If you notice your clothes take longer than usual to dry, the problem could be the dryer vent. The vent collects dirt that blocks the exit of hot air from the device. This also stops the entry of cold air for cooling. The machine overheats, reducing the system’s effectiveness. When you notice that, you should look for dryer vent cleaning near me professional services.
Other signs that you should get professional dryer vent cleaning near me services are the clothes being too hot to touch and coming out with a burning smell. Dirty ducts can lead to a complete breakdown of the machine or cause a fire. If you notice these signs with your device, follow this procedure to clean it.
- Disconnect The Dryer
If you don’t want to hire dryer vent cleaning near me experts, you can do it yourself. The first step is disconnecting the dryer from all connections to have full access. This includes disconnecting it from the primary power source. Whether you use gas or electricity on the machine, ensure those switches are off and the device is disconnected. You should also detach the dryer duct from the machine. This allows you to have full access to the vent and the machine. Use a screwdriver to loosen all the screws holding it.
Remove the cover of the vent from the exterior wall of the house. You should also clean the exit point because some lint gets trapped there, and it could find its way inside after cleaning the other parts.
- Use A Soft-Bristled Brush To Clean
Once you can access every part, use a brush to loosen the dirt. If the duct is too long, connect two or three rods to make the brush longer to reach the hard-to-reach points. Ensure the brush has soft bristles not to destroy parts of the vent. When cleaning, move the brush in a back and forth motion to clean. Clean until all the lint is removed.
- Use Vacuum
Use a vacuum to suck all the dirt in the vent. Insert the vacuum to the farthest parts to ensure all the dirt is sucked out. Repeat this on the exterior vent and ensure it is clean. Clean also the external parts of the machine and the laundry room because they could lead to dust going back into the system.
- Reconnect The Dryer
Once everything is clean and dry, reconnect it to the machine. Use a screwdriver to return and tighten the screws on the clamp. Return the other outer parts of the dryer and plug them into the primary power source.
Test how the dryer works with a few clothes by drying them for some minutes. Check if it takes the same amount of time or if there is an improvement. To keep the vent clean, ensure you check it twice every year to note any lint build-up and clean. Also, always ensure you vacuum all the areas around the dryer each time you clean the duct. This ensures no dirt gets back into the system. For commercial dryers, we advise you to hire commercial dryer vent cleaners near you.