Check Your Dryer Exhaust

15 years ago

I can't emphasize that enough.

Check your dryer exhaust!

I heard through a friend that another friend's housekeeper had complained that his dryer was taking several hours, repeat cycles, to get anything dry. I stopped by last week for a look-see.

Turned the dryer on, went outside to check the airflow at the exhaust hood. Nothing.

Came back in, the dryer was definitely heating, there was a slight hot/burning odor.

Pulled the dryer out for examination. I'm wishing now I'd brought along a camera. The very short piece of flexduct connecting the dryer exhaust to the wall was torn. It obviously had been ripped for a period of years. Lint had accumulated in the tear, which then provided an anchor for more lint to build-up until the flexduct was completely clogged, back into the dryer itself. It's a miracle there hadn't already been a fire. Before the full clog built-up, when there was still airflow, lint residue (dryer filters DO NOT catch everything) had been blowing out of the tear, accumulating behind the dryer, and getting sucked back into the machine through the air intake. The machine's cabinet, around the motor, element and blower housing, everywhere, was full of accumulated lint.

So again, CHECK (AND CLEAN) YOUR DRYER EXHAUST! And that doesn't mean just the section of flexvent or ducting that may be between the dryer and the wall. It means the ENTIRE length of the exhaust ductwork, THROUGH the wall, attic, basement, under the house, however/wherever it may run, to the exhaust hood where it blows OUTSIDE.

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Comments (12)

jiggreen
15 years ago
Very good advice and potentially life saving!!

I'd like to add, it's a good idea to occassionally remove the front panel of your dryer. We had to have our propane dryer serviced and when the repairman pulled the front of the dryer off I was shocked at how much lint had worked it's way close to the burner itself. Had we not had the front panel pulled off, we never would have known.
housefairy
15 years ago
This is a very informative post and needs to be bumped back to the top.

As Dadoes says, check the ENTIRE dryer vent system.
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donnawb
15 years ago
I have mine cleaned every year after the Christmas holidays so I will remember. Mine vents up to the roof so I don't do it myself. It costs me $69 and well worth it.
eagle100
15 years ago
A somewhat funny story about our neighbors. He is very obsessive, VERY about everything. If directions say one thing he does that times about 4! So they'd been having dryer issues with not drying. Pulled the unit from the wall and cleaned everything, etc. Still the same issues. His wife wanted to call someone but "he just knew better" and was determined to fix it himself. So he brings in the house his leaf blower and turns it on in the dryer vent trying to "blow" the lint up the pipe and out. Guess what - didn't work. Then he went into the attic with the blower and proceeded to "blow" the vent into the house - not remembering he'd left the dryer vent off. The laundry room kitchen bedroom, etc were covered with lint dust! I just knew she was going to kill him! But it did work - except she cleaned for days and days. She said the next time she'd hiring someone when he's out of the house. True story.
mark40511
15 years ago
My dryer vents through the roof, but I have been aware of lint building up from day one. About every six months I get the leaf blower and blow up the pipe and it does work! Probably because I do it so frequently as opposed to waiting a few years then doing it.
sue15c
15 years ago
See posting on - Why does lint escape dryers - March 30--- Will see if hubby would take off front of dryer to check for additional lint. Thanks
suburbanmd
15 years ago
Dryer vent fire in today's paper

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/29/AR2009032901054.html
chambleemama
15 years ago
Samurai Appliance Repair Man gives a detailed guide to dryer venting. I used this site to guide me through a complete dryer clean-out last summer. My DH bought a gizmo brush that fits on a power drill and uses his shop vac to clean out the vent line, but I took the dryer apart (and re-assembled it) myself! It hadn't been more than a couple of years, but I still got enough lint out to fill my vacuum.

This could save your life.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Ultimate Dryer Venting Guide
mark40511
15 years ago
I would love to try one of those brushes......I know what you're talking about. But I am not about to get on my roof (steep pitch) to put the brush into the roof cap and let it go down.....I can see doing this if you're dryer vents on the side of the house, not through the roof unless you're experienced on climbing on roofs with steep pitches.

Funny, when growing up in the 70s/80s I remember getting on my grandmas roof and it was a steep pitch and it didn't bother me one bit...But when I got on my roof once it was like I was clinging on for dear life it was so steep. To look at it it doesn't look that bad but when you're actually on it, it's totally different.
wildboar
15 years ago
I was at my brother's when his dryer started making a burning smell and after 45 minutes clothes were still damp. The outside dryer vent flap was mounted between 2 pieces of siding which made it flex open a tiny bit --- just enough that a couple small sparrow size birds had decided to make a nice warm nest in there. What a mess that was to clean out. At one point he had decided to leave it disconnected from the outside vent because it would "add some moisture" to the house (read: too lazy to hook it back up). Darwin is knocking at his door.
abbyperkins
15 years ago
Several Christmases ago, while I was attending a party with friends, their house burned to the ground from a fire that had started in their dryer vent. So now in addition to cleaning it often, I never leave the dryer running when I'm not at home...
ebear1271
15 years ago
My husband finally got around to cleaning the vent and WOW! what a difference! The clothes are drying faster and not over-drying. Not only is it safer but it's more efficient which means more money in my pocket instead of the power companies!!