Dryer Vent Cleaning in Cumming –

DIY Cleaning Tips & When to Call the Professionals

Why should you clean your dryer's vent?

Clothes tumbling inside the dryer produce lint (fibers and other debris) during the drying process. Ideally, the dryer's filters should catch and store this lint. However, some of the lint may escape the filters, and it usually ends up in the ductwork connected to the vent. Lint trapped inside the dryer's vent can cause various problems, some of which are potentially catastrophic. Fortunately, you can prevent these problems and ensure that your dryer performs optimally through dryer vent cleaning. 

Here is a step-by-step DIY guide on dryer vent cleaning in Cumming, GA. This guide also includes tips on why, when, and how to hire a professional. 

The Importance of Cleaning Your Dryer's Vent 

Reports by the U.S. Fire Administration reveal that clothes dryers cause more than 2,900 home fires annually. Lint trapped in the dryer's vents is one of the leading triggers of fires caused by dryers because it is dry and easily flammable. 

A dirty or clogged vent can also lower the dryer's efficiency and damage some of its sensitive parts. The resulting complications can potentially damage your clothes. These and other factors highlight the importance of cleaning your dryer's vent. 

When to Clean Your Dryer's Vent 

Ideally, it is recommendable to clean your dryer's vent at least once annually. However, it is necessary to clean the vent when lint accumulates, even if it means cleaning it more than once annually. The following signs are good indicators that it is time to clean your dryer's vent: 

• The dryer's outer surface heats up more than normal. 
• The exhaust vent's clapper doesn't open fully. 
• Clothes take longer to dry (or don't dry completely). 
• Clothes feel very warm or hot after drying. 

Albeit not common, you may also notice that the laundry room is more humid than usual. Last but not least, you may also pick up faint scents of burning fabric, indicating that the problem is advanced and nearing a critical point. 

A Step-by-Step Guide to Dryer Vent Cleaning

First, you will need the following tools and equipment to clean your dryer's vent: 

• A dryer vent brush kit. 
• A vacuum cleaner with a long hose. 
• A drill and screwdriver. 

It is important to ensure that your cleaning tools and equipment are compatible with your dryer's design. You can then start cleaning the dryer vent by following these five easy and quick steps: 

1. Unplug the Dryer from the Power Source 

It is important to unplug the dryer from its power source (electric socket or gas/propane valve) to avoid the risk of causing a fire or getting electrocuted. You will also need to disassemble the duct to access the vent's interior. 

Unplugging the dryer from its power source should be easy, and you can disassemble the duct using the screwdriver. It is also advisable to pull the dryer several feet from the wall to get easier access to the vent. 

2. Brush the Vent 

The next step entails cleaning the vent's interior using the brush. The brush will help dislodge the lint stuck to the vent's sides, making it easier to vacuum. It is important to insert the brush all the way and rotate it at a 360-degrees angle to ensure that you don't miss a spot. 

3. Vacuum the Vent

The brush will help remove most of the lint stuck inside the vent, but not all of it. This is where the vacuum cleaner comes into play – it will suck the remaining lint out of the vent. To do this, insert the hose attached to the vacuum all the way inside the vent and switch it on. Push and pull the hose along the vent's length slowly and repeatedly until you are sure that all the lint is gone. 

4. Clean the Dryer's Interior 

Lint and other debris can find their way to other parts of the dryer, causing additional complications. As such, it is advisable to clean other dirty parts, including all of the ducts and supply and return registers.

It is worth noting that this may require other cleaning tools and further disassembly of some of the dryer's components to gain access to all of the dirty and clogged components.