert alarms cost $170 to $250 installed and monitor the dryer exhaust system for clogging.
- New installation Dryer vent installation costs $200 to $500 for installing a new dryer vent or rerouting existing ductwork to a new location.
- Location Cities and metropolitan areas typically have higher labor rates than small towns and rural areas.
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How To Clean A Roof Dryer Vent
It is close to impossible for one to own a clothes dryer minus a laundry machine. Yet, thats how much our lives are dependent on technology.
The amount of laundry you do depends mainly on the number of people in your household and the childrens presence. Children need a change of wardrobe more frequently than adults do.
The more the laundry, the more the lint will determine how often you do maintenance around your home.
Dryer Safety Tips: Keeping Your Dryer Vent Clean And More
The secret to keeping your dryer exhaust vent consistently clean lies in the lint trap. Make sure to remove any dryer lint from it every time you run the dryer while doing a load of laundry, especially if you use dryer sheets. This is critical. Not only will this help you maintain a clean dryer vent, it will keep the entire dryer running smoothly, improve your machines drying time, and decrease the risk of house fires.
In addition to simply keeping it clean, its also recommended that you never run a dryer unattended. Never turn on a load and leave the house. If youre not home and a dryer fire starts, it can wreak havoc before someone notices and calls the fire department.
Last but not least, always give your dryer room to breathe. Putting clutter and storage items on or around a dryer is definitely a fire hazard you want to avoid.
Dont forget to clean out your lint trap regularly.
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Why Should I Clean My Dryer Vent
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean the dryer is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires. Moreover, 2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated five deaths, 100 injuries, and $35M in property loss. This shows the importance of proper maintenance and regular cleaning of the dryer for your home and familys safety.
To avoid the risk of a clogged dryer vent fire hazard from happening, the USFA recommends cleaning the lint filter before and after each load of laundry, especially the back side where lint is most likely to build up. Additionally, clean the lint filter with a nylon brush at least twice a year to prevent it from clogging. To ensure you get all the dryer vent cleaning benefits, you should also make sure to clean the vent pipe from lint every three months. Most importantly, have your dryer inspected by a professional at least once every 12 months, especially if you notice that the clothes take longer to dry than usual.
What To Consider Before Installing A Dryer Vent Through A Roof
Aside from the International Residential Code endorsing roof venting as a safe way of terminating moisture resulting from cloth dryers, there are also other organizations whose verdict plays a relevant role in the adoption and consumption of household dryer venting products
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Tips To Keep The Outside Vent Air Flowing
In addition to cleaning the outside vent regularly, it is important to maintain an unblocked flow of air into and out of the vent. You should follow these tips:
- Do not plant large, dense shrubs in front of the outside dryer vent.
- Do not allow yard debris to block the vent.
- Do not allow snow to pile up in front of the vent. The hot air exhausted from the vent may temporarily melt the snow but it will refreeze and cause more problems.
How To Clean Dryer Vent From Inside
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How Do You Know If Your Dryer Vent Is Clogged
Weve said that this is at least an annual household task, but sometimes cleaning the dryer vent becomes an urgent rather than routine job. Wondering how youll know if the dryer vent is clogged? Tell-tale signs include having to do extra cycles to get a load dry when it used to take just one.
Other issues to watch out for are the dryer itself becoming hotter or, worse, a burning smell. If any of these problems come up, disconnect the dryer as above, and check and clean the vent as necessary.
Signs a dryer vent may need repair are far from obvious to the average eye, so here are a few clues your dryer vent may need repair from Jason Kapica, President of Dryer Vent Wizard :
Should I Hire Professionals For My Dryer Vent Cleaning
Professional cleaning is particularly vital for a dryer vent on the roof. Besides the risks associated with not doing a thorough job of this cleaning, maintaining a roof vent can lead to serious injury. Your North Dallas-based pros at Superior Dryer Vent Cleaning have the right tools and experience to get this job done safely and correctly.
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Safety Equipment Is Your Friend
Most do-it-yourself projects are done that way to save money. And while thats totally understandable, safety should never ever be compromised. Whats cheaper: a little bit of safety equipment or a hospital bill caused by a nasty fall?
At the very least, you should have a helmet and soft-soled boots that will provide you with better traction as you traverse the roof. If you want to get really serious about your safety, invest in a safety harness. They are about $300 but are way cheaper than a hospital bill. If you do quite a bit of work on your roof, a safety harness could make for a worthwhile long-term investment. Anything that you can do to improve your safety while on the roof should be done.
How Often To Clean Dryer Vent
Most people will be horrified to find out they should clean the dryer vent at least once a year. Surprisingly many people have never ever considered cleaning their vents. This is a hazard. Dryer vents should be cleaned minimally once a year. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, an estimated 17,000 fires per year due to clothing dryers.
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How To Clean A Dryer Vent
Difficulty
Duration
Under 2 hours
Dirty or clogged dryer vents and ductwork dont just reduce your dryers performance. The combination of heat and accumulated dryer lint and dust can lead to a fire hazard. In fact, clogged clothes dryervents cause thousands of fires per year in the United States. Learn how to clean a dryer vent at least once a year to keep your home safe and ensure that laundry day runs at peak efficiency.
Tip: Check for warning signs of clothes dryer lint buildup such as laundry taking longer to dry, the clothes dryer becoming hotter to the touch or a burning smell becoming noticeable in the laundry room.
Do You Clean A Dryer Vent From Inside Or Out
Whether you clean a dryer vent from the inside or out depends on whether you want a thorough job or less hassle. Cleaning the vent from the inside allows you to remove all lint and debris but youll need to disconnect the dryer from the vent first, which can be awkward. If you clean it from the outside, you wont have to disconnect, which is simpler, but you wont remove all the dirt from inside. Whichever way you tackle it, use a vacuum with a long hose attachment. Take the lint trap off the dryer and vacuum the lint out. Then disconnect the dryer vent from the wall and vacuum out the vent and the area surrounding it.
You can clean the dryer vent from either the inside or outside, confirms Chris Alexakis, founder of CabinetSelect . However, it is generally recommended that you do so from the outside. This is because cleaning the vent from the inside can be difficult and there is a greater risk of harming yourself or damaging the dryer.
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